It's an age-old struggle for new moms -- getting back into shape quickly and safely.
A Portland woman has come up with a way to lose the baby weight without leaving the baby behind.
It looks like an average exercise class. Then you notice babies - everywhere.
It's called Mamalates, a Pilates-based class designed to restore core strength, using your newborn.
"Use your abdominals ladies as you bridge up and down - one-two," said Wendy Foster.
Foster is an internationally certified Pilates instructor who couldn't find a safe post-partum exercise after the birth of her first child. So with the help of a doctor, she created this class and then the DVD version.
"If they had a Cesarean, if they have a vaginal birth, if they have abdominal separation, if they have pelvic floor issues -- all that has to be addressed with whatever fitness it is you're doing postpartum, but the first piece is to learn about what is going on with your body before you can rebuild it," said Foster.
She helps moms rebuild with this low-impact workout.
"Well, definitely, I want to lose the baby weight, but I also just want to get stronger and definitely get the core back into place," said Kelly Morrison, mom.
"My goals are to tone up again and obviously every new mom wants to lose all that baby weight, but more importantly it's just to spend time with him," said Alanna Brown, mom.
But fitness expert Tammy Lundervold cautions it's important to start slow after having a baby.
"Everything is kind of relaxed and stretched. Your joints aren't back to where they should be, tendons, ligaments - everything has kind of contracted and come back. You may not be feeling that, but your body is having a lot of repair going on," said Lundervold.
She agrees, though, that you can carefully regain that pre-baby shape with your baby right there with you.
You should consult your doctor before you start any post-partum exercise program.
CLICK HERE for more information on Mamalates and how to order the DVD.
