A video of a woman pushing her newborn in a pushchair has racked up over 711,000 views on TikTok. But it isn’t so much the content that has caught the internet’s attention, instead, the first-time mom’s physique.
Julianna Kozlin, 24, added text to the clip shared on @juliannakozlin, explaining that she worked out throughout her pregnancy, which is why she felt “confident” two weeks after giving birth.
“I feel amazing postpartum,” she told Newsweek. “My body thanks me for all of the work I did while I was pregnant.”
Her daughter Carmella is now eight weeks old, and Kozlin weighs less than she did before getting pregnant. Kozlin, from Rockland County, New York, explained that she has always been active and enjoyed heavy weight lifting. She continued to train four to five days per week up until she was eight months pregnant. In the final month, she only used the stairmaster for 10 minutes.
“I wouldn’t recommend someone who never trained this way to start while pregnant, but if you have been doing it for a while, there’s no need to stop!” she told Newsweek.
“Physical activity does not increase your risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, or early delivery,” reports the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Women are encouraged to discuss what exercises are safe to continue or even start while pregnant. Pregnant women should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. This type of activity involves moving large muscles, such as those in the legs and arms, in a rhythmic manner.
Kozlin swears by her regime and explained that there were more than physical benefits. She said: “Exercising helped with my sleep at night allowing me to get better rest. It also helped me to make sure that my nutrition was on point being that I need to be taking in lots of protein to feed my baby and to feed my muscles.”
The American Pregnancy Association pregnancy weight chart states that a woman with a normal pre-pregnancy weight, which is 125 lbs to 168 lbs, gains about 30 pounds. Kozlin told Newsweek that she gained 26 pounds and now, two months on, she weighs less than she did before she got pregnant.
Maintaining a healthy weight gain during pregnancy can help you avoid complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and the need for a cesarean delivery.
Kozlin added: “Because of my exercise and nutrition during my pregnancy, I did not experience a lot of swelling or inflammation.”
Her video has received over 67,000 likes and plenty of comments from women sharing their experiences.
“I did too! This is my best advise for a pregnant woman. Oh and you look AMAZING!” complimented one user.
However, not all women have a smooth pregnancy, one user said: “I didn’t do this as I was always tired. And I don’t regret it.”
“It’s my fourth kid, my body is hurting and tired. I’m sitting on the couch,” said another.
Kozlin shared some words of encouragement with Newsweek, she said: “To any women who are thinking about getting pregnant or pregnant right now, I highly suggest doing your own research and finding a routine that best fits your lifestyle.”
Movement is key to health postpartum is hard enough, And it really helps when you feel good in your skin!”
If you have a family dilemma, let us know via [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
