There's nothing like having a child to make you feel like you've been run over by a truck, and while the exhaustion and discomfort brought on by labor and delivery soon dissipate, they give way to new challenges to your body – from carrying a car seat and a growing toddler to bending over to pick up Baby and breastfeeding around the clock.

Fans of the popular Pilates method of exercise, develop by Joseph Pilates in the mid-1900s as a training regimen for dancers, say it can do wonders for helping new – and veteran – moms meet these challenges with a body that feels great and looks good, too. And better yet – it's a workout you can do with Baby.

"Post-natal Pilates is the best workout I know for providing you with the means to enjoy time with your baby while getting your body back in shape," says Sarah Picot, creator of the exercise video and DVD Post-natal Pilates (Pilates Pregnancy, 2003), which can be done with your 6-week to 6-month-old baby.

You've had your baby and you're looking for a way to get back in shape. Should you go for aerobics? Weight training? Yoga? Tae Bo? There's an endless number of choices on video store shelves and in local gyms, but Pilates offers many benefits that specifically address many new moms' concerns.

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