Lady performing plank in activewear

Instability to the core

So when they tell you how important it is to rebuild your pelvic floor muscles and core, make it first priority! Here I am 9 months postpartum and my body feels more broken than it ever has. Let me explain..

Physio classes

These classes were good (you’re able to commence 6 weeks after birth), and I religiously went for my 4 visits. Things felt good, my separation was less than 2cm, and I felt pretty good all round.

It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen

I’d done the mandatory things like my first birth, and was back to strength training and working out 5-6 times a week. And then about 2 months ago, it all came to a head. Lower left back pain, overly tight hip flexors and ITB, and my best friend De Quervain’s came back for a visit. Along with that, there’s some shifty stuff going on with my forearms which is still yet to be confirmed as to what it is.

WTF

My first thought. It didn’t happen last time, I was training and feeling good, why now? So at first I just continued doing all the same. I complimented that with a bit of acupuncture, massage and a sole physio appointment where I got some exercises to do.

Just keep stretching

Dory said something similar… and I tried it but after 2 months it wasn’t really any better. The arms were actually worse, the back and legs just kept coming back. So I decided I needed to get to the bottom of the issues so I can actually repair the problem, and not just keep putting bandaids on. Which is the real reason I actually wrote this, in case anyone else has had similar issues or is looking for a decent program.

Slow and steady

No more weight training for now. The focus is rebuilding my core and releasing the tension. Each weeknight before bed I use a foam roller, massage ball and do these funky exercises that are a part of a core program. I also found this for the booty burn to make sure my glutes are activating.

I think it’s slowly working. My lower back isn’t as bad and my legs don’t feel as tight either. Hopefully I’m not making it up but I actually think my core is activating now too. I just have to keep reminding myself to do it, and consciously think about the muscles I want to use while doing it.