OP you will figure it out! If you work from home that makes it easier to sneak in a workout. You might also get more efficient at workouts too.

At what age is your baby going to daycare?

Anonymous wrote:OP, you're not going to get to decide when the baby gets up so just let go of the fantasy and figure it out when you get there.

Once baby can hold a bottle though, she may be able to buy herself a bit of time giving a bottle and putting on some baby/toddler music. I do this in the morning when my youngest gets up earlier than usual and I need to buy myself some time to get the older ones fed/dressed. This is assuming she has a chill baby who doesn’t mind flipping through books and hanging out in the crib.

Anonymous wrote:Maximize your maternity leave to work out as much as possible and get your body closer to what you are looking for. Think that you may need to hire a sitter or have family/friend over to get in a good workout. Don’t under estimate your nutrition in dropping baby weight. I have a 7 and 11 year old and it has never been the same as before kids. The best thing I did was stayed really fit through the pregancy and then it was easier to drop it. I would also say that imho if you are seeing moms drop the weight within a year, just start thinking they have a lot of support, aka someone else is watching the kid.

DP, I wanted to add for OP that a lot of it is hormonal. I kept on weight while nursing but some moms shed weight while nursing. It’s a crap shoot. As soon as I weaned the pounds dropped off. Everyone is different so just focus on overall health the first year and try not to compare yourself to others. Easier said than done I know!

Anonymous wrote:The easiest to start are walks especially if you take baby in carrier or stroller. Once baby is 6 months you could consider jogging stroller

I was going to recommend this as well. I have 3 kids (youngest is 1 in daycare). DH runs with her in the morning while I get the other 2 ready. I work from home so I do workout classes 2x/week on my lunch break (usually a 45 min. spin or kickboxing class). DH and I also try to give each other some time on the weekends or we incorporate the kids in something like a hike.

I do think OP is going to have to adjust to not being able to fully schedule out her day though. For at least the first 3-4 months you are on the baby’s time. Many babies are waking multiple times per night and so waking to workout is extra difficult. However, I did enjoy doing Stroller Strides classes during my maternity leaves. It was a nice way to get in some activity while meeting other moms.

Also OP, remember that your schedule won’t be like this forever. Life is much easier with school age kids!

OP, you're not going to get to decide when the baby gets up so just let go of the fantasy and figure it out when you get there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really sad. Please consider a nanny or at least a share.

OP again. What is really sad about this? I see from the responses that maybe I'm being a bit idealistic, and I'll totally accept that. But most of the moms I know did daycare got back in shape within a year of having a baby so I don't understand why I'm being crucified for asking about how to fit in a workout and saying I'm going to send my baby to daycare.

Crucified??? Are you new here? The responses you have gotten have been very kind and practical except for just a few. You really need to toughen up a bit if you are going to ask for advice here.

Maximize your maternity leave to work out as much as possible and get your body closer to what you are looking for. Think that you may need to hire a sitter or have family/friend over to get in a good workout. Don’t under estimate your nutrition in dropping baby weight. I have a 7 and 11 year old and it has never been the same as before kids. The best thing I did was stayed really fit through the pregancy and then it was easier to drop it. I would also say that imho if you are seeing moms drop the weight within a year, just start thinking they have a lot of support, aka someone else is watching the kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really sad. Please consider a nanny or at least a share.

OP again. What is really sad about this? I see from the responses that maybe I'm being a bit idealistic, and I'll totally accept that. But most of the moms I know did daycare got back in shape within a year of having a baby so I don't understand why I'm being crucified for asking about how to fit in a workout and saying I'm going to send my baby to daycare.

I think that poster is saying it’s sad your kid is going to daycare instead of a nanny. Ignore. Provided your kid is well cared for and safe, she or he will be fine. Emily Oster did a good piece on this recently. Besides, it drives me nuts how many nannies I see on their phone all day! Our daycare teachers never have their phones out!

I think people are reading this as you saying you'd rather work out than take care of your kid. I understand that is not your intent. But you do seem pretty clueless about what having a new born entails. You dont get to spend your time on what YOU want and there will be a lot of curve balls. You also have to parent the kid you get, and you have no idea yet who that is. If exercise is a priority you will figure it out, but it's never going to be as easy as it is for you now. There may be entire weeks when you dont have the time. Also depending on your labor you may be physically limited in what you can do the first few months. Then you'll be going back to work once you heal and you wont have the time to workout. Some days you dont even have time to wash your hair. Babies take so much energy.

If you're nursing you should account for around 20 minutes of nursing time where you're just sitting doing nothing. You can read emails etc. but you can't pack things up or exercise. I worked out of the house and took baby to day care while DH was working from home. I would get up around 6:30 to shower/get ready. DH would get baby up around 6:45 and get her changed and dressed. Around 7 I would nurse while DH packed up bottle and pump parts. Baby and I would be off around 7:30 and DH would then get himself ready for the day. You learn to simplify and get more efficient. We also lucked out the baby's normal wake time was between 6:30-7.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really sad. Please consider a nanny or at least a share.

OP again. What is really sad about this? I see from the responses that maybe I'm being a bit idealistic, and I'll totally accept that. But most of the moms I know did daycare got back in shape within a year of having a baby so I don't understand why I'm being crucified for asking about how to fit in a workout and saying I'm going to send my baby to daycare.

I think that poster is saying it’s sad your kid is going to daycare instead of a nanny. Ignore. Provided your kid is well cared for and safe, she or he will be fine. Emily Oster did a good piece on this recently. Besides, it drives me nuts how many nannies I see on their phone all day! Our daycare teachers never have their phones out!

Anonymous wrote:This is really sad. Please consider a nanny or at least a share.

OP again. What is really sad about this? I see from the responses that maybe I'm being a bit idealistic, and I'll totally accept that. But most of the moms I know did daycare got back in shape within a year of having a baby so I don't understand why I'm being crucified for asking about how to fit in a workout and saying I'm going to send my baby to daycare.

If working out in the morning is a priority to you and your husband, you will find a time to make it happen. You deserve some me time everyday, and taking time to do an activity that makes you happy will give you the energy and space to be a better parent.

OP, what do you do during lunch, now? Why not plan to work out then?

The easiest to start are walks especially if you take baby in carrier or stroller. Once baby is 6 months you could consider jogging stroller