The world's first stand-alone guideline on exercise and sleep for new mothers has been released in Canada, providing evidence-based recommendations that support women's health in their first year after giving birth.
"It is only fairly recently that we have started to recognize that the postpartum period is far more complex than simply transitioning from pregnancy to not being pregnant," says Margie Davenport, a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation who led the development of the new guideline. "There are unique considerations, whether it's recovery from a caesarean section, mental health or barriers such as lack of sleep."
Postpartum women who follow the recommendations will likely experience a reduction in fatigue as well as improvements in mental well-being, pelvic floor health, musculoskeletal health and cardiometabolic health, according to the guideline. The guide also highlights that early mobilization light-intensity activity soon after giving birth has been shown to help with healing.
