The average mother who is recovering normally begins the chin-to-chest exercise from twelve to twenty-four hours after the baby’s birth. She lies flat on her back and raises her head until the chin rests upon her chest. (See Fig. [32].) By resting her hand upon the abdomen she feels for herself that the abdominal muscles contract as she lifts her head and accordingly realizes that she is actually exercising them. The movement is usually repeated twenty-five times, morning and evening, every day and continued as long as the patient is in bed.
Fig. 32.
Figs. 32 to 38 inclusive are bed exercises the young mother. For description see text. (From photographs taken at the Long Island College Hospital.)
Fig. 33.
The familiar deep-breathing exercise comes next and is ordinarily started on the third or fourth day. The mother lies flat, with her arms at her sides, then extends them straight out from the shoulders (Fig. [33]), raises them above her head, as in Fig. [34], and returns them to their original position. She repeats this exercise ten times morning and evening as long as she is in bed.
Fig. 34.
Fig. 35.