Prams, pushchairs, buggies and a fit body!

To say life alters dramatically when you have a baby is a bit of an understatement. The transition to motherhood is mind-bogglingly life-changing! And along with having to get your head around the fact that a tiny human being is entirely dependent on you for survival – a pretty major realisation – there is also the fact that what you spend your days doing is suddenly completely different.

This affects the body (and your sanity for that matter).

Your daily physical activity transforms into a succession of lifting, carrying, bending, stooping, leaning and yanking (think getting car seats and prams out of cars).

Not surprisingly this can be a shock to the system and can take its toll on the body, with all manner of previously unheard of aches, pains and tensions materialising: lower back ache, tight shoulders, painful wrists, sore knee joints and the list goes on.

For many, a new daily activity is pushing a pram - get the pram, and the pram-pushing wrong and it could land you in physical trouble.

It’s most definitely worth mastering the “art” of pushchairs because if you get things right you really CAN get yourself fit and healthy simply by having a daily power pramming session!

  1. Handle height is key to a healthy pain-free back: have a pram with adjustable handle height and then set it so that you are 100% upright and don’t need to stoop – not even a teeny bit.
     
  2. Rounded handles will protect you from wrist pain as you will be able to maintain wrist alignment when pushing the buggy. Squared off handles force you to bend the wrists and this is very hard on the joint and can eventually lead to ongoing wrist problems.
     
  3. Posture is EVERYTHING! Think about this: when you power your way up a hill with the buggy do you lean forwards and stick your bottom out? If so, try not to: maintain wrist alignment and walk tall.
     
  4. Work your core! It is very easy to go about life with the abdominals doing nothing much at all but remember this: the deep abdominals work as a supportive corset protecting your back… if you switch them on. So when pushing the pram, draw in on the abdominals (gently - no bracing).
     
  5. And relax! Shoulders can get very tense when you have a baby (it’s all that lifting, carrying, feeding and power pramming) so consciously relax the neck and shoulders and try not to hitch them up towards your ears when pushing the buggy. A lovely tension reliever consists of placing your right hand onto your left shoulder. Then drop your head down to your hand and relax. Repeat on the opposite side.
     
  6. If you’re an outdoorsy sort of person who likes the off-roading life, then it is well worth investing in a three wheeler buggy with big pneumatic wheels and proper suspension. It makes life so much easier and your body will thank you.
     
  7. Want to buggy run? Do your joints and pelvic floor a HUGE favour and stick to power walking up hills for the first 6 months. Keeping things low impact will help protect your joints and pelvic floor – remember, they are precious and need to last a lifetime (not to mention subsequent pregnancies…). Once ready to run, look into proper running buggies designed specifically for the job – they are safer for your baby and will help protect your posture.
     
  8. Keep happy! Regular power walking with a buggy in beautiful surroundings will lift you through those tough, sleep deprived weeks and months. Aim for at least four 30-40 minute brisk (OK really fast) walks.
     
  9. Buggy HIIT training! Power pramming lends itself perfectly to interval training. Incorporate fast walking up hills with more gentle walking and this will help to boost the metabolism.
     
  10. Sociable exercise = happiness! Buggy walking with friends is quite simply the perfect way to keep happy.