Each woman’s body is different from the next and has a different reaction to natural processes including childbirth. Hence some women lose their pregnancy weight faster than others. One may lose her baby fat within a couple of weeks of childbirth, or it may be a long process from 1 year upwards. That does not make one woman any better or worse than the other. It's just natural and should be regarded as a beautiful thing.
Women are generally under pressure to quickly drop the pounds they gain during pregnancy – whether from their spouse, friends, or people whose business it really isn’t.
Shoutout to all the mummies taking care of their beautiful babies and still working on their body, it’s easy to let the pressure get to you especially as we all see these our abroad celebrities getting their bodies back after 2 hours of labor lol some people are blessed that way. You’ve just gone through a miraculous process, take it one step at a time and enjoy bonding with your baby. Your body will bounce back, you are BEAUTIFUL?
It is important that women learn to love themselves and feel good about their bodies after childbirth. Pace yourself and lose that baby weight at the right time.
What’s more? Doctors have warned that losing the baby weight too fast after childbirth can put the next baby at risk – so you see – No rush!
HOW CAN I LOSE WEIGHT SAFELY WHILE BREASTFEEDING?
You are not alone in wondering about losing weight. Many women are anxious to return to their pre-pregnancy shape and weight after childbirth. Do try to remember that your pregnancy weight wasn’t gained overnight so it won’t disappear that quickly, either.
While breastfeeding burns about 500-700 calories extra per day to fuel milk making, this may not always contribute to weight loss postpartum – many factors like pre-pregnancy weight, diet, physical activity level, etc will impact weight loss after birth. On average, exclusively breastfeeding mothers may see a loss of 1-2 pounds a month and over time, breastfeeding moms tend to lose more weight than mothers who do not breastfeed.
WHEN CAN I START LOSING WEIGHT?
It is recommended that you wait at least 6-8 weeks postpartum to start to lose weight, as your body needs this time to recover from childbirth and establish a good milk supply. Many mothers lose weight in the early months by following a well-balanced diet and eating to hunger.
WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR WEIGHT LOSS?
Breastfeeding mothers should consume at least 1800 calories a day and can safely lose around 1 lb/week. Aim to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables while minimizing empty carbohydrates and junk food. For some, consuming 1800 calories/day does not allow much room for weight loss via cutting calories however, you can pair dieting with exercise to promote weight loss at a safe pace.
Once your physician or healthcare provider has cleared you for physical activity around 6 weeks postpartum, you can try a brisk walk with your baby, going for a jog, pilates, or your favorite form of physical fitness to encourage your body to shed those extra pounds and promote a healthy lifestyle. Exercise is shown to have no negative impact on volume or quality of milk supply, infant weight, or the taste of breast milk – so have fun with it.