Breastfeeding.com reports the average woman gains 25 lbs. during pregnancy and loses approximately 14 lbs. during labor and delivery, including the weight of the baby, the placenta and the amniotic fluid. Most women will have some additional weight to lose after the baby is born and the pregnancy is over.
Time Frame
After the initial weight loss due to the actual delivery of the baby, the week after the birth may also bring a significant drop in pounds as the body sheds excess fluid it retained during pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman's body naturally develops a layer of fat that will take some time -- and work -- to shed. The Mayo Clinic reports that it is acceptable to lose up to 1 lb. a week after the birth by concentrating on a healthy diet and exercise plan, when approved by a health-care provider. It may take up to six months to lose the weight gained during pregnancy -- or longer if excessive weight was gained.
Body Changes
After pregnancy, weight distribution is likely to be different. Bone structures -- often ribs -- are permanently altered because of the stress of pregnancy. Extra skin around the abdominal area may be present. New moms should be kind to themselves and exercise patience when accepting their new post-baby body.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding.com reports that the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has found that breastfeeding releases hormones that help to decrease the size of your uterus, returning it to its pre-pregnancy size faster. Breastfeeding also requires approximately 500 calories per day above what pre-pregnancy calorie requirements were, but that value will be different for each new mom. Breastfeeding alone will not get rid of the excess weight. Combining breastfeeding with a healthy, well-balanced diet and exercise will produce the best results.
Exercise
Exercising after pregnancy is beneficial to more than just your waistline. Exercise can help improve mood, ease postpartum depression, increase a new mom's confidence and be an excellent stress reliever -- all while accelerating weight loss. In the past, new moms have been encouraged to wait until a six-week postpartum checkup has been done to begin exercising. Now, new moms are being given the go-ahead only a few days after delivery, if there are no extra complications and exercise was a daily routine prior to delivery. Consult a health-care provider before beginning any exercise regimen post-baby.
Diet
MyPyramid, part of the USDA, encourages new moms to increase the number of fruits and vegetables in their diet, while also eating a diet rich in whole grains, low-fat and nonfat milk and dairy products, as well as lean proteins. Experts adamantly oppose new moms going on fad diets to lose baby weight. These types of diets can be very restrictive and may affect your ability to recover from pregnancy, labor and delivery while taking care of a newborn.
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