66: The New Postpartum Exercise Guidelines That Ditch the Six Week Rule with Dr. Margie Davenport

Episode Overview Dr. Margie Davenport is rewriting the rules on exercise during pregnancy and postpartum—and the outdated advice about waiting six weeks or avoiding heavy lifting is officially being replaced with actual evidence. As an exercise physiologist at the University of Alberta and the lead researcher behind the 2025 Canadian Postpartum Exercise and Sleep Guidelines, Margie shares the groundbreaking research that's changing how we support people through this massive life transition. What You'll Learn Why the six-week postpartum checkpoint has been completely removed from the new guidelines and what replaced it (hint: it's way more individualized and actually useful)How the Get Active Questionnaire for Postpartum helps you determine when YOU'RE ready to start moving—not when some arbitrary timeline says you should beThe shocking research showing that people who lifted heavy (>80% of their 1RM) throughout pregnancy had a 51% reduction in adverse pregnancy outcomesWhy the "don't lift more than 20 pounds" advice during pregnancy is based on occupational lifting literature and doesn't apply to intentional strength trainingHow to gradually and safely progress toward 120 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week postpartum using symptom-based cuesWhy starting exercise during pregnancy is beneficial even if you've never been active before Resources Mentioned Get Active Questionnaire for Postpartum - Use this self-screening tool to determine when you're ready to start your postpartum exercise journey About Dr. Margie Davenport Dr. Margie Davenport is an exercise physiologist and researcher at the University of Alberta, where she founded the Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health in 2013. A former national team athlete, Margie has dedicated her career to pushing the boundaries of what we know about exercise during pregnancy and postpartum. She led the development of the 2019 Canadian Pregnancy Exercise Guidelines and the groundbreaking 2025 Canadian Postpartum Exercise and Sleep Guidelines. Theme Song: Survivor by Destiny's Child and My Way by Frank Sinatra Connect with Dr. Margie Davenport: Website: Exercise in PregnancyInstagram: @DrMargieDavenport Visit blueberrytherapy.ca and subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast wherever you listen. Connect with The Hole Shebang on Instagram @blueberrytherapypelvichealth.