New Postpartum Health Guidelines Face Praise and Pushback

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology's recommendations for postpartum exercise and sleep aim to improve maternal health but raise concerns about feasibility for new mothers.

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology has released new postpartum guidelines recommending 120 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week and daily pelvic floor exercises.
The guidelines emphasize benefits such as reduced postpartum depression, improved sleep, and better cardiometabolic health, based on an analysis of 574 studies.
Critics, including parenting groups like Mumsnet and NCT, argue the recommendations may be unrealistic for new mothers managing recovery and infant care.
Experts stress the importance of gradual, personalized approaches to exercise and highlight the value of even small steps toward meeting activity goals.
The guidance also includes recommendations to establish healthy sleep routines, though critics note this may be challenging given the demands of newborn care.