She could hardly wait to get back to the gym after giving birth to Christopher-Thomas. That's earlier than many obstetricians would like. They say the fitness culture, combined with recent publicity about ultraslim, fit celebrity moms like Cindy Crawford, is fueling some unrealistic expectations. Then, a few years ago, it would come up at the six-week checkup. R.I. He and others recommend that women who have uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries wait six weeks after delivery before heading back to aerobics classes.
Obstetricians say that a sensible exercise program can help a mother recover from childbirth.
Though Cordero has suffered no ill effects from her workouts, strenuous exercise right after childbirth can slow healing of the uterus and cause bleeding. It can also slow the healing of incisions from a cesarean section or an episiotomy, a cut made through the vaginal wall to ease delivery, says Carmen Sultana, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Because hormonal changes during pregnancy soften connective tissues, joints are especially vulnerable to injury in the weeks after birth. During that period, a new mother should limit herself to slow walking and light stretching. Once it's safe to exercise more vigorously, women should be careful not to get dehydrated, especially if they are breast-feeding.