If you can feel or see a midline-separation in the muscle under your hand that is more than two fingers wide, you have a diastisis and should not do any abdominal exercises without the permission from your doctor or healthcare provider. Be sure to get your doctor's permission before beginning this or any exercise program. Build up your exercise regimen gradually, and stop if you notice any pain or new bleeding. And don't forget that your joints and ligaments will continue to be relatively loose for as long as five months after delivery, so no matter how accustomed you are to strength training you should take care not to overdo your workouts. You will also want to do some type of cardiovascular workout, such as brisk walking.
Many women begin walking within a few days of giving birth.
Start out with an easy five minute walk, two or three days per week, and work up to 20 minutes. If you are a runner, it is best to delay running for several weeks because your still-loose joints will make you more susceptible to sprains and similar ligamentous injuries. Before you begin any exercise session, warm up with six to 10 minutes of walking, marching in place, or stationary biking before you begin. All rights reserved.