You can start doing seated, isometric transverse abdominal exercises right away. The isometric transverse abdominal is the innermost abdominal muscle. Exercising this muscle consists of imagining that you are pushing your belly button into your spine and then doing little isometric squeezes to push your belly button out the back of your spine. Count out loud as you do each small squeeze.

Start with 25 of these squeezes, five times per day. Work up to 100 squeezes, 10 times per day! These exercises will help prevent lower back pain and help bring the abdominal muscles back together, including the recti, or outermost abdominal muscle. The outermost muscle is the support system for your back and when not strengthened, greatly increases the risk for back problems. These exercises can be done while you are feeding your baby.

Sit-ups should be done with caution because during pregnancy, your outermost abdominal muscles may separate. This separation is called a diastasis, and these muscles do not come back together automatically after giving birth. In addition, you must be mindful of your incision, which can be painful and should be treated with care.

After your physician or midwife has cleared you to exercise at your six-week visit, you can start modified sit-ups. Modified sit-ups consist of lifting your head while using a splint (a band or shirt held around the abdomen to keep the transverse muscle together).

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