Just when you think everything will bounce back to normal after you give birth, the post-pregnancy belly interferes with your plans.
Your best chance of losing baby belly fat as quickly as possible is if you do it safely. However, don’t forget that the body, hormones, organs, and mind need time to adjust and align, so you can’t expect change to happen overnight.
Your days of searching for “How to lose pregnant belly?” have come to an end. We’ll give you an in-depth look into everything you need to know about the postpartum belly and how you can get rid of it.
What Is Going On With My Belly?
Over the span of 9 months, the uterus expands to approximately 1,000 times its original size.
During this expansion, your organs shift, your muscles accommodate the surroundings, and your skin stretches. All of which ultimately lead to the baby bump you love and admire.
After the baby is born, a slightly smaller bump is still present. Some women even develop a condition known as Diastasis Recti, which causes the bump to be even more accentuated.
Belly Weight Loss Timeline
You can expect some changes to be apparent over the course of a few months postpartum.
One Month
On average, 30 days after giving birth mothers lose approximately 20 pounds. Typically, women gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy, so if you lose around 20 pounds, you’ll be close to the size you were before getting pregnant.
Six Weeks
During the six weeks after birth, the pelvis and uterus slowly shrink back to normal. At the six-week point, they are the closest to what they were pre-baby. Because of this, the lower abdominal area will appear to be small and flatter.
Nine Months
At this point, the majority of women are back or at least very close to the size they were before giving birth. However, everybody is different, so the exact timeline for reducing and healing the postpartum belly can vary.
Getting Rid of Baby Belly Fat Safely
Getting a pre-baby body back as soon as possible is something that many new mothers strive for. However, if you aren’t careful during this process, you might risk a setback in progress, or even worse, additional health issues.
The two most important things to concentrate on if you want to get rid of the baby belly fat safely are exercise and nutrition.
When the recovery period is over, don’t immediately go to the gym to start lifting weights or overexert yourself with cardio. You’ll need to get back into exercising with the right exercises for your postpartum body.
Nutrition also plays a crucial role in after-pregnancy belly care. You’ll want to eat a healthy and balanced diet that will not only have an impact on your physical appearance but all your body’s functions.
This includes eating foods that promote brain & organ health, rebalance hormones & metabolism, balance sugar, aid in heart health, and support breastfeeding (for mothers who breastfeed).
Belly Support
In addition to exercise and a balanced diet, many mothers use compression belly wraps for postpartum belly support. This helps keep things in place while the belly shrinks back to size.
One specific type of belly wrapping that has grown popular amongst many mothers is Bengkung Wrapping.
That is when a mother is wrapped in a long, soft muslin cloth from her hips to just under her breasts.
Belly wraps won’t necessarily help with postpartum weight loss, however, they can help your belly with recovery and organ readjustment. Depending on whether you’ve had a vaginal birth or c-section, when you can start using wraps will vary. It is best to speak with your doctor about wrapping.
Conclusion
A postpartum belly is something that every new mother will go through and want to get rid of quickly. Although many mothers expect to see results immediately, the uterus, organs, muscles, and skin will need time to recover and shift back into place.
Minimizing the post-pregnancy belly is a process that should include appropriate exercises, a well-balanced diet, and a belly support tactic that can help with recovery.