Cesarean delivery, also known as a C-section, is sometimes necessary for the birth of your baby. A C-section is a surgery that involves an incision through the abdominal wall and uterus. However, typically the muscles in your stomach are not cut but rather pulled apart in order to access the uterus. Recovery from a C-section takes time, and during the initial recovery, you should avoid heavy activities including exercise, lifting anything heavy or doing housework.
Exercise
Although allowing your body to recover after a C-section is essential, regular exercise is also important for your well-being. Exercise after pregnancy is one of the best things mothers can do for themselves, according to MayoClinic.com. Exercise can promote weight loss, restore muscular strength, condition your abdominal muscles, improve your mood, relieve stress and boost your energy levels. Exercise might also prevent postpartum depression. However, it is important you let your body recover from the C-section before you begin any exercise program.
When to Start
Health care providers generally instruct you to wait six weeks before beginning an exercise program, such as jogging. However, this timeline is only suggestive and can differ between individual mothers. It is important you talk to your doctor about exercising and when it is safe for you to begin jogging. A C-section is a major abdominal surgery. If you begin jogging too early and with too high intensity, you might experience some serious complications such as heavy bleeding and tearing of the healing tissues.
Considerations
When you do start jogging after the C-section, it is important you listen to your body and start slowly. MayoClinic.com recommends you take time to warm up, begin slowly and increase your jogging pace gradually. Wear supportive clothing, such as a jogging bra and optionally, an abdominal support. You should stop exercising immediately if you feel pain. Contact your health care provider immediately if you experience abnormal or heavier bright, red vaginal bleeding after jogging.
Breast Feeding
If you are breast feeding after your C-section, high-intensity jogging can cause lactic acid accumulation into your breast milk. This can cause the flavor of your breast milk to turn sour and your baby might not like it, according to the MayoClinic.com. Stick to moderate-intensity jogging and drink plenty of water during and after the workout. Optionally, pump before your jogging workout or discard any milk produced 30 minutes after the workout.
