Whilst exercising postnatally is incredibly safe for most of us, there are a few safety considerations we should keep in mind. Remember that for those of you in the early stages of parenthood, there is a lot you can do – but you have also just carried a baby for 9/10 months, and birthed them, so we need to be mindful of this when we exercise. Parenting can be highly taxing on the body. Strengthening and balancing the body can help reduce your chances of pain and give your body more support. During pregnancy your uterus finishes very high up by the diaphragm which can make it difficult to breathe efficiently. Spending some time doing breathwork, and relearning how to breathe fully, can help stimulate the muscles of the core and pelvic floor. It can also help calm you down as it stimulates the Vagus nerve; a nerve that runs from the brain to the abdomen, responsible for relaxation. Speak to your doctor or physio Discover comprehensive updates about the changes and developments happening to both baby and your body while you’re pregnant, and learn how best to plan ahead. From name length and style to country of origin and meaning, you’ll find baby’s name in one of The Bump’s specially curated lists.

Reduced likelihood of subconsciously holding your breath while exercising (which could increase risk of prolapse) Please note I'm not advocating this, and I don't even know if it works if an inspector calls, but I've come across people doing it) As Mouse suggests, it's probably more suitable for a family business and there is the small matter of needing a bump in the first place. You must wait until around seven days after your Lochia (your postpartum bleeding) has stopped and until any stitches have healed (which is usually about six weeks postpartum), to go swimming," says Hollie. Speak with your doctor about swimming before you plan your next pool trip. General strength training But while it's good to err on the side of caution, you needn't be anxious about fitness. "The good news is there are now so many studies to support exercise throughout your pregnancy, so your doctor should be on board and encourage you to work out," De La Rue adds. The key is finding programmes that are as safe as they are effective.Lucy Gornall, pre and post-natal fitness trainer speaks with fitness expert Hollie Grant, founder of The Bump Plan, to bring you tips for postnatal workouts. Please seek advice from your GP or midwife before continuing with your exercise routine or trying a new workout after giving birth. She adds, however, that there is some existing evidence suggesting exercising to maximum exhaustion may affect the quality of milk, but this research was from a very small sample size and doesn’t accurately represent breastfeeding parents. Usually how your body feels is your biggest clue. Many of the signs you might be overdoing it will come from how your body feels or behaves.

There are a number of postnatal exercises you might want to consider when returning to fitness after having a baby. "Eventually we want to be building up to 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, with two-strength based activities per week," says Hollie. Walking The Bump Plan has now helped over 30,000 women around the world and it’s only just getting started. We have incredibly exciting things planned for the brand in the near future which are going to help women and mothers even more be the strongest and most prepared they can be during these incredible phases of their lives. Avoid high impact exercise until after six weeks (you may be able to start sooner if you regularly exercised before giving birth) The benefits of returning to exercise go far beyond just improving fitness. Exercise can help boost energy levels, improve posture and research has even shown how postnatal exercise can help boost mood and reduce tiredness in new mums. In around two thirds of women, DRA sorts itself out postnatally by 8-10 weeks,’ Grant explains. ‘That said, for around a third of women it won’t, and we don’t always know why.’

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Like Marion, I too find it difficult to see how there is any tax saving and yet it is said that the tax rate on the bonus can be reduced from 41.8 per cent to 8.4 per cent. Can anyone reconcile those percentages? The employer pays secondary contributions at 13.8% on both bonus and SMP but a small employer gets a rebate of 103% of the SMP. The extra 3% helps reduce his secondary NI liability, but that has already been increased by increasing the SMP. We recognise that looking after a child can be stressful. Mindful movement such as Pilates can help you feel more at ease, and better able to cope with the challenges of parenting.

The tax saving arises from the fact that SMP is rebated against the employer's PAYE/NI bill, and can be greatly magnified by a correctly timed bonus. With a nod and a wink you can pay the employee a lower bonus, knowing that HMRC will top it up. Or consider the case of a director or the director's wife, where the bonus might be entirely at the discretion of the company, and just happens to coincide with the period when HMRC will magnify it by about 60% at low cost to the employer. Postpartum haemorrhage (also called PPH) is when a woman has heavy, uncontrolled bleeding after giving birth. It’s a serious but rare condition. It usually happens within 1 day of giving birth, but it can happen up to 12 weeks after having a baby. About 1 to 5 in 100 women who have a baby (1 to 5 percent) have PPH.My OBGYN recommended this app because it has the most accurate information regarding pregnancy.” c_nou A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein of the leg, calf or pelvis. Whilst DVT is still rare during pregnancy and after birth, it is more common in this period than at other stages of your life. Prepare to smile and look forward to each week: The Bump compares baby’s growth in utero to beautifully illustrated produce (“Baby Is As Big As a Peach”) in a way that’s fun and easy to share with friends and family. To caveat, she’s absolutely not suggesting you get yourself to the gym the day after giving birth, rather that the immediate post-labour timeframe can be crucial for super gentle recovery, as long as you feel ready.