Caesarian Section

Updated on May 14, 2010
T.R. asks from Beverly Hills, CA
13 answers

when is the best time to exercise after a caesarian section? 2 years or more? i want to try the crunches again if possible :-)

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A.A.

answers from San Diego on

Everyone heals differently. I was comfortable exercising 5 months after. I was fine walking but not real cardio until at least 5 months.

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B.L.

answers from San Francisco on

6-8 weeks is the standard... and for myself, thats about when I started taking lots of walks (with the stroller). For actual crunches and more intense targetted exercises, I felt most comfortable doing them probably about 5 months in. Start slow, ease into it, but most importantly listen to your body! We're all different! Even after almost 2 years later, sometimes I'll feel a little tingle from the C-section. Nothing painful, but just a feeling since the nerves were cut.

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A.S.

answers from San Diego on

2 years?! No no! You can start exercising comfortably way before that! I've had two c-sections and started working out about 4-6 months after each one.

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D.G.

answers from Las Vegas on

The other moms are right -- 6-8 weeks unless you have some complications . Be prepared for the body not to respond :-) After my first c-section I was eager to start exercising again, so---- there I was, on the floor, ready to start my sit ups... Sit up one: my head came off the floor about 3 inches; second try: my head came off the floor about 3 inches. The rest of my body was stuck on the floor like a sack of flour :-) At that point I was laughing so hard my husband thought I'd lost it! So start slow and easy, it will take awhile to regain the muscle control.

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E.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

My doctor gave me the ok to exercise 8 weeks after my c-section. I started walking and then jogging, and about 6 months after my c-section I started doing abs regularly.

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

6 weeks. As soon as your doc clears it is better to start early it helps the scar tissue. I was that day doing my pilates routine and my doc was very happy with that.

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M.T.

answers from Chicago on

I think 2 years is a long time but I would absolutely ask your doctor. If you want to reduce belly fat start with cardio and other core excercises that are not directly pulling on your stomache.

Happy exercising!
M.
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H.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

After 8 weeks. Just start out slow since you get so out of shape with pregnancy and surgery recovery.

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N.D.

answers from Houston on

I started with a beginner Pilates about 6mths after mine, then gradually moved up to the hardest class and I never had any problems. It was probably about 4 months before I was at the hardest level and I think that is the way to go. Nice and slow!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I don't know about how long... ask your Doc.
But, my Doc told me... to do not crunches, but the knee to elbow type sit-ups.... working the obliques.
I had 2 c-sections. This is what the Doc advised.
I also carried my kids so big, that people thought I had twins when I was pregnant... and I had some abdominal separation.

Again, ask your Doc, about when you can start with stomach exercises and other exercises.

good luck,
Susan

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

You can usually start walking about 8 weeks after your c-section, though you should confirm with your doctor. As for things like crunches or pilates, I don't know exactly but I do know you don't have to wait anywhere near two years. I can't imagine it's more than 3-4 months unless you have problems related to your surgery.

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E.M.

answers from Denver on

I had no complications and started light exercise about 6 weeks after with the doctors ok.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

I'm sure that you can start low impact exercise within a couple of months after a cesarean. Cruches, you can try them but I don't know how that will go. There is no recommendation in terms of years about any type of exercise. I had more invasive abdominal surgery than a csection and I won't be doing a crunch for the rest of my life, because it's not physically possible for me but only you'll be able to figure out if you can. If you have concerns, definitely run them by your doctor. Good luck

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