While it may take some time to lose pregnancy weight, the most important thing to remember is to be kind to yourself.
A woman's body changes quite a bit as a result of being pregnant. To support the growing baby, a woman's uterus has grown three times its original size, a baby bump took the place of a flatter midsection, the hips grew to be able to birth the child, and of course, weight gain to support all of those changes.
Once the baby is delivered, some women are chomping at the bit to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight. Some have felt uncomfortable in the body they were in while carrying their baby. Others feel the pressures of societyto bounce back immediately after having a baby. The reality of the situation is, it tooknearly 10 months to grow that bundle of joy. Therefore, it is going to take anywhere from three months to two years to lose the baby weight, depending on how much weight was gained during pregnancy.
When a woman delivers a baby, there is going to be weight lossoccurring that very same day. Between the weight of the baby, the amniotic fluid, and the placenta, there can be up to 13 pounds of weight loss when a baby enters the world, according to the Mayo Clinic. As such, that amount could be half of what the new mother gained during her pregnancy. And depending on how much water was retained in the legs and feet, even more weight loss could be sustained before leaving the hospitalto returnhome.
Regardless of having a baby or not, the one true way to lose weight is to create a calorie deficit. According to healthline, a woman needs approximately 2,000 calories per day to sustain her current weight. To decrease that weight, a 500 calorie per day deficit needs to occur. While this may seem to be a daunting task, for those who are breastfeeding, depending on the woman's milk supply, according to what to expect, she burns up to 500 calories per day. As such, without changing her diet, a breastfeeding woman is already creating a calorie deficit.
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It is important to remember, however, not to create too much of a deficit or to go on an extreme calorie-restrictive diet while breastfeeding. If this happens, the production of milk will slow, the baby will be hungry, and potentially will need to be supplemented with formula to thrive. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, safe weight loss is happening if a mother is losing one to four pounds per month.
No dieting of any sort should be happening until at least six weeks postpartum.
Exercise is important to incorporate when healed from giving birth. For some, this may be a few days after, if the delivery was vaginal with no tearing, and for others who had a C-section or complications, that time may be six weeks or more.
As a new mother, exercise may take on a new meaning. Being sleep deprived may make the sweat sessions that were done before delivery near impossible. As such, incorporate exercise slowly. Break up working out into little sessions throughout the day. According to Parents, because ligaments are loose, the abdominals are not solid like they used to be, and a baby is now wanting to be held and loved on, trying several postpartum exercises to see what works best is a great place to start. It is best to start slow, however, as jumping into a rigorous routine right away could cause more harm than good.
It is important to remember to be kind to oneself. The body did an amazing thing by growing a healthy baby for a good portion of a year. As such, physical changes occurred. It is crucial to focus on how healthy one feels during the weeks and months after delivery versus solely focusing on outward appearance. A new mother who is treating herself with kindness, making sure that she is eating healthy foods for herself and her milk supply, and getting as much sleep as she can with a newborn, is making wise choices for herself.
While that weight may not be coming off as quickly as hoped, at the end of the day, a few extra pounds, being strong mentally and physically, and being healthy is a recipe for creating a wonderful mother.
Though the mirror may not reflect a desired image, just remember that to that new baby, his mother is the most beautiful thing in the world, and there is nothing he would change about her.
Source: what to expect, Mayo Clinic, healthline, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Parents
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Jessica is a freelance writer based out of California. She is a mom to two fiercely independent, fun-loving girls and wife to a man who helps her find balance in life. Jessica is an avid runner, consumer of really great cups of coffee, and enjoys adventuring off the beaten path whenever possible. Family is number one to Jessica and is what makes living this crazy, hectic, beautiful life worthwhile.
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How Long Will It Take Me To Get Back To My Pre-Baby Weight? - BabyGaga
