The battle to leave the house

Getting out of the house with a baby should be simple, right? Just pop them in the pram, grab the essentials, and off you go. Except… nope.

Trying to get to a mums and bubs class felt like a logistical nightmare.

Nap times were unpredictable. Would they tolerate the car today? No? Okay, we’ll take the bus. Oh, wait—it’s too hot. Time for an outfit change. But can I put sunscreen on them? Actually, scratch that—it’s started raining. Where’s that plastic cover thing?

Then came the mammoth nappy bag. Will they need a change? A bottle? Medicine? Teether? Toy? Wipes? What if I forget something and have to deal with the consequences of an overtired, hangry, teething baby in public?

And then, just when I thought I was ready… I caught sight of myself in the mirror.

Wait… what about me?

Am I even slightly presentable? Do I own a clean bra? What about leggings that don’t show the outline of my gigantic postpartum knickers? Do I smell? Is it baby sick, BO, or just general exhaustion? When was the last time I showered? Never mind washed my hair—where’s my dry shampoo? Oh god, I haven’t brushed my teeth!

Feck it, I’m going to be late anyway!

This was every time I tried to leave the house in those early weeks.

Why It Was Worth It

But when I did make it to class, all the chaos, the stress, and the near-meltdowns felt worth it.

Not necessarily for the workout itself—because let’s be honest, I spent half of it making sure my baby was okay. They were either rolling around under me while I tried to do a plank (and praying I wouldn’t squish them), or lying in a provided rocker that they’d never been in before, eyeing me suspiciously the entire time.

But the real magic was in the little moments.

✨ The smile from another mum who just got it—the exhaustion, the chaos, the wild mix of love and overwhelm.✨ The chance to grab a coffee afterwards and have a conversation with an actual adult.✨ The feeling of starting to reconnect with my body, even if I wasn’t pushing myself like I used to.✨ The tiny glimpse of normality—of doing something just for me.

It wasn’t the most effective workout. I wasn’t breaking personal records. But just being there, showing up, and moving felt like a win.

And that was enough to make me keep trying.

Finding Myself Again (And Failing Miserably at First)

Eventually, I started trying regular classes again—ones without the baby, where I could actually focus. But instead of feeling strong and empowered, I felt completely out of place.

Other women were just enjoying their workout, but in my head, they were all noticing my maternity T-shirt—the one I kept pulling at every time it clung to my new, softer, life-bearing body.

I was used to being good at things. I loved exercise. I loved to sweat. I loved the endorphins. But now?

💪 The moves felt too fast for my ‘mum brain’ to keep up with.💪 The 1kg dumbbells humbled me in ways I never knew possible.💪 The instructor asked about injuries, and I found myself announcing loudly that I had severe ab separation—as if I needed to justify my efforts to everyone around me.

I felt so disconnected from who I used to be. Who even was I anymore?

I had 5cm of ab separation—a severe case, they said. I was still swollen, puffy, and fragile, and all I was allowed to do was walking, physio, and Pilates.

The old me would have rolled my eyes. Pilates? Seriously?

The Thing I Never Expected to Love

I fought it at first. I craved the high-intensity workouts, the burn, the sweat, the feeling of pushing myself. Pilates seemed too slow, too easy, too… not me.

But it wasn’t easy.

It challenged me in a completely different way. It forced me to slow down, to reconnect with my body, to focus on small, controlled movements rather than throwing myself into the deep end.

And slowly, it started to change everything.

I was rebuilding from the inside out. Learning new ways to feel strong. Letting go of the idea that intensity = progress.

Most importantly? I was learning to give myself grace.

If you’re feeling lost in your body, lost in your fitness, lost in yourself after birth, I see you. It’s hard. It’s humbling. And it takes time. But sometimes, the things we resist the most are the exact things we need. 

Going through all of this—the frustration, the loss of identity, the struggle to feel strong again—made me realise something: mums need support, but they also need ease. I knew firsthand how hard it was to get out of the house, to prioritise myself, and to find a way to exercise in a way that felt good, not just punishing.

That’s why I created Pause Pilates—so that mums don’t have to jump through a million logistical hoops just to move their bodies. I come to you, in your own home, so you don’t have to worry about getting out the door, packing a nappy bag, or trying to time feeds and naps around a class schedule. You get to focus on yourself, rebuild your strength, and reconnect with your body—without the stress.

Because I’ve been there. And I know how much you deserve this pause. 💛