Hey mama,

If there's one thing I've learned from working with postpartum women (and from my own recovery), it's this:

Most moms aren't doing things "wrong." They're simply doing what they've been told.

The problem? Much of the postpartum advice women receive is incredibly limited.

You're often told:
✔ Rest.
✔ Don't lift anything heavier than your baby.
✔ Come back in 6 weeks.

Then suddenly... "You're cleared for exercise!" But what does that actually mean?

For many women, it leaves more questions than answers.

Here are five of the biggest mistakes I see postpartum moms make—and how you can avoid them.

1️⃣ Jumping straight back into "ab workouts"

Crunches, sit-ups, and intense core exercises aren't where I'd recommend starting.

Before strengthening your abs, your body first needs to reconnect your breathing, deep core muscles, and pelvic floor.

Think of it like building a house. You wouldn't build the roof before the foundation. Your core deserves the same approach.

2️⃣ Thinking more exercise = faster recovery

This surprises a lot of moms. Recovery isn't about doing as much as possible. It's about doing the right exercises at the right time. Sometimes slower progress actually leads to better long-term results.

3️⃣ Ignoring your breathing

Breathing might sound simple... but it's one of the most overlooked pieces of postpartum recovery.

Learning how to coordinate your breath with your core and pelvic floor can improve stability and help prepare your body for more challenging movement over time.

4️⃣ Comparing yourself to other moms online

Instagram is full of moms doing pull-ups six weeks postpartum.

What social media rarely shows is:

• their previous fitness level
• their pregnancy experience
• their recovery journey
• what happened before they picked up the camera

Your recovery timeline is yours alone.

5️⃣ Believing it's "too late"

This is probably the biggest myth of all. And one I get asked often in the comments section of most of my reels. I regularly hear:

"My youngest is 5." or "It's been 10 years." or "I guess this is just my body now."

Not true. Your body is incredibly adaptable.

While every recovery is different, it's never too late to improve your strength, coordination, and confidence through appropriate exercise.

My biggest piece of advice?

Start with your foundation.

Not crunches. Not burpees. Not "getting your body back."

Start by reconnecting with your breath, your posture, and your deep core. Everything else becomes easier to build from there.

💛 That's exactly why I created my FREE Postpartum Core Strength Guide.

Inside, you'll learn simple breathing, posture, and foundational exercises to help you begin rebuilding your strength from the inside out.

👇 Download it here

​[FREE POSTPARTUM CORE STRENGTH GUIDE]​

One step at a time, mama.

You've got this.

Leslie​
Pre & Postnatal Fitness Coach
Leslie Ann Fitness

💛 Remember...

Recovery isn't about rushing back to where you were. It's about rebuilding your strength from the inside out.

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