lifting after giving birth...

[Mr.Mafioso]

One of the lady's i work with is pregnant and is due any time now, and she told me that she can't wait to get it over with to get back into the gym as soon as possible...using common sense i told her that would probably NOT be the best idea. She is having a cesection(sp?), which would probably be worse if she got back in the gym becuase i would think that any strain that she made in an attempt to lift weights would probably rip her abdominal muslces...

i want to help her out so that she can get into the gym at the right time with having had enough time to recover so that she doesnt injure herself...

any advice that could be given would be greatly appreciated so that i can pass the info on to her...thanks

[Mr.Mafioso]

can a mod move this thread to the appropriate spot pleeaassee...

thanks :D

[Shibby]

Best thing to do is for her to listen to her doctor about what kind of physical activity she does after the c-section, espeacially until the incision completely heals. Just remind her that waiting until she is healed is a lot faster than something going wrong post op. Remind her also that she dosn't want to bleed out or have internal bleeding. She may not be around to see her child grow up.

[Mr.Mafioso]

ya...ill let her know that just following what the doc says would be the best thing to do...

thanks shibby

[xxxkazxxx]

I never had a C-section, but two other ladies in the hospital at the same time as me did & they were struggling to even get out of bed to walk to the toilet. They didn't look like they would be doing any physical activity for quite a while. So I think when she see's how much pain she could be in after the birth, she will have no choice but to wait it out.

You could aslo do a google search and find some information on the after effects of C-sections & what kind of things may result in stressful physical activity too soon after the operation, print it out & pass it on to her saying that you are just concerned because you don't want her to come apon any serious or life threatening injuries.

[Mr.Mafioso]

thanks kaz...ill look some stuff up and definately pass it on to her cuz she was tellin me about how she wanted to sneak in some upper body workouts a couple weeks after the procedure which sounds like an extremely bad idea...

[redsquirrel]

MM-

For normal childbirth, it is recommended women restrict any rigorous physical activity for at least 6 weeks....Since she is having a C section, like the others said, it really has a lot to do with the speed and success of her recovery.

It's not so much the strain on the abdominals...although the abs are harder to get back into shape since they have been stretched for so long. The incision is made below the belly button, so as Shib said, it has a lot to do with eliminating the chance for any internal bleeding.

You also might want to caution her that even when she gets back to the gym right after childbirth, results will be much harder to achieve and take longer. Mainly because is takes a woman's hormones 2-3 months to return to normal.

And yes- upper body workouts will NOT be a good idea whatsoever a couple weeks after surgery. Just because surgery is on her abdomen does NOT mean she can't hurt herself. If she is that determined to lose the post baby weight, she can start walking- but only until her Dr tells her it's ok. She still really needs to wait for at least 6 weeks before hitting the weights again.

[FitnessBrat]

MM -- not really much else to say.....I've had a c-section though, so I know just what it feels like. She is going to need to wait at least 6 weeks. I got in the gym after about 4 weeks, but that was to start cardio. Was she seriously into fitness before the baby? Has she been working out during the pregnancy? She'll soon realize that she won't be that eager to jump into weights once she sees/feels the incision, etc. Your scared to death you're going to jeopardize your healing, and its very sensitive.

[Mr.Mafioso]

thanks for the replies!

MM -- not really much else to say.....I've had a c-section though, so I know just what it feels like. She is going to need to wait at least 6 weeks. I got in the gym after about 4 weeks, but that was to start cardio. Was she seriously into fitness before the baby? Has she been working out during the pregnancy? She'll soon realize that she won't be that eager to jump into weights once she sees/feels the incision, etc. Your scared to death you're going to jeopardize your healing, and its very sensitive.

She said that she use to be really into training before the pregancy and said that she wanted to keep working out while she was pregnant and thought it would be a sinch, but she told me that she thought wrong... ya she thinks now that she will be fine, but after the procedure im sure she'll think twice..

thanks again for the replies

[dreamgirl]

everyone pretty much said it, my sister just had a c-section. and like FB said she was sooo worried about the incision, it's VERY painful. she could walk well, but bending or getting up was difficult for a while. i don't think anyone would push going to the gym after having that.