Having a baby should be a time of joy and celebration, so why do some people feel so unhappy in the wee while after giving birth?

It’s actually very common to feel exhausted, worried, generally upset, and find yourself crying over things that usually wouldn’t bother you. You might suffer from insomnia, be highly irritable and find your appetite is either gone completely or you find yourself buried in tub after tub of Ben and Jerrys.

Up to 80% of new mums have been found to have what’s known as the “baby blues.”

These negative feelings are likely triggered by the sudden physical, hormonal and chemical changes that take place in your body after childbirth. Emotionally, you may be anxious about your baby’s well-being, the transition to being a new mum again or for the first time, or adjusting to your new routine.

One of the best ways to combat these feelings is gentle exercise. Although you may want to keep your new born by your side at all times, the importance of having an hour to yourself shouldn’t be underestimated. From pelvic floor exercises and doing some deep breathing in the days following birth, to gentle bodyweight exercises and stretching in the following weeks, having a set plan to get back to normality will be the key to feeling positive again.

Having trained many new mums at T1 Fitness, we’ve decided to run something in the new year just for you! Using the feedback of our current members, we’ve designed something exciting for 2017. We’ll post the details on here over the next few days, so if you’re a new mum and live in the Mourne area, keep an eye on this page!