[Snoopysgirl]

I am not able to exercise just yet because my bleeding is still going back to the bright red..;however, I anticipate at some point I will get the go ahead to do so.. but the way my routine (or lack thereof) goes..I don't know how I will fit it in!! I just had #4 on July 4 and this lil skin creature loves to be held and nursed..and I LOVE to hold and nurse her;however, I am wanting to get fit and so I thought that I would see how you other mamas manage to fit it all into your schedule. I can't get up early to exercise..I am seriously sleep deprived as is..and we co sleep..and our home is in disarray so I couldn't exercise on the treadmill or a tape anyway because we have boxes and tubs all over since we are moving in a month.

Help me and give me some awesome suggestions please!

[Rakkoon]

I would say wait alittle while. I would ask my husband to watch my son for me to get at least a 25 minute workout. If it isn't possible now don't worry enjoy your baby she will only be this size for a short time. When she can handle a walk in the stroller go for it. My son at 11 months is still adjusting to the idea of being strapped down in a stroller. I have to make my morning walk very early in the morning.
**Do you have a Baby carrier or other wise known as a "sling"? It's great, I was able to have my son in the sling all day doing housework. Since he always wanted that skin contact this worked wonders. When he was a newborn I carried him in the front while I wanted around the track for an hour. He never woke up. I still use it, for those times when he wants to be held, I can still go about my normal days work at home. Now that he is older I will wear him on my side, he will be very content for a while. Another good thing about it is that you can Breastfeed the baby hands free. Just another idea.

[GreatBigMonsterMomma]

I second the notion of a sling, or a soft harness carrier like the ones made by Snugli or Infantino. That way the baby gets held like she needs & you can still get some exercise in by walking. Right after I had Linda, I bought one of Jorge Cruise's 8 Minutes in the Morning books and used that for easy & relatively quick exercise during her naptimes. Another good book is Yoga Mama, Buddha Baby, which is a book full of yoga to do with your baby. For some of the asanas you hold her, for some of them she's just near you. If you time some yoga to her quiet alert phases, she might just let you sit her down and amuse her.

Congratulations, by the way!

[LBH]

Give yourself some time to heal first! Sounds like you're up to your eyeballs with preparing to move and take care of your sweet baby, so take it easy. You have plenty of time to get in shape. Take a breather during the day and go for a walk, if it's not too hot. Or go to the mall and walk for a bit. It's a distraction and baby will love looking at all the lights and goings on there.

[barbygirl43]

I agree that it may be too soon. I started walking in the evenings with the baby in a stroller just around the yard (I have a large yard in the country). By then it was the end of mar./first of apr. and the weather was okay for walking. As I got back into a routine and he started a routine I found I could get up earlier in the mornings to exercise. Or I waited until DH got home and exercise at 9 p.m. at night. I figured that was a better time than not at all.

good luck with it all.

[HoosierHeather]

It's just too hot to do outdoor exercise right now, even for a person in peak physical condition. You have 4 kids so you know way more about these things than I do, but after I gave birth I tried to just do "normal" things like go to the store a week later (you see so many women up doing things one or two days later!) and started passing golf-ball sized clots and heavy bleeding. I just had to rest and lie down more. It's so frustrating, but I think in the long run your body will thank you for giving it time to heal properly.

[gray eyed girl]

When my son was about 4 months old I started taking him and my daughter on daily walks. Pushing a double stroller is a pretty serious workout, actually. I don't know how feasible that is for you with 4 children, but once you get the OK to do it you could go on walks with baby in a sling or bjorn, or in the stroller if she'll tolerate it. That way you can get some exercise WITH her.

[GreatBigMonsterMomma]

Pushing a double stroller is a pretty serious workout, actually.

Ditto that. My double stroller weighs something like 45 pounds. Pile a couple of 20+ pound kiddos inside, and that's darn near a hundred pounds. Wheeled, yes, but still!

I can understand you wanting to get back to exercise even this early. I sure did after I had Linda, because exercise by then was such a habit for me, but I hadn't been able to do it much while I was pregnant with her. The key is to just start out gently, like with anything else, and if you start feeling pain, quit.

[Snoopysgirl]

I appreciate all of the replies. Lots of food for thought and good advice. I do have a sling..I LOVE it. I don't know what I would do without it..it lets me get things done while keeping my hands available..baby held close, etc.

I know that I need to heal..just wish that it would HURRY..LOL. My body is so cushy and flabby right now it is just irritating. I KNOW if I could just get some walking and pilates in I would feel so much better..but I also know that I need to heal inside also and that is hard enough with 4 littles ages 6-newborn. Thanks for the encouragement that I am not just lazy or a slacker.