Consensus Guidance Lays Out Recommendations for Postpartum Physical Activity
FRIDAY, March 28, 2025 -- New mothers are encouraged to engage in two hours per week of exercise, according to a consensus guideline published online March 25 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Margie H. Davenport, Ph.D., from University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and colleagues conducted a literature review to develop consensus guidance for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep throughout the first year postpartum.
Based on seven systematic reviews, the panel recommended postpartum women and people accumulate at least 120 minutes/week of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA; e.g., brisk walking and muscular-strengthening exercises, including those targeting the lower back). After childbirth, initiating light-intensity physical activity is encouraged, as early mobilization has been associated with better health outcomes. Progression to MVPA recommendations should be individualized, gradual, and symptom-based, taking into account the time needed to heal from pregnancy and childbirth, physical and mental health, and readiness to engage in postpartum physical activity. Daily pelvic floor muscle training may reduce the risk for urinary incontinence. Once surgical incisions or perineal tears have sufficiently healed and vaginal bleeding does not increase with MVPA, returning to running and resistance training is generally safe. Consultation with health care providers is recommended for those with potential contraindications to postpartum physical activity (e.g., caesarean section with symptoms that worsen with MVPA).
"Adhering to these consensus recommendations for postpartum women and people is likely to result in large improvements in psychological well-being, as well as pelvic, musculoskeletal, and cardiometabolic health, and reduced fatigue, while not experiencing adverse events (moderate-certainty evidence)," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
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