Cesarean sections hurt. Exercise after cesarean section is the last thing you'll want to do. Go with that feeling - to a degree. It is imperative that you get out of bed and move around whenever you have the chance in order to hasten your recovery. Your first priority in moving around is not to lose weight but to help the wounds recover.Exercise after cesarean section is an essential part of the rehabilitation process in order to improve the blood flow going to the wound. Supplying oxygenated blood to the wound is essential for healing.What do you need to do in order to ensure that you can safely exercise and move around after C-section?1. Move your legs and feet around even while you're still in bed. This exercise will prevent buildup of any possible embolism or clots due to inactivity after the operation. Embolisms are potentially life threatening and you don't want that to happen! It is primarily a complication brought not by the operation itself but because of inactivity.It is quite challenging to move your legs the first time but you can start simply by rotating or flexing your ankles just to drive the blood towards the area of movement. But you must wait until the anesthesia has worn off.2. The sooner you get up and about the better your chances of making a quick recovery. It is painful and this is something you should brace yourself for. But each time you do it it will become easier. You can take small steps around your hospital room while you support your wound with a soft blanket or pillow.When you are safe to go home, continue your walking exercise while you increase the distance that you walk. Pull your abdominal muscles in as tight as you can and avoid walking with a stoop. At this stage, limit climbing up the stairs to just once or twice daily.3. You should start strengthening your abdominal muscles the moment you are able to and you can do this through a series of exercises such as pelvic tilting movements. This exercise does not require you to flex at the level of your spine and it can be performed while you are lying, sitting, or standing. This exercise is essential in realigning the muscles without causing any pain in your lower back.It is important that you take everything slowly and work within your comfort zone. Do not attempt to go beyond what you are capable of right after this major operation. But try not to become immobile and become too focussed on your wound. Doing so will slow down the healing process and may lead to some serious complications such as the aforementioned embolism.You are likely to want to lose baby weight after a C-section and this is perfectly fine. But, you need to follow certain rules so that you won't suffer any major consequences of physical activities. It is sensible to consult your doctor before undertaking serious exercise after a cesarean section.