Nearly 35 years after a policy went into place that required women in the Army to meet a specific body mass index within 180 days after delivering their baby, the policy has been updated. The update occurred after it was determined that the female body needs longer to heal than the previous policy allowed, to meet the physical standards the Army deems appropriate to serve after having a baby. As such, postpartum women will have one year to get back into shape, per the Army.

On Friday, a new policy went into place that extends the time a woman serving in the Army has to meet the Army Body Composition Program (ABCP) guidelines after she has given birth.

When ABCP went into place in 1986, it was known as The Army Weight Control Program, according to Army Regulation 600-9. The program then and until just recently, required women to reach a body mass index of 36 or less within 180 days after giving birth.

RELATED: Pregnant In The Army: 15 Facts About Being A Military Mom

To determine what a woman's BMI was at the end of 180 days, a height and weight chart from the 1980s was consulted to see where the woman's BMI was measured. She had her body tape measured as well to ascertain what her neck, waist, and hip measurements were. Those measurements were factored in to determine how fit a postpartum woman was.

At the end of 180 days, many women were placed on ABCP for not meeting Army physicality standards. Once enrolled in the program, they were required to meet with a dietician and according to Newsweek, would not be released from ABCP until they reached the weight and BMI deemed appropriate by the Army. The women were also required to pass a physical fitness test during this same timeframe.

The new standards, according to Stars & Stripes, allow a woman one year to meet the fitness requirements of the Army. And for those who were previously placed in ABCP during 181 to 365 days postpartum, will be removed and mention of being put into the program will be stricken from their Army record as well.

The new Army requirements now allow for a mother's body to heal from giving birth. According to Overlake Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, during the original timeframe, a woman would have had to deal with the hormone relaxin when trying to get back into shape. Because of the hormone causes joints to be loose, women could have been injured when working out if they went too hard, too fast.

Further still, for one to two years after delivery, according to the publication, a woman's abdominal muscles are still healing be it from pregnancy itself and/or having a C-section. If worked out too, hard too quickly, damage could be done to the abdominals that could make recovery last longer than one year.

The new timeframe that women in the Army are given to meet ABCP standards is much more reasonable. However, according to some, the program from the 1980s is outdated and needs some major revamping.

Whether the Army has further plans to change the physical requirements necessary to serve is unknown. Perhaps this is a small step in the right direction with further changes to come to help facilitate women being able to stay in the service long term if that is their choice. Only time will tell.

NEXT: Marine Corps Issues A New Fitness Order For Pregnant Women

Source: Stars & Stripes, NewsweekOverlake Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PCArmy Regulation 600-9