How To Get Rid Of A Postpartum Belly

Losing weight after baby can be challenging enough, but you may find it especially difficult to lose weight around your midsection. Your abdominal muscles have been stretched and out of use, and returning your belly to its postpartum appearance can prove difficult. Time will be helpful in healing your post-baby belly as your uterus begins to return to its normal size and the extra weight you gained to nourish your baby is lost, according to Baby Center.

Step 1

Breastfeed your baby. In order to breastfeed, you must burn extra calories in order to produce enough milk. Also, the act of breastfeeding produces hormones that cause the uterus to shrink, according to Babies Today. As an added benefit, breastfeeding helps your baby in a number of ways, including improved brain function and sight.

Step 2

Engage in cardiovascular activity after your doctor OKs you for exercise. The level of exercise you can perform post-birth often depends upon your level of activity before you had your baby. If you were exercising right up until you had your child, you should be able to continue exercising within a few days postpartum if you had a vaginal birth. A cesarean section may mean you should wait six to eight weeks prior to exercising, according to Baby Center. Walking, pushing your baby in her stroller or taking a postpartum aerobics class can help to tone the stomach.

Step 3

Watch what you eat--but not too carefully. Restricting calories can affect your milk supply if you are breastfeeding or can leave you feeling weakened after you give birth. Women need between 1,800 and 2,200 calories per day to maintain healthy body function--at a minimum, 1,200 calories. Reducing your dietary intake by at least 500 calories can help you to lose about a pound a week, which is a realistic weight loss goal for new moms.

Step 4

Perform muscle building activities in order to tighten the muscles that may have loosened during pregnancy. These include abdominal crunches, pelvic tilts, oblique crunches, back raises, lunge and squats, according to Babies Today. Be aware your abdominal muscles will have lost a significant amount of strength following your baby's birth. Slowly resume these muscle-building activities and engage in exercise sessions known to focus on your core muscles, including yoga and Pilates.

Tips and Warnings

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to lose your baby weight. Just as it took nine months to gain the weight, it can take a significant amount of time to keep it off. When you stop expecting miracles to happen overnight, you can focus on your new baby and your health, which often will result in losing your postpartum belly.
During pregnancy, your joints and ligaments have a tendency to loosen, which can cause you to feel clumsier or less in control of your body following birth. Take care when exercising, particularly in exercise classes that require coordination such as step aerobics.