Evidence-based recommendations provide essential support for the first year after childbirth.
The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) is pleased to formally introduced the 2025 Canadian Guideline for Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep throughout the First Year Postpartum. The Guideline informs clinical practice, public health policy, and community support services across Canada.
The guideline was developed to bridge the critical gap between the 2019 Canadian Guideline for Physical Activity throughout Pregnancy and the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guideline for Adults 18–65. As the first Canadian update on postpartum movement since 2003, this resource continues to play a vital role in promoting physical and mental well-being for new mothers and birthing individuals.
The 2025 Guideline was shaped over a three-year process led by a pan-Canadian Consensus Panel. Drawing on input from postpartum women and people across the country, the team reviewed over 19,000 research articles and conducted seven systematic reviews. The result is a robust, evidence-based resource grounded in postpartum individuals’ real-world needs and concerns.
“This new Guideline emphasizes that one size does not fit all; rather, progression towards the recommended 120 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity should be individualized, gradual, and symptom-based,” comments Dr. Margie Davenport, Chair of the 2025 Canadian Guideline, University of Alberta. “It is evidence-based, but it was driven by what postpartum women wanted to know.”
Dr. Kristi Adamo, Chair of the CSEP Board of Directors, adds, “At CSEP, we are proud to support these postpartum guidelines. They empower women with evidence-based physical activity, sedentary, and sleep guidance to support their physical and mental health as they navigate their journey into motherhood.”
Among its key recommendations, the Guideline encourages a progressive return to physical activity, recommending that individuals without medical contraindications aim to build up to 120 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity activity per week. This includes aerobic and strength-training exercises at least four days per week and daily pelvic floor muscle exercises to promote healing and recovery. Notably, the Guideline highlights that even small steps toward these goals can make a difference, especially in a period marked by sleep disruption, shifting routines, and the demands of infant care.
Increased physical activity has also been shown to reduce the risk of postpartum depression by as much as 45 percent, urinary incontinence by 37 percent, and type 2 diabetes by 28 percent. These benefits are achieved without increasing the risk of injury, nor do they interfere with breastfeeding or infant growth. The Guideline also reinforces the importance of support from partners, families, healthcare providers, and community networks to help new mothers and birthing individuals achieve these health outcomes.
The 2025 Canadian Guideline for Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep throughout the First Year Postpartum—along with the International Delphi Study and seven supporting systematic reviews—is published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
As part of the broader initiative, the Guideline Consensus Panel has also introduced the Get Active Questionnaire for Postpartum. This tool provides a safe and accessible way for postpartum individuals to self-screen before beginning or resuming physical activity. Designed to be completed independently, the questionnaire helps identify those needing to speak with a healthcare provider before getting started, ensuring safety remains a top priority. The tool is available now.
To ensure this guidance reaches a global audience, CSEP is also preparing translations and adaptations of the questionnaire in Mandarin, Italian, and Portuguese (with more to follow), along with a UK-specific version tailored to the local health context. These versions are currently being developed and will further expand the Guideline’s international impact.
To explore the complete Guideline and access additional resources, visit CSEPguidelines.ca/guidelines/postpartum.