When can abdominal muscle training be started?
It is very difficult to determine the exact point in time at which one may start abdominal muscle training after giving birth and this can never be made binding. It depends very much on the fitness level of the mother when training should be started. In general, you should always discuss with your doctor when and to what extent you can start training.
It is also important how fit the mother has remained during pregnancy. The physical activities in everyday life and before pregnancy also have an influence on the time when you can start training the abdominal muscles again. Especially mothers who have not done any sports before or who have completely abstained from sports during pregnancy should start exercising slowly immediately after pregnancy and first attend a course in regression gymnastics. Mothers who have remained active in sports can start with light stretching exercises after the birth.
Risks
Anyone who has had back or pelvic pain during pregnancy should first ask their doctor whether and from when abdominal muscle training and sports in general are possible again. If abdominal muscle training is started too early or the training is too intensive, risks can arise and also increase. During pregnancy the ligaments and abdominal muscles are stretched and pushed aside by the growing uterus.
This process is called rectus diastasis. Rectus diastasis can cause pain in the lumbar region and lower back during and after pregnancy. Mothers who start abdominal muscle training too early after giving birth risk a so-called pointy belly.
The muscles need time to move back to their original position after birth. If abdominal muscle training is started too early, it will do more harm to the muscles than it will strengthen them. The muscles no longer retract to their original place of origin, but move forward at an angle.
If the abdominal muscles are now contracted, the abdomen bulges forward due to the abdominal muscles lying to the side. You can read more helpful information on this topic: What postnatal classes are there? Mothers who start abdominal muscle training too early after giving birth risk a so-called pointy belly.
The muscles need time to move back to their original position after the birth. If abdominal muscle training is started too early, it will do more harm to the muscles than it will strengthen them. The muscles no longer retract to their original place of origin, but move forward at an angle.
If the abdominal muscles are now contracted, the abdomen bulges forward due to the abdominal muscles lying to the side. You can read more helpful information on this topic: What postnatal classes are there?
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