Whether it was scheduled or unplanned, a c-section is major surgery, so you need to give your body time to recover. While recovery might take longer than a typical vaginal delivery, that does not mean that you can't start eating healthily after your baby arrives to get that pre-baby body back. Focusing on a nutrient-rich diet rather than a get-thin-quick snack is the most effective way to lose weight after a c-section.
Post-Baby Diet
Your c-section should not prevent you from focusing on a healthy diet right away. You will likely experience some post-surgery discomfort, but it should not affect your ability to resume a normal diet as you recover. Check with your doctor to make sure. In addition to healthy foods, it is important that you drink lots of water as you recover to prevent constipation, which can be an added discomfort during this period. Water also might help to speed up your metabolism, allowing you to burn more calories and lose weight more quickly.
Superfoods
Incorporate nutrient-rich superfoods into your post-baby diet to drop the pounds. These healthy foods help replenish your body's store of nutrients, likely depleted during birth. If you are breastfeeding, such foods are particularly important. Fish, such as salmon, sardines and tuna, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Get your calcium through dairy products like milk and cheese. Add proteins to your diet; chicken breasts, turkey, tofu and beans are rich in protein.
Lifestyle, Not Diet
Overhaul your eating habits post-baby to make the biggest impact and lose the most weight. Focus on a well-balanced diet full of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins every day. Stop that ice-cream craving with a fruit smoothie, for example. If you see your new diet as a lifestyle change rather than deprivation, you will stick to it longer and see better results, allowing you to drop those pregnancy pounds.
Considerations
In addition to the wealth of benefits for you and the baby, breastfeeding can also help you drop the weight. It burns additional calories every day. Keep in mind that quickly cutting calories can reduce your milk supply, according to Kelly Bonyata of the KellyMom website. Breastfeeding moms need to eat around 1,800 calories a day, so keep your calorie count in this range and simply focus on healthier foods, not necessarily fewer calories.
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