This Postpartum Exercise Advice Is A Must Read For New Moms

If you've ever had a baby, you know that everyday activities, including working out, tend to take a backseat to more pressing matters like feedings, diaper changes, spending quality time with your new bundle of joy, and catching up on sleep whenever you can.

But if getting back into a consistent fitness routine is at the top of your to-do list, accepting a few realities about postpartum exercise can help make the transition a little easier. First, know that patience is going to be your best fitness buddy. Just ask celebrity trainer Simone De La Rue, NASM-cpt and founder of Body by Simone. Not only does she train A-list Hollywood moms like Jennifer Garner and Chrissy Teigen, but she welcomed her first child, a son named Oscar, last year.

De La Rue worked out right up until her delivery—and even walked to the hospital—but says her recovery post-birth was, in a word, rough. "I had an emergency C-section," she says. "Even though I was eager to get back to working out, I was very aware of allowing myself enough time to properly heal."

Her personal experience—plus her years of working with postnatal clients—has taught her a lot about postpartum exercise, which is why De La Rue seemed like an ideal certified trainer to tap for advice on getting back into the gym after having a baby.

Here, she, along with Jessica Shepherd, MD, a practicing OB/GYN at the University of Illinois at Chicago, share their go-to tips for getting back into a fitness routine after having a baby.