Postpartum Weight Loss

New mothers who have just given birth are often interested in postpartum weight loss. After giving birth, many women want to lose weight as soon as possible. For a healthy pregnancy and to avoid complications during your next pregnancy, it’s important to lose some weight before you get pregnant again.

The chances of developing complications during pregnancy are higher if you begin a pregnancy obese. Those with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop gestational diabetes. Those who did not have type 2 diabetes when they had their first child may experience chronic high blood pressure or preeclampsia.

It is also more likely for obese women to experience miscarriages.

There are a variety of compelling reasons to lose weight before getting pregnant again. Weight gain before pregnancy is influenced by how much the woman weighed before becoming pregnant.

Approximately 25 to 35 pounds should be gained by a woman during her pregnancy. The amount of weight you put on may vary depending on how much you weigh. If you’re obese, your doctor may recommend you gain no more than 10 pounds during pregnancy. It is essential to gain the right amount of weight during pregnancy.

Your scale will also reflect extra pounds gained from:

• Amniotic fluid
• Increased blood 
• Increased fat
• Increased breast tissue
• Increased fluids
• The placenta

The 14 Tips for Postpartum Weight Loss

1.      Don’t Eat More Than You Have To

Keep in mind that your body uses the fat stores after you’ve delivered to make healthy milk for your baby.

What you eat when feeding your baby does not determine how much breastmilk you will produce. It is determined by the amount of fat you can store while pregnant. Therefore, gaining fat stores is critical, but it’s equally important to gain just the right amount.

It’s common for women to feel that they need to eat for two during pregnancy. Additionally, they believe they will simply go on a massive crash diet and engage in intense exercise after giving birth. Please note that expectations like these are unrealistic.

2.      Healthy Foods to Eat

You may not be able to produce enough milk if you’re not eating enough or drinking enough. This is why it is not a wise idea to go on a massive crash diet.

It is more beneficial than you consume calories from nutritious foods rather than processed foods.

In addition to exercise, eating well could also help you lose weight. Below is a list of foods you should incorporate into your diet.

• Fresh fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Lean protein
• Low-fat dairy
• Healthy fats
• Reduce your intake of sweets
• Having small frequent meals throughout the day is beneficial

At every meal and snack, eat healthy carbohydrates and lean protein. Your stomach will feel full for a longer period until your next meal. Additionally, it will help regulate your blood sugar levels.

When your blood sugar drops, you are most likely to experience problems. As a result, you feel hungry. A large amount of sugar eaten at this time will make you feel full for a short time before your blood sugar drops again. To maintain a healthy weight, it is crucial to consume foods that will help manage your blood sugar levels.

3.      Get Enough Sleep

It is essential to get adequate, quality sleep if you want to lose weight. Specifically, losing sleep during dieting can reduce weight loss and promote overeating.

An insufficient number of hours of sleep is associated with increased oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and blood sugar intolerance. The extra time spent awake can lead to more food consumption, and sleeping less can disrupt circadian rhythms, and consequently, weight gain may occur.

RELATED: How Long Does it Take to Get Pregnant?

4.      Pelvic Floor exercise

Your bladder, vagina, and bottom muscles are strengthened when you do pelvic floor exercises. Besides helping with incontinence, it can also help with prolapse and make sex better.

There are three ways you can do these exercises: lying down, sitting down, or standing up. Practicing them anywhere and anytime will help you master them

5.      Exercise Will Help

Maintaining a healthy weight is another crucial component. The benefits of exercise are endless, regardless of whether you are trying to lose weight or not. The heart, lungs, muscles, bones, and the entire body benefit from it.

Exercise burns calories and fat, as well as builds lean muscle. Having lean muscle mass makes you burn more calories even when you’re resting because it increases your metabolism.

It is important to allow your body to heal after having a baby.

The process takes time. For vaginal deliveries, it usually takes about 6 weeks, and for C-sections, it takes about 8 weeks. You will need medical clearance from your doctor to start exercising. Exercising will be very beneficial to your postpartum weight loss.

6.      Kegels

It is recommended that you start exercising after giving birth with Kegels when the pelvic floor muscles are not painful. Your pelvic muscles help control the functions of your body in the pelvic area.

During Kegels, you should try to start and stop your urine stream while you are on the toilet. At first, it might not work as well as you expected. That’s normal. Don’t give up on regaining pelvic floor tone. This will help with urinary continence and keep you from peeing when you laugh or exercise.

7.      Any Movement Will Be Beneficial

In the interim, do not just sit on the couch if your doctor does not allow you to start exercising. It’s good for you to move around. Walking is a gentle exercise that is great for your body. Once you’re feeling better, you should walk whenever you can. You’ll get back into shape, avoid blood clots, and refresh your mind. Take a stroll around your neighborhood, or if it’s cold outside, go walking in an indoor mall. Don’t expect to go very far at the beginning, and take your time.

8.      Strengthening Your Core

There’s no denying that pregnancy stretches your belly. A condition called diastasis recti can result in abdominal muscles separating down the middle in some pregnant women. Approximately one month after vaginal birth, and many months after a C-section, your doctor might allow you to start doing exercise for your core. 

You need your midsection for stability when you are walking, bending, twisting, and carrying around your adorable baby. 

Planks, crunches, and bridges are effective core exercises postpartum.

9.      What to Avoid

You should avoid lifting weights or increasing your heart rate intentionally because doing so will impede your body’s ability to heal properly.

If you delivered vaginally, you can start mild crunches 1-2 weeks after delivery, but after a C-section, you shouldn’t do this. It will probably take the abdominal wall 8 weeks to heal after a C-section, and then you will have to wait for approval from your doctor.

10. How Much You Should Exercise

According to the American Heart Association, moderately intense cardiovascular exercise for at least 150 minutes every week, or vigorous cardiovascular exercise for at least 30 minutes, should be done three times a week. Combine cardiovascular exercise with a strength training program like lifting weights for 2 to 3 days in combination with cardiovascular exercise.

 Taking this step will help you shed those extra pounds and be better for your body

11. Excuses

There are many reasons why people don’t exercise, such as not having time, running doesn’t appeal to them, etc. In addition to running, there are a lot of other activities you can do, so make sure you choose something you enjoy doing.

There are times when you don’t have the time or the energy. You definitely don’t feel like you have been up all night with your baby on Sundays. However, if you take the time to exercise, you will feel more energetic, more confident, and more relaxed.

Consider joining a mommy and me exercise program that involves your baby while he or she is napping or awake.

12. Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding can also help you share those extra pounds, remember your body put on those extra stores of fat to help you make good milk for your baby.  Studies have shown that exclusively breast-feeding mothers can lose weight slightly faster than formula-feeding women

13. Be Realistic

It’s most important to keep a realistic perspective on your goals and the time it will take you to lose those extra pounds. In Hollywood, it appears to be so easy that it can happen overnight, but they may have trainers or people watching their kids and cooking for them, so it is their job to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight. Getting back to your pre-pregnancy weight might take some time because it’s your job to be a mom, as well as your other responsibilities. Find what works for you

14. Lose Weight Safely

You should take into account that healthy weight loss goals usually target about a pound per week. Don’t worry if you don’t lose weight faster than that.

There is no need to worry because you will lose weight in a healthy manner. The process of removing it can take several months because it took you nine months to put it on.

Final Thought

It is only necessary for pregnant women to consume 200 to 300 calories more per day until they reach the end of their second trimester. Your daily calorie requirement will increase by 330 to 500 if you exclusively breastfeed after delivery. After that, the requirements become higher.

For postpartum weight loss or to lose weight in general, it is very important to watch what you eat after having a baby. It’s because you’re placing an order for your baby’s breastfeeding experience during his or her first 6 to 8 weeks of life.