Getting back into shape for riding after baby.

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thorney84

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Had my baby a month ago and now ive got 4-6 weeks till i ride again. The horse i ride is quite strong so looking for advice from mummys as to what i can do for my core muscles. Thanks in advance.
 
Sorry haven't got any advice but would be interested in this as my baby is due any day now and I'm dying to get back in the saddle. I appreciate it will be a month or two yet but if I have something to do in the meantime that will help when I have to get back on the big 17.2hh very strong TB I'd definitley give it a go!
 
I got back on board 2 weeks after normal delivery :)

To be honest I just did loads of walking and a bit of trot for a month or so. He's a big horse and I was worried but we just seemed to get fit together as he was out of work for the last 6 months of my pregnancy. It really is surprising how unfit you feel when you first get back on I can remember someone in the school trying to talk to me when I was trotting and I was so out of puff I couldn't reply!

Just ride little and often (not that easy with a baby) and increase gradually and you will soon be back to normal! Good luck Marv99 don't let go of that gas and air!
 
Thanks horses 24-7 much as I have enjoyed being pregnant its getting uncomfortable and I want to ride again! I've started bringing my boy in from the field just for a groom and a play as he's pretty much been out of work since Christmas and for the last 10 weeks has just been out 24/7. I check him twice a day but he seems to think that retired life at 7 is great so I thought he should get used to being played with again. Plus it gives me something to do even if I brush a quarter of him and then have to rest and he has dirty ears becasue I can't reach!

Def won't be letting go of that Gas and Air!!!
 
I started riding 6 weeks after giving birth to my LO. I started gradually but it didn't take long to get back into my usual routine. I even did my Stage 1 riding exam 7 weeks after which I don't recommend as I was dying after!. I have found that since giving birth my figure has changed quite a lot and the more I ride the more my waist shrinks but nothing else! lol.

Start off with gentle walks and trotting and then progress from there. I found hacking out when the weather permitted helped as it made me relax a lot more. Believe me your muscles will get a good enough workout just looking after LO.
 
Do your pelvic floor exercises as often as you can - I used to do them in the car repeatedly and they definitely work...

Also - before you get off just make sure you take a moment to stretch down and relax your hips without stirrups. I launched myself off after having my first child (and a nasty delivery) and my hips nearly gave way.

To be honest I'm nowhere near as riding fit as I was pre-kids but that's simply down to lack of time - I'm sure it will come back for you quickly and just make sure you enjoy those child-free hacks!!
 
Just remember that you have had hormones in your body to relax the ligaments, so treat yourself gently to start with (just forget all those mad women who leapt back in the saddle 2 weeks after birth to race ride or go showing, or whatever).

I have had 3 children, and everything does more or less go back where it should (although my waist disappeared in 1982 and hasn't reappeared). It does need work and effort, although you don't have to do it straight away. I remember going to my first show post first baby and going to pick up a filled water carrier to put in the LR - and nothing happened, it stayed on the ground!

A good incentive is all those expensive riding clothes in the wardrobe, do you really want to buy 2 new jackets?

Just take it gently and gradually increase the time and intensity, you are going to have to regain fitness and strength, although obviously the more you did before, the quicker it will come back.

Mind, keep riding as it pays off in the long run . I have a flatter stomach than my contemories who don't ride.
 
Echo the others, pelvic floor exercises! Just do little and often to ease yourself back in!

I had my youngest in the front room on the Saturday morning and was back in the saddle on the Friday but I had a very easy birth and she was my fourth so I knew how much I could do.

Good luck !
 
I'm soon to start riding again after having over a year off, due to pregnancy and then lack of time to ride once baby was born!! I gave birth last sept but what with mucking out and all the necessities with horses and babies I'd really have struggled to have fit riding in!! I have two very sharp horses, one a tb exracer, so I know I won't be able to bumble about in walk regaining my fitness on them!! I'v made the most of my time off, poo picking, lots of walking and fitness dvd's hoping I will get on them and not be too out of breath!! I know I will be though!! I'v got an extra 2 stone of weight now that's so hard to shift! Before I was like a rake and could eat what I wanted! The worst thing is going to be the saddle sore!!!!
 
I am 7 weeks post c-section and thinking of popping on my safe cob for a walk next week to see how it goes. I have been doing a little bit of Pilates and gradually trying things like lifting and pushing the wheelbarrow and so far so good. The main thing I was told was to take it slowly because if I cause myself harm it will take a lot longer for it all to heal. Realistically finding the time to ride around a baby that breast feeds is also going to be a challenge, probably more of a challenge than being fit enough to ride.
 
Booboos said:
Realistically finding the time to ride around a baby that breast feeds is also going to be a challenge, probably more of a challenge than being fit enough to ride.
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not so sure, best thing about breastfeeding is that you can do it anywhere as milk is ready to flow. Both my boys were breastfed and came to the yard with me from early on (ok, had no choice as no family nearby etc etc) but they don't want to feed ALL the time and when it really became necessary I would feed them in the car before finishing off the horse or so. No bottles to sterilise or milk to heat up :)

I rode again after 10-14 days after each birth, both times birth was under "normal" circumstances although I had an episiotomy (=cut, ouch!!) with the first one and therefore an awful lot of stitches, so it was a bit uncomfortable to start with but as all was healing fine and I was not bleeding anymore I felt it was ok to go back on board. I just did what I felt comfortable with...

It will also depend on pre-birth fitness I think, I was pretty fit as kept active all throughout pregnancies including riding until very late...

But it all depends on personal circumstances
 
Maybe a have an odd baby then! She is eating every two hours, feeds take anything between 15 and 50 minutes so with settling her down again this hardly leaves an hour in between to getting anything else done! This goes on through the night so I am really sleep deprived, so despite having the horses at home I hardly have time to pop over and give them a pat much less ride them.

I am expressing milk so hopefully OH can spell me for a couple of hours but I may need that time to shower, eat and sleep!
 
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