Childbirth groups have responded strongly to advise that new moms should exercise two hours per week and avoid using screens before bedtime for the first three months after their baby's birth. Mumsnet, a social networking site, stated that the instructions, which include daily pelvic-floor exercises, "seem wildly optimistic about what caring for a newborn entails." NCT, the parenting organisation, also warned that new parents might injure themselves if they followed the recommended physical activity and that the sleep advice could be "overwhelming". The organisations were responding to recommendations developed by a group of doctors and researchers based on a study of 574 prior studies on the health of new moms.
The Canadian specialists, whose suggestions were published today in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, determined that implementing them would benefit women' physical and mental health. They claim that from the moment their child is born, mothers should: Perform at least two hours of moderate to intense exercise per week, such as cycling, brisk walking, or muscle-strengthening exercises, spaced out over four or more days. Perform daily pelvic-floor muscle training. Avoid screen time and "maintain a dark, quiet environment before bed" to improve their sleep quality.