Male Fitness Trainer's Response to Postpartum Mom Seeking Advice Goes Viral

After having a baby, many new mothers feel pressure to return to how they looked before their pregnancy.

But a fitness trainer has offered some—hopefully welcome—advice to new moms. In a video on Instagram, trainer James Cappola answered a question posted by a mother who, four months after giving birth, she had gained 40Ibs and was doing 15 to 30-minute home workouts.

Instead of suggesting that she follow an intensive diet and exercise plan, Cappola offered perhaps more realistic advice.

"Well that's great that you're showing up for that. But it's the stuff you're not thinking about—your sleep. But you have a newborn, so that's going to be difficult," he said.

"Your stress management—you have a newborn. Your workouts—you're gonna have to do them when you can. Your walks—you're gonna have to do them when you can," he added.

"You just gave birth. Your kid is there... And you are going to have to give yourself grace, as a mother and as a human being. You need to be realistic about managing your expectations."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthy pregnant or postpartum women should aim to do around 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, such as walking. However, how much exercise you should do also depends on the type of birth and whether there were complications. For example, you should wait until your 6-8 week check-up before exercising after a caesarean.

Additionally, the pressure to lose weight quickly can be toxic for new mothers. It can take a toll on both mental and physical health in one of the most vulnerable, sleep-deprived, emotionally turbulent periods of life. A survey carried out by the U.K. charity the Mental Health Foundation found that pregnancy often leaves many women feeling more negative about their body image, compared to before they were pregnant.

More than four in 10 women who had been pregnant said they felt more negative about their bodies afterwards. Some 18 percent felt "much more negative," while 23 percent felt "slightly more negative" about their post-pregnancy bodies.

Commenters have applauded Cappola for encouraging new mothers to be kinder to themselves. One wrote: "Can you imagine what life would be like if everyone was this kind to brand new mothers?"

Another said: "Love this advice! Can we normalise not having to bounce back in the first month and giving ourselves some grace? You just spent nine months growing a baby, and just birthed it. That's pretty badass! Take your time, recover properly."

Crucially, drastic diets and exercise regimes can be dangerous postpartum. Even after an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery, the body changes significantly - meaning any physical activity needs to be undertaken with caution.

If you have a parenting dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.