Exercise Helps With Postpartum Struggles: Study

Outdoor exercise benefits new moms’ mental health during the pandemic

For new moms, there are some problems you really can run away from. Nicoleta Ionescu/Shutterstock

The extended duration of the COVID-19 pandemic means that more women will give birth during the pandemic, and some will have more than one pregnancy and postpartum experience. As physical activity researchers who advocate for exercise as medicine, we’re studying the impact of exercise on the well-being of postpartum women during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone’s day-to-day lives, but mothers have been especially challenged. Women have experienced a negative impact on mental well-being and physical activity behavior, with mothers being especially vulnerable because of increased child care responsibilities. New mothers in the postpartum phase are at an additional disadvantage due to the heightened challenge of caring for infants.

Postpartum Challenges

The postpartum phase is often defined as the first six weeks after childbirth, when post-pregnancy physical changes such as uterine shrinking and hormonal fluctuations are the greatest. These changes can also greatly affect the mental health of new mothers—the prevalence of depression is approximately 15 percent. However, it’s possible for new mothers to continue to experience post-partum effects for up to one year.