Your Baby – July 2019

YB EXERCISE

94 | JULY & AUGUST 2019

WHAT TO DO

• Hold your little one under his armpits with
  your arms slightly extended.


• Lunge forward and at the same time bring
  your baby up toward your chest. You could
  incorporate a peek-a-boo game for fun, or pull
  funny faces with each lift.


• The lunges are done walking forward and
  could be done down a passageway.


• Lunge as deeply or shallowly as you feel
  comfortable.

LOOK OUT FOR

• When lunging, be careful not to arch your
  back or lean forward. Pull your shoulders back
  and away from your ears.


• If your neck is starting to hurt, your shoulders
  are either forward or up toward your ears.


• If your knees are hurting, look out for
  alignment. Don’t lean too far forward with your
  body – distribute your weight equally between
  both legs. If your knee is wobbling outward
  or veering inward, try and do a few practice
  rounds without your baby while making sure
  your hip, knee and foot are aligned.


• Don’t lunge too deeply. Begin with little
  lunges, and once you build strength you can
  increase your depth.

WHAT TO DO

• Lie on the ground, and
  place your baby on your hips.


• Your legs should be straight
  and your feet should be
  placed together.


• Holding your baby’s hands
  or under his armpits, roll your
  body into a seated position
  while your baby stays seated
  on your hips.


• Start by tucking in your
  chin, then lifting your head,
  shoulders and upper body.


• As you roll up, pull your
  belly button to your spine as
  much as possible.


• Roll only to the point where
  you are able to without lifting
  your legs.


• Then roll back down again.

LOOK OUT FOR

• Pushing your tummy out.
  If your tummy starts bulging,
  it means that you are only
  making use of one stomach
  muscle group (the six-pack),
  and the deeper stomach
  muscles responsible for
  supporting your back and
  neck are not contracting.


• If you have experienced
  separation of your stomach
  muscles during your
  pregnancy (called diastasis
  recti or diastasis recti
  abdomini), please be extra
  careful to watch the bulge
  when you roll up. Do little
  ones if the quality of the roll
  is better. YB

TIP Again, think of create ways to stimulate your baby as he sees

your face and then doesn’t. Make a different noise with each

repetition, or blow on his tummy as you come up.

BABY LUNGES

This exercise is a full-body workout

because it not only works your legs but

also your biceps, while challenging your

stabilising muscles to balance

BABY ROLL-UPS

During this exercise you will challenge your core and six-

pack muscles to work throughout the range of your spine.

It’s also a great way to cool down after your lunges