Your baby is born, but you still find yourself with a few extra kilos — a mushy tummy and a whole bunch of stretch marks. Regular exercise can actually help you regain shape and your stretch marks usually disappear in due course. But how soon you can start differs from person to person.

When to start

If you have had a C-section, it’s advisable to wait for eight weeks and if you have had a normal delivery you can go for it within six weeks. Some of us can, in fact, start even sooner, depending on how healthy one was during pregnancy. Just listen to your body and wait until you feel ready.

For those who have to deal with families, jobs or the responsibilities of being a stay-at-home-mom, postpartum weight loss might be a tall order; while those who were gymming throughout pregnancy will see the results more quickly.  You can always start stretching right after the day you delivered, if you have had a normal delivery. These comprise simple non-stressful exercises like leg stretches and Kegel’s to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. If you've had a C-section, it’s best to wait until your doctor approves.

How to work out

As soon as you can manage some serious time out of your schedule, follow these exercises regularly. They will help you get a flatter stomach, tighter vaginal muscles and a quick return to your old self.

Sit-ups are the best bet for your tummy. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. You could also put your feet on a chair so that your legs are at a 90-degree angle. Place your hands behind your head. Slowly inhale and lift your head and shoulders up, while you contract your abdominal muscles. Lift until you feel your muscles working; you don't need to go all the way up to a sitting position. Then slowly lower your upper body back down while you exhale.

To work your lower abdominal muscles, do a reverse crunch. Try to do two to three sets of each with 10 to 12 repetitions.  If you have been doing Kegel’s exercise throughout your pregnancy, then keep at it. If not, begin now. It strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, controls the bladder and make your orgasms better. What’s more, Kegel’s can be done anywhere, anytime. You just need to contract your vaginal muscles as if you were trying to stop the flow of urine. Hold the contraction for about 10 seconds, then slowly release. Do 25 times a day.
Contract the abdominal muscles as though you’re trying to brace for a punch to the abdomen, hold for 5-10 seconds, then relax for 10 seconds and repeat for 6 repetitions (up to 2 minutes).

How to manage time

But, the main challenge at this stage is to find the time to work out. If the above appears to be too time-consuming, here are some fun ways to shape up with baby. While feeding, sit on an exercise ball. By keeping your balance, you strengthen your core muscles which helps alleviate lower back aches (which stems from carrying your baby for nine months). It is also the time to meditate and relax – do so by breathing in deeply, filling your abdomen, expanding the air into your chest and breathing out.

Each time you do a push-up, give your baby a kiss. It’s good for strengthening upper body.