Post baby wobbly bits ;-)

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allowayhorses

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Hi all,

So today I had my first proper ride on my horse since June. I had my first baby 8 weeks ago, so need to get back riding.

I managed a few canters but I have zero upper body strength. My belly was wobbling (I still have a stone of baby weight to lose) but does anyone have any tips on how I can help my core?

My boy is not strong and well schooled, but I struggled to come back to trot from canter as have no strength. I thought lugging a 13lb baby around everyday would have made me strong but no such luck.

Tea and (healthy) biscuits for anyone with tips/advice :-)
 
Pilates is good. But give yourself a break - your baby is only 8 weeks old. My baby is 16 yrs old and I am still trying to lose the "baby fat"...haha.
 
Gentle sit ups at home. Up the stairs 2 at a time. Squat exercises too help.

Coming from a lady who has plenty of wobbly bits some 6 and half years post-baby!
 
Stand up straight, legs apart to shoulder width. Tip sideways, taking your hand down to your knee. Return to the upright position and tip the other way. Repeat :)

As advised by my MW years ago ... my muscles split vertically and the above is kinder than sit ups/stomach crunches.
 
My daughter is 6 months old and I am only just back into a proper riding routine after my mare got injured in the summer. As I am getting her fitness back too we are taking it steady and have yet to canter, but sitting trot is a lot easier now my pelvis has loosened up :D
I find yoga really helps, I go to a mum & baby class once a week where we do a lot of core-strengthening postures. I also found this quick routine on youtube which is especially for equestrians, and you can squeeze it in during nap time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZveGs7Udaw
Don't stress too much about your fitness, it will come back but your tiny baby will soon be grown up so enjoy :)

PS) Don't forget your kegels - they'll really help your seat too
 
i feel your pain - i was exactly the same, 0 strength!! My baby is now 6 months old too and Im back as fit as i was before. Dont rush it. I went to see an osteopath when my baby was 10 weeks and he told me off for trying to do sit ups and said it was too soon. He gave me some gentler exercises though. That said when I had tried sit ups i was dismayed to find i literally could not do a single one! I really struggled with my canter and downward transitions too. Ive just been generally exercising, did some basic yoga and started running too and Ive just discovered I can do sit ups easily again:cool: It will come, dont worry:)
 
I think cantering first time is asking a bit much of both you and your horse!

Id do interval training with you and your horse! So 1 mins trot, 30 secs rest repeat 8 times.

Also get to the gym and start lifting some weights, find a kettlebell class once a week - these are great for core and cv and strength :D
 
Tiger tail, my horse has been in full work whilst I was not riding so he is very fit. I had sat On him 2 weeks ago for a walk round the arena so today was first time riding properly so to speak :-)

Thanks for all the advice. I am starting mum an baby yoga in January so hope that will help. Couldn't really do sit ups before baby so not holding out much hope for doing those yet ;-)

Thanks again everyone. X
 
So sorry I misread the not strong bit - having just been back and reread it! I shall toddle off to spec savers in the morning!

Free weights training really is the best thing for getting over stretched muscles back in working order! Sit ups on their own arent going to achieve as much as a kettlebell class will - if you give me a rough location I might be able to link some classes :)
 
allowayhorses said:
Hi all,

So today I had my first proper ride on my horse since June. I had my first baby 8 weeks ago, so need to get back riding.

I managed a few canters but I have zero upper body strength. My belly was wobbling (I still have a stone of baby weight to lose) but does anyone have any tips on how I can help my core?

My boy is not strong and well schooled, but I struggled to come back to trot from canter as have no strength. I thought lugging a 13lb baby around everyday would have made me strong but no such luck.

Tea and (healthy) biscuits for anyone with tips/advice :-)
Click to expand...
I'd stick to walking for now. It takes a long time for your muscles to get back to how they were if ever in some cases:/ At 8 weeks I was barely able to look after myself and baby never mind ride as well. My baby is 16 months and my stomach is still not what it was, muscles are still slightly parted. I bought a human touch IJOY ride, its a horse riding simulator, I dont use it a lot but i think has helped strengthen my core. You can get them off ebay for about £100.
 
More exercise in general. Probably not ones focusing mainly on stomach muscles, general exercise, walking, swimming, cycling, aerobics, gym etc. Then, when you've lost the extra weight & are fitter, stomach should be improved anyway. Then just look at specific core exercise to finish off.
 
Take it easy, it's still very early days and it will take a while to get your core strength back. Until you do your balance won't be what it used to be so be careful what you ride.

My muscles are still split 18 months later although better than they were. Not sure if they will knit, the MW suggested that in some cases (ironically women who had strong abdominals when they got pregnant) they need to surgically reconnect them but they only do it after you have finished having children.

Another vote for Pilates, it's great for core strength.
 
Do stuff you can maintain and manage with your baby around, or when she is asleep. For me, looking after my children was pretty much enough. Lots of running up and downstairs, doing loads of laundry, gardening, lifting baby up in the air over and over, hold your baby and do squats (just go down a little at first) - they love it, and you'll get fit and have fun together. Lots of pushchair walks (do you have dogs?). Pilates is also good. And give yourself time.

That said, after the second (7 months old now) am still really struggling with muffin tops... is this what ageing does to you?!
 
I find poo picking and mucking out/lugging bales of hay and sacks of feed etc in this cold weather do a pretty good job of shaving off the baby pounds ;) (if I can refrain from gobbling all the Christmas chocolate and yummy winter food!!)
 
Thanks everyone :-) I go walking with the buggy and my 2 dogs everyday along with mucking out each morning so hopefully that will increase my fitness level.

I am going to take it slowly riding wise and build up as my strength increases, now I just have to find time to ride. Who wants to babysit- lol. X
 
Am interested in this post too :) i have another 3 weeks left till my due date but been itching to get back on board since not riding since may :(
My cob has been out of work too since June ao we will both be toddling/plodding round together and slowly build up our fitness again!!
Am lucky as haven't put on weight really, just a big bump which am hoping will disperse after a few weeks after birth - well it did with my other 2.
I am worried however about my balance as i beleive it can be affected quite badly :(
My 2 other children are 7 and 8 and as they where born close together i didn't ride again till my youngest was 4 so plenty of recovery time!!
 
I think I waited about 3 months before I rode but I did have pelvic problems during pregnancy.
Be warned - my balance was DREADFUL in the couple of months following the birth, before I got back on the horse we would do as much walking as I could manage, I kept falling over! Tripping over tree roots, stumbling or turning my ankle. I ripped holes in several pairs of trousers and always had a bruise somewhere. I even fell down the stairs. I was so scared of falling over I wouldn't use the baby sling. So I probably would have fallen off the horse anyway!
 
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