Bounce Back After Pregnancy

Improvement Seen 7 Months After Giving Birth

(WebMD) 
Pregnancy Changes


Even the strongest, leanest women lost some ground in aerobic fitness and muscle strength during pregnancy and shortly after giving birth. The dip is understandable, given the challenges of pregnancy and early motherhood, say the researchers.

It's not clear when the changes took place, say the researchers. They didn't test any women during pregnancy, for safety's sake.

The decline in fitness and strength wasn't the end of the story. Less than seven months after giving birth, the women had recovered some of the ground they'd lost, the study shows.

It's not that motherhood made anyone buff. Rather, the data showed that pregnancy-related losses in fitness and strength were reversible.


New Priorities



Overall, the women were equally active before and after pregnancy, but their activities changed.

After pregnancy, they walked more and were more active around the house. Meanwhile, they backed off conditioning exercises and water-based activities.

"The reasons for these post-partum changes in activity, fitness, and strength are probably a reflection of the changes in the mother's responsibilities when becoming a parent," write researchers.


Staying Active During Pregnancy


Past generations may have shied away from activity during pregnancy, but that's no longer standard medical advice.

"Experts recommend that pregnant women who have no obstetric or medical problems exercise at least 30 minutes a day," says researcher Margarita Treuth, PhD, in a news release.

"Moderate activity, like brisk walking, will help maintain health and fitness of the changing pregnant body," says Treuth, who works at the Center for Human Nutrition at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

"Participation in a wide range of activities appears to be safe; participation in sports with high contact or with an increased risk of falling should be avoided," write researchers. When in doubt, ask a doctor for guidance.