Weight gain is a normal part of a healthy pregnancy, and it is necessary to grow and nourish a healthy baby. However, most women are eager to lose the weight as soon as possible once the baby is born. Several factors influence how quickly you can lose the weight. As a general rule, it took nine months to gain the weight and may take as many to lose it. Healthy lifestyle habits can help your body bounce back earlier. Even if you lose all the weight gained during pregnancy, your shape may be permanently changed.
After Birth
Immediately after birth, you will lose 10 to 12 pounds. This includes five to eight pounds for the baby, plus a couple pounds for the placenta, blood and amniotic fluids. You will lose a few more pounds of water weight in the first weeks, as well. An additional amount of weight is excess energy stored as reserves by your body for breastfeeding. However, it takes at least six weeks for your uterus to shrink back down to its pre-pregnancy size. Exercise is generally safe after birth if you exercised throughout your pregnancy, but you should get approval from your obstetrician.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding burns additional calories, which can help you lose weight. Breastfeeding burns between 200 to 500 calories each day. Some women do lose weight while breastfeeding, especially if they are conscious of calorie intake. However, not all women do lose weight while breastfeeding.
Starting Weight and Weight Gain
How soon you lose weight after pregnancy depends in part on how much you gained and what you weighed before pregnancy. If you regularly exercised and gained only the recommended amount of weight, you will likely lose weight after birth more quickly than a woman who started pregnancy overweight or gained an excessive amount of weight.
Lifestyle Habits
Lifestyle habits during pregnancy and after significantly influence how quickly you will lose your pregnancy weight gain. If you ate a healthy, well-balanced diet during pregnancy, you will lose weight within a few months of birth if you continue to follow the same diet. Similarly, if you exercised throughout pregnancy, you will lose weight quicker if you continue to exercise after birth. Women who gained an excessive amount of weight during pregnancy or started out overweight will need to use traditional methods of diet and exercise to lose weight.
