Childbirth has a huge impact on a womens' body as we all know. Not only the physical changes but the emotional changes impact greatly on how a woman returns to riding. Time, strength, the cost of riding, guilt about leaving your baby is also a factor in many. So many women have partners who also make if difficult to return to riding. Some partners believe mothers shouldn't risk injury, shouldn't leave their baby, won't provide care while the mother is riding.
There are many factors to address for women to return to riding after having children. I experienced all of the above so I know the situation well. I can help you with the physical factors the other problems are unique to each new mother.
Every women suffers a weakness in their core stability post birth. The growth of the uterus stretches the abdominal muscles to the limit. Those that have very large babies can even have rib splitting new the end of their term.This increases the problem of recovery so much more.
Starting gentle abdominal exercises almost immediately is essential for muscle recovery. Gentle deep abdominal muscle tightening can be started as soon as possible. The tummy will recover naturally to a point but core stabilty requires understanding and effort. I teach "Pure Pilates" to my new mothers. This involves learning where the deep muscles are and how to engage them, then how to strengthen them, then how to use them. In my Applied Posture Riding program I teach riders how to apply core stabilty to their riding.
A new mother rerturning to riding not having addressed her core stabilty muscles will experience pain and a severe lack of strength and pre birth skills. Folling my simple Pilates program will give you strength, skill and confidence to return to riding with much less stress. Contact me for further details.
