Tone up that flabby tummy with baby!

Before getting yourself into any kind of exercise, check with your doctor first, especially if you had any complications during delivery or you had Caesarian section. Go slow at first as your body had just gone through a huge ordeal (giving birth) and at any sign of pain, STOP! Try again when you feel ready and painless. Read the article below for some guidelines:

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/ref/postnatalexerciseisbodyready/

These exercises can be done by Daddy too, for some major toning up and bonding time. Try and compete between Mommy & Daddy and see who can do more repetitions with baby. (If Mommy wins, you go, girl! Daddy, you have some serious catching up to do!)

Crunch with Baby

Starting Position:

Lie down on the floor or a mat with knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Sit baby on your hips, resting against her back against your thighs. Gently hold her in position. Keep a space between your chin and chest (looking diagonal towards the ceiling). Engage your abs by pulling your belly button towards your spine.

Action:

EXHALE: Hold onto baby and raise your chest until your shoulder blades lift off the floor. INHALE: Slowly lower back to floor to complete one rep. Aim or 1-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions.

Special Instructions:

Safety should be your main concern, for you and the baby. Make sure that baby is totally secure in all movements. If any exercise is uncomfortable or too strenuous with baby, try it without baby first. Focus on using your abs in a slow, controlled manner. Make sure your abs stay engaged throughout both phases of this movement. Raise your head and shoulders so they are just off the ground, or until you feel your abdominal muscles start to contract (keeping the head, neck and shoulders in line and avoiding tucking the chin in as you crunch). The traditional crunch targets the upper ab muscles (recti).

Reverse Crunches

Starting Position:

Lay baby face down on your shins, facing you while you lie on your back. Hold onto baby with your hands to keep her secure. Keeping your knees bent and your feet off the floor, engage your abdominal muscles by pulling your belly button in towards your spine. Keep a space between your chin and chest (looking diagonal towards the ceiling).

Action:

EXHALE: Lift from your hips, pulling your knees towards your chest, focusing on your abdominals. INHALE: Slowly lower hips and legs back down to the starting position to complete one rep. Aim for 1-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions.

Special Instructions:

Safety should be your main concern, for you and the baby. Make sure that baby is totally secure in all movements. If any exercise is uncomfortable or too strenuous with baby, try it without baby first. This is a very slow, small and deliberate movement. Be careful not to use momentum. Try to keep the motion controlled by your abs.

Source: www.strollerstrides.com