Incorporating exercise into your daily routine can feel like an impossible challenge with a baby. Your life can feel like it has been consumed by your sudden new responsibilities. With this change in life, it’s important to find some time for yourself. You may not have enough time to make it to the gym, or you can’t leave your baby for long enough to work out.

The great news is that working out doesn’t have to be complicated. You can incorporate
exercises into your busy schedule with a little thing we love to call stroller jogging. It may be hard work, but it lets you have time with your kids while focusing on you.

Why should moms run after having a baby?

Let’s start by saying how quickly you get back to exercising after a baby depends on you and your birth experience. If your birth was easier, you can get back to exercise as soon as your body feels ready. If your birth was more challenging, speak to your doctor before you hop behind that stroller.

Most doctors will suggest anywhere between 6-12 weeks, depending on the mom. 

Your lower back and core are much weaker than they used to be, as are your ligaments and joints. Take it easy, and don’t strain yourself. Once you’re ready to go jogging, strap in! As one of the best self-care ideas for moms, there are a whole bunch of benefits you can gain from stroller jogging!

Physical benefits

• Rebuild your pelvic floor: With the right approach, jogging can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Your pelvic floor muscles will be stretched and weakened after childbirth, so jogging can help you regain that strength.
• Weight management: Not that we should feel any shame in our postpartum bodies (mom, you just grew a whole human!), but jogging can help you burn calories. It’s a good way to shed any baby weight you want to lose.
• Improve heart health: During pregnancy, blood volume increases to nourish your baby. This condition puts a strain on your heart, as does giving birth. Picking up jogging will strengthen your heart and bring back your energy levels.

Mental benefits

• Boost your mood: Exercise releases endorphins, elevating your mood and relieving stress. Physical activity can also help fight against feelings of postpartum depression.
• Sense of accomplishment: Is there anything better than feeling proud of yourself? Completing a jog or even a run can give you a huge feeling of accomplishment and boost your confidence.
• Social connection: What if you found other new moms in your area, and you could all pick up stroller jogging together? Find yourself some new mom friends and chat about your experiences while you jog.

How do you run with a jogging stroller?

Physically, it’s harder to run with a jogging stroller than a regular jog or run. You’ve got extra weight to push around with you, and you have to make sure your baby is doing okay. But, many moms have no choice but to incorporate a stroller. 

Check with your doctor, but waiting until your child is at least six months old is recommended before taking up stroller jogging. Your baby should have good head control to be okay with your jogging pace. 

First, ensure you’ve got a running or jogging stroller. Unlike a regular stroller, these have three large wheels and a suspension system. They’re better designed to sustain bumpy terrain and the fast pace you’ll soon get up to. Take a few practice laps without your baby to get used to them. 

Good form is really important. Be aware of your posture and avoid hunching forward. Keep your back tall and straight. Using one arm to push is okay; you can keep that running motion with the other. You might find you’re pushing more with one arm, but you need to alternate to avoid overusing any side of your body. 

Jogging with a stroller is definitely going to slow you down. It’s better to set out for a specific total time rather than distance. Focus on slowly building back up your pace rather than pressuring yourself to complete a jog in a certain amount of time. 

Can I run with a regular stroller?

Regular strollers are intended for walking. As mentioned, a running stroller can handle your pace and challenging terrain. Standard strollers aren’t designed for impact, and you could quickly lose control. 

Jogging specific strollers are a lot safer, not only for your child but also for you. Running strollers will have safety features, including a suspension system, durable tires, and often a hand brake. That suspension feature will make the ride smoother for you and your baby. 

Five tips on finding ways to add running with a stroller into your busy day

1. Give your child a reward

If your child tends to get fussy while in the stroller, you can reward them with little things—maybe a playground trip or a little extra screen time afterward. Sometimes, bribery isn’t a bad thing, moms!

2. Choose good routes

Awful sidewalks with cracks and bumps can make stroller jogging almost impossible. Find a quiet route with a smooth path will make running easier. 

3. Learn to be flexible

Any parent will know that flexibility is crucial. Sticking to a training plan with a baby involved will make you want to tear your hair out. Have a rough idea of how many jogs you want to do a week and go from there.

4. Change your expectations

As we touched on before, the pace at which you run without a stroller will be totally different from that with one. Introducing a stroller and a baby is a learning curve. Don’t stress about being slower than before.

You may find yourself lacking motivation. Don’t worry—these 150+ daily positive affirmations for moms will help you during this journey!

5. Have fun with it!

Exercise feels awful if you’re not having fun with it. This is great as you’re spending time with your kid while exercising. You’ll have way more fun when you stop seeing it as a chore.

Conclusion

If you want to add exercise back into your routine, stroller jogging might be the trick. It’s easy to add to your busy schedule. Just make sure you do it safely and do not strain your body too quickly postpartum. With all the benefits, it’s well worth trying.

The post How to incorporate stroller jogging into your busy schedule appeared first on From Bump To Bubble.

So you just had your beautiful baby and now have that beautiful baby body! Let’s embrace this special time in your life by creating a postpartum capsule wardrobe. Your new body deserves to be dressed in a comfortable style – let’s talk about how to dress postpartum. 

As an Image Consultant, I help women in all stages of their lives feel good about themselves. You don’t need to feel unattractive after having a baby. Here are my pro tips to make your postpartum clothes work for you and make you feel beautiful! 

How to dress postpartum and build the perfect wardrobe

Your postpartum wardrobe does not have to be frumpy and out of style. Postpartum fashion can be stylish while working for your new lifestyle. 

Yes, easy nursing access tops for nursing moms and postpartum pants don’t have to be boring. Here are some things you need to consider when building your new postpartum wardrobe.

Know your body type

Knowing how to dress for your body type is one of the first tips to improve your style. Most new moms experience changes in the shape of their bodies. 

You may not have your thinner pre-baby body, but trust me, there are styling tricks to enhance your most flattering features no matter your size or body concern.  

Here are the 6 body types:

• Hourglass
• Pear
• Apple
• Rectangle
• Triangle 
• Inverted Triangle

If you’re a new mom, giving birth creates weight around your lower stomach and thighs. This may give you a “pear” or “apple” shape. If you are like most postpartum women, dressing to hide your tummy is something you struggle with and feel the most self-conscious about. 

Understandably, you may want to keep wearing your maternity clothes shortly after giving birth while you are home recovering. There are several styles that I recommend for new moms for your post-baby body when you’re ready to get back out there.

What clothes are most flattering for your postpartum body?

How do I style my postpartum belly you ask? Here are some postpartum wardrobe staples that will always be comfortable and stylish. Postpartum clothes can be flattering and stylish if you know what to look for when shopping. 

Flared leggings

Flared leggings are on trend right now and it’s the perfect postpartum wardrobe staple for comfort and style. The stretchy waistband is forgiving as you gain or lose weight. 

Flare leggings are great postpartum pants! If you are a pear or apple shape, the flared bottom will balance your proportions. These Bumblime flared leggings are comfortable and versatile. 

Wrap dresses and tops

Wrap dresses and tops are so nursing-friendly. Every new mom should have them in their postpartum wardrobe. I also love that they are adjustable, so these are great postpartum dresses for nursing or pumping. 

Wrap dresses create an illusion of a waist due to their style. If you are a pear or apple shape, a wrap dress will make you look as if your waist is thinner. A ruched wrap top hides tummy bulge and has easy access for breastfeeding. 

Peplum tops

Peplum is all over the runway in 2024 and thank goodness because it’s a style that is tummy flattering! If you have a tummy bulge, a peplum-style top will hide it! I love this Cicibird peplum button-down top.

High-waisted maxi skirts

Maxi skirts are in vogue this season. Your postpartum body will feel confident and comfortable in a high-waisted maxi skirt. This Anrabess maxi skirt is perfect.

This is a great wardrobe staple for a changing body whether you are in your fourth trimester or after the first few weeks after birth. A maxi skirt is great to wear if you are dealing with a postpartum period. 

Empire waist dresses

The waist of an empire waist dress sits high above the natural waist. This creates the illusion of height while offering more room around the tummy. This Prettygarden empire waist maxi is very flattering on all body types. 

A-line and swing dresses

A-line and swing dresses are very comfortable for new moms. They deserve a place in your postpartum wardrobe. They are super comfortable and convenient if you are dealing with a postpartum period. I love this WNEEDU swing dress. It even has pockets!

These postpartum dresses are forgiving on changing bodies. I recommend getting some button-downs as well which are great for breastfeeding.

Postpartum jeans

Postpartum jeans are a must-have in any postpartum wardrobe. You can even get them in skinny jeans if you are comfortable with them. These Levi’s skinny tummy control jeans are perfect for new moms. 

In 2024 however, wide and baggy jeans are trending, so I recommend postpartum jeans in these comfortable “mom” styles. Why not get a denim diaper bag as well to go with those denim jeans? I love this Babbleroo waterproof denim diaper bag. 

Know your personal style

The next step as a new mom to build your confidence is identifying your personal style or style identity. This will help you build an authentic postpartum wardrobe that suits your personality and lifestyle.  

Your postpartum clothes can be an asset to your wardrobe and style. The easiest way is to take a style personality quiz. As a new mom, it’s easy to lose yourself, but identifying your style can give you power and confidence. 

Improve your postpartum mood with color

Wearing the right colors for your skin type and undertone can help look and feel more attractive. Dressing with colors in your seasonal color palate can give you a healthy glow and bring out your best facial features.

It can also give you a much-needed mood boost and build your confidence. “Dopamine dressing” is a term used to dress in colors that boost your mood. 

Before you go out and buy those postpartum clothes, take a color analysis test with a simple online tool to find your color palette. 

Pro Tip: If you want to look taller and slim instantly, dress in dark monochrome colors.

Postpartum style never looked so good 

Now that you know these stylist secrets, you can use them to create a stylish and comfortable postpartum wardrobe that works for you. This list includes nursing-friendly tops, button-up dresses, and leggings that will be your wardrobe staples. 

Don’t forget to identify your personal style and seasonal color palette to put it all together. Your postpartum clothing can be something you look forward to wearing every day. Now enjoy your newborn and your newfound postpartum style!

The post How to Dress Postpartum for Style and Comfort in 2024 appeared first on From Bump To Bubble.