As national walking month encourages us to get out in the fresh air and move more, it’s the perfect opportunity to highlight how walking can support pregnant women and new mums.
Being active during pregnancy and early motherhood brings a wide range of benefits. From supporting your body through the changes that pregnancy brings, to boosting your mood and helping you to connect with others as a new mum. With walking being so accessible, it offers physical and mental health benefits throughout pregnancy and after giving birth, even if you weren’t particularly active before being pregnant.
Why walking matters during pregnancy
Staying active during pregnancy is highly beneficial and mostly safe. Walking is a particularly convenient way to stay active because it is low-impact, free, easy to fit into your daily routine and can be continued right up until birth (if comfortable).
Some of the benefits of being active during pregnancy include:
- Helping to manage weight gain
- Reducing the risk of high blood pressure
- Lowering the risk of gestational diabetes
- Improving overall fitness
- Supporting better sleep
- Boosting mood and wellbeing
The benefits for new mums
Following the birth of your baby, gentle movement can play an important role in your recovery. Often, you can begin light activity when you feel ready and walking is a great place to start.
Postnatal benefits include:
- Supporting recovery after birth
- Boosting mental health and wellbeing
- Helping manage weight and rebuild strength
- Increasing energy levels and supporting better sleep
Getting outside for a walk in the fresh air can also have positive effects on your baby, helping with sleep and offering valuable sensory experiences.
The power of walking together
Across Lincolnshire, supportive walking groups are helping women stay active whilst building meaningful local connections.
Blaze Trails
Blaze Trails Lincolnshire is one example of this. Blaze Trails is a national community interest group dedicated to bringing parents and their children together through outdoor walks. Lincolnshire-based professional Christina first discovered the group during her first pregnancy, through social media but quickly noticed that there was no local group in her area.
After attending numerous indoor parent groups, Christina realised a safe, welcoming outdoor space where new mums and dads could connect while enjoying nature with their children was missing. When she was expecting her second child, Christina learned that volunteers could train to become local organisers through Blaze Trails. With her son just four weeks old, she signed up for the online training, and by the time he was eight weeks old, she was hosting her own walks across Lincolnshire.
Having spent years hiking and wild camping, she brings a wealth of outdoor experience to her role. This background makes her a confident and reassuring leader, particularly for mums who may feel nervous about getting started outdoors.
The group’s walks vary in difficulty to suit different needs. Some routes are pram-friendly, while others can be more adventurous requiring baby carriers and others toddler focused. All participants are given clear information in advance, so they know exactly what to expect. Above all, the walks are designed to be fun, supportive, and open to anyone who wants to get involved.
Reflecting on her motivation for setting up the group, Christina said:
“When I was younger, I grew up outdoors with my parents, going on lots of walks and hikes. As I got older, I wanted to bring my children up the same way and to share that love of the outdoors with other mums and their children.”
More information about the group and upcoming walks can be found on Instagram at @blazetrails_lincolnshire.
Adults Move Lincolnshire – Buggy Walks
Adults Move Lincolnshire host regular free Bumps and Babies walking groups alongside a range of physical activity sessions for new parents in South Holland. The buggy walks held in Spalding and Holbeach offer a chance to get out, meet new mums and enjoy fresh air together.
They are part of a range of events in the Perinatal Power Circle for South Holland. They group was started in 2024 by Bekki, founder of Adults Move Lincolnshire CCI, with the aim to bring women together and support their mental wellbeing and physical health through the perinatal journey.
Other classes on offer for pregnant women and new mums, have included yoga and mum and baby dance sessions.
Join the Perinatal Power Circle facebook group to find out about walks and other events.
For other groups across Lincolnshire, try asking at your local children’s centre if they run any buggy walks.
A gentle step forward
Pregnancy and early motherhood can be overwhelming at times, and it can feel hard to be active. Walking provides a gentle supportive way to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing. Whether it’s a short stroll, a walk with your baby or joining a local group, every step counts.
For more guidance on walking during pregnancy including helpful Do’s and Don’ts take a look at the Active Pregnancy’s guide to walking in pregnancy and beyond.
Find out more information about being active during pregnancy and after birth on our Active Mums Lincolnshire pages.