It is not uncommon for women to still look pregnant even after giving birth, particularly after successive pregnancies. According to Babycenter.com, it takes about a month for your uterus to shrink back to its normal size. Plastic surgeon Dr. Brooke R. Seckel advises that after multiple pregnancies, the repeated weight gain can create loose skin on the belly that may give the appearance of a larger abdomen. After a fourth baby, the stretched skin may not return to normal, but you can take steps to lose any actual fat gained during the pregnancy.
Step 1
Breastfeed your baby. FitPregnancy.com reports that breastfeeding moms need to eat an extra 500 calories a day, or around 2,700 total calories. Because breastfeeding burns up to 800 calories a day, you can lose weight even if you're largely sedentary.
Step 2
Begin working out a few weeks after giving birth with your doctor's approval. Women who have had C-sections may need to wait longer. It doesn't have to be strenuous -- walking around the block counts as exercise. If you have a friend or relative willing to babysit, consider making your first post-baby dates with your partner bike rides, hikes or just long walks in the park. According to fitness expert Renee M. Jeffreys, M.S., you will likely be able to exercise for up to 30 minutes, three to five days per week after your six-week checkup.
Step 3
Refrain from eating empty calories such as candy, chips or soda. Instead, take in the highest-quality nutrients possible at each meal. Eat a mini-meal consisting of lean protein and complex carbohydrates every two to three hours to keep your blood sugar stable and your metabolism high. Examples include a handful of walnuts and an apple, half a whole-wheat pita spread with hummus or cottage cheese or a bowl of oatmeal with a spoonful of protein powder.
Step 4
Lift weights to build muscle, which is more metabolically active than fat and burns more calories even when you're at rest. Get a set of hand weights and do bicep curls, tricep presses and crunches with a weight held to your chest. Exercises that use your body weight for resistance, such as push-ups, also count as strength training.
Step 5
Be forgiving of and loving toward your body. Remember that it gave birth not once, but four times. You probably won't look like you looked before the first child was born, but your life has changed, meaning it's okay for your body to change. Aim to be fit and healthy, not perfect.
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