Postpartum Recovery in the Outdoors
“Started from the bottom, now [I’m] here”. Drake nailed it!... But in all seriousness: this is my story of how I went from barely being able to walk to doing 50-kilometer bike rides, summiting mountaintops and cross-country skiing with my baby - all while she napped!
NOTE: I’d like to begin by emphasizing that this is my personal experience, and that I am just your average “gal” who seeks to be active daily for my mental health. Furthermore, I’d like to acknowledge that every pregnancy and postpartum recovery is different.
Throughout my first and second trimesters, I stayed moderately active by jogging, skiing, hiking and climbing at the gym (with the most hilarious pregnancy harness!).
Upon entering my third trimester, I became so exhausted from growing and carrying my baby, that I resorted to walking only. In retrospect: I wish I had pushed myself a little more, as I think it would have helped with my recovery in the fourth trimester. However, I listened to my body and have no regrets about taking that time to nest.
Once my sweet, little Sara arrived, I was at “square one”. Days after her birth, I developed some symptoms that prevented me from walking; These symptoms kept worsening throughout that first week. As any millennial mom would do, I hopped onto Google, self-diagnosed my pain as prolapse, then immediately scheduled a doctor’s appointment. Thankfully, my doctor ruled out prolapse (phew!) and informed me that I had a fairly serious infection since my stitches had fallen out. She put me on some heavy-duty antibiotics and sent me on my way. Thank goodness for modern medicine!.. I started feeling better within a few days.
As soon as I felt ready, I started walking again. These turned into interval walks/runs: I would aim for 5-kilometer stretches and track them on my Strava, which kept me motivated as I could see my progress. After each walk/run, I would make mental notes on how I was feeling physically, mentally and emotionally. If I felt any large amount of pressure or leaking, I would scale back, rest and heal.
Because I saw improvements every time, it encouraged me to keep going. I continued to track other activities (i.e. skiing and biking) on Strava too. Consistency was key! - That alone helped me notice my progress from one activity to the next.
Once I felt like my normal self again, I started doing all these activities with Sara. This was a real game-changer for my fitness, since I was now towing her while hiking, biking and skiing. Trust me: This will whip you into shape fast! From here on in, your strength will grow as your baby grows!
That wraps up my story, but I have a few takeaways for you!:
Listen to your body.
Being “ready” is 100% relative. This could be after six weeks, three months, six months… even a year! The important part is to tune into your recovery and to not compare it to others. The standard six-week postpartum check-up is not nearly enough time for most of us to recuperate. Please don’t put pressure on yourself physically just because you have been “cleared” at that appointment. Be patient. Be kind to yourself. You will heal in time!
Seek professional help.
Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor or your pelvic floor physiotherapist to assess you. Advocating for yourself is key! It addresses the root of the problem way quicker and way more productively than going down the Google rabbit-hole.
Find credible resources.
There are many free resources available (i.e. YouTube videos, social media platforms, podcasts) that are backed up by professionals, and aim to help you in your recovery. Some of our favourite social media accounts include: The Belle Method, Get Mom Strong and The Vagina Whisperer.
