Postpartum Weight Loss

the Babble Staff

No two ways about it: pregnancy and labor wreak some pretty shocking havoc on a woman's body. No matter how earthy midwives urge women to be zen about "having the body of a mother," it's hard not to be neurotic about such a huge physical change. Even if you're not inclined to embark on a Madonna-type regimen of yoga and dance, you might be wondering about weight loss. The good news is that doctors say much of the weight gained during pregnancy consists of blood and fluids that will vanish in the first week or two after labor. But there will likely be at least seven pounds of fat left. While some physical changes might be there to stay, many mothers report their weight declines rapidly as they breastfeed. As for exercise, doctors caution that excessive workouts can be harmful in the early weeks after giving birth, but once you're healed, exercise is healthy for new moms, and, unlike crash dieting, it won't interfere with the quality and quantity of breast milk..

"Once the challenges of childbirth are past and a mother has held her new baby and counted fingers and toes, she turns her attention to the dramatic changes pregnancy and childbirth have worked on her body. The first sight of a sagging postpartum tummy can shock even the slimmest, most self-assured woman. [. . .] Remember you've earned the body of a mother. Celebrate that body and appreciate the emotional and physical strengths you've gained." ...read the full article

"Once you feel up to it, go for walks. I have been taking my nine-month-old son for power walks in the stroller since he was an infant. Go first thing in the morning if you can. If you delay, you will find excuses not to go, and the walk is a great way to start your day. You can also invest in a baby backpack. I pop him in and off we go for a walk." ...read the full article

"Wait at least six weeks — and preferably a few months — before you actively try to slim down. Your body needs some time to recover from labor and delivery. Starting a diet too soon after giving birth can affect your milk supply and make you feel tired. If you're patient and give your body a chance to do its work, you may be surprised at how much weight you lose naturally, especially if you're breastfeeding." ...read the full article

"Weight gain in pregnancy is healthy and natural, but many women crave to return to their pre-pregnancy bodies. But you need to exercise caution when losing your baby weight. Just as it's best to put on weight slowly and steadily during your pregnancy, you need to be slow and steady in losing weight after your pregnancy." ...read the full article

"Although our results cannot exclude an effect of more exclusive or more prolonged breastfeeding, breastfeeding as commonly practiced does not appear to influence the rate of postpartum weight loss. This information should be useful in counseling new or prospective mothers and in avoiding unrealistic expectations." ...read the full article