Reclaiming my body (part two) and my mind

Sorry for absence this month.  I don't really have a good excuse, I suppose I have just been trying to catch up with myself.  

We're starting a big clear out and it was with joy that along with the newborn and 0-3 month baby clothes I was also able to pack up not only my maternity clothes but also the trousers I had bought a size too big as I grew into and out of proper maternity wear.  I'm not back to my old shape but I am back in my old clothes.  Hurray!

Talking to other new mums I realise that we all have little things that we do to make ourselves feel better despite the sleep deprivation.  One friend always wears a bit of jewellery, another puts on mascara each day.  I have nice pyjamas, try not to wear exactly the same clothes two days in a row (maybe every other day though!) and paint my toenails (three coats so it last ages and I don't have have to take off the varnish until my nail grows).  These small things help to remind us that we are unique, individual women as well as mums.  For me, this little effort makes such a big difference to my sense of self and well being. 

Baby carrier exercises

This week I thought I would share some ideas for exercising while carrying a baby.

We don't have a double buggy and so for the last four months I have been pushing the toddler and carrying the baby.  That alone is pretty good exercise if I keep up a decent pace, but twice a week I try to do an all round workout with other mums in a local park.  The biggest challenge in these park sessions is keeping the baby settled during our session.  

Usually she falls asleep in the baby carrier on the way to the park.  When we arrive I get the toddler out of the buggy, lie the seat down and try to transfer the baby from the carrier into the buggy without waking her.  Every time I fail!  She is grumpy about her rude awakening and doesn't easily settle and I flit between trying to exercise and trying to calm her.

To avoid this difficult situation I adapt some of the exercises and do them while still carrying her.  Here are my suggestions for a baby carrier workout:

• Warm-up by power walking (never run with your baby in a carrier as their little heads are not supported and will shake about).  I stick to power walking while pushing the buggy for cardio work too.   
• I find that the baby carrier reminds to keep my back straight and hold my tummy in when doing squats and lunges.    
• Lots of floor work you can do against a park bench, including press-ups, an adapted plank and supported leg rotations.  You can also do tricep dips against a bench. 
• I find upper body stretches a bit harder to do but try to stretch out as best I can.  Standing tall with arms above my head helps me to stretch out my back from the ache of carrying the baby.
• The baby carrier and the buggy can be good aids for remembering your posture, and therefore strengthening your core.  The buggy is also a good prop for balancing exercises when the baby carrier alters your centre of gravity.

The extra weight can make a workout that much tougher, so don't be too ambitious!  If anyone else does baby carrier workouts I would love to know how you get on and what exercises you do.