The Long Game
It is all about the long game. The long game is taking small, planned necessary steps in order to achieve your long term goal or plan. In general, life is long and the months after having a baby are short. They may not feel short, but in the scheme of life they are a small moment in time. A special, cherished, difficult and confusing moment in time, but a moment.
As women and mothers, we are inundated with information about this time and about a speedy and quick recovery. We are encouraged to “bounce back” and resume our life as closely as it was to before our babies were born.
I would encourage you to reject the notion of “bouncing back” and returning to life and exercise quickly and like nothing has happened. I would encourage you to take the time to rehab and rebuild your body and yourself. Just like an athlete who has endure an injury and is rehabbing their way back to the top of their game. You need to rehab yourself back to where you were before pregnancy and delivery. If an athlete rushes back to play after an injury, they are likely to injure themselves again or not fully get back to the top of their game.
Rushing back to the same exercise or activity at the same intensity and frequency as before a pregnancy may result in setbacks and disappointment. Appreciating all that your body has undergone during your pregnancy, delivery and now in the postpartum period is huge. Do you want to return to running 5k races? 10K races? A full Cross- Fit workout five days a week? The Yoga class you love?
Remember your long game. Avoid taking short term wins to sacrifice long term success. Realizing the need to rebuild with patience can help you achieve your goals of returning to running, jumping, lifting, swimming, Yoga etc. without pain, injury or worry.
Start with small goals, be consistent and ask for help.
Now, more than ever there are many resources to help postpartum women achieve their goals with exercise, nutrition, mental health, parenting etc.
Some of my favorites are:
Open Circle Rhode Island - https://opencircleri.com/
Fourth Trimester Support Circle - https://www.fourthtrimestersupportcircle.com/
Montana DePasquale - Running and Strength Coach for perinatal women - https://apres-run.com/
Brianna Battles - Pregnant and Postpartum Athleticism
Bird & Bee - https://www.birdandbee.co/