Benefits of Hiking Postpartum
You and your body are amazing, after growing a tiny little human for 9 months, your baby is here, congratulations!
I remember with my first baby just being in total awe and shock about what just happened, how much everything has now changed and what the future would look like.
I had always loved the outdoors and just getting out walking and hiking had been my hobby.
In the first two weeks, I only did short local walks, to enjoy the fresh air, take time to adjust and let my body heal.
Slowly and gradually, I started to incorporate more exercise into my routine, which you can read about here.
I couldn't wait to go out hiking again with my baby, but I still didn't want to rush it.
I went hiking weeks postpartum.
Then carried on almost weekly. Again the hikes varied in length and terrain depending on how I felt, how my baby was that day and the weather!
Fast forward 2 years and being postpartum with my second baby, I was extremely surprised to find that my body healed even quicker than the first time and I felt more like myself earlier on.
However, I still allowed my body time before hiking again, and was 8 weeks postpartum before hiking solo with two kids. You can read about that here.
Why hiking postpartum helped me:
During both my postpartum periods, hiking literally saved me mentally and physically and made me feel 'normal' again.
Hiking gave me a lot of freedom, the freedom to be outside in fresh air and open space, the freedom to take as much or little time as we needed, the freedom to explore, and as my babies grew older, allow them to explore too and the freedom of quiet.
Trust me, with two kids, there is a lot of noise all the time so just listening to quiet outside was amazing!
Hiking also gave me something to look forward to and plan for, if you need help planning a hike with a toddler, read here. Plus, it was physical exercise that I could tailor and gradually make harder when I was ready. Having always been active throughout my life, this was a huge thing for me.
Benefits of hiking postpartum:
Gentle physical exercise can allow your body to heal and recover, whilst gradually helping you build strength, self-esteem and confidence
Using a baby carrier when hiking regularly whilst your baby grows, is a way of progressive strength training, so you are getting stronger every time you do it!
Also, if using a baby carrier, it is a great way to keep your baby close to you, respond to their needs quickly, bond with your baby and create a secure attachment for both of you
Nature is the best medicine! Being in green spaces, and especially near trees, is proven to help us de-stress, stay calm and help us breathe better
The sounds of nature, such as bird song, water and wind, can help soothe your baby and help you relax
Natural sunlight helps to boost melatonin levels which helps regulate our circadian rhythm. This helps us sleep better and will help your baby distinguish between night and day
Hiking with your baby, can help you find a purpose, a time just for the two of you and a way to feel like yourself.
Hiking with other parents can really help build a community and share experiences, which is really reassuring and needed in the early stages.
Always remember that your journey is yours and yours alone. Please don’t compare your first hike postpartum with someone else's 20th hike. They will look very different.
If you ever need any help, support or advice, drop me a message and I’m here to help.
I really hope hiking with your baby postpartum can help you as much as it helped, and still helps me, and that you make many special memories with your baby outside!