A Cesarean section birth, also called C-section, is a type of delivery in which the doctor surgically removes the baby through an incision in the woman's stomach, rather than vaginally. Cesarean births have several risks involved, so they should only be done on women who are at high risk or babies that cannot be delivered vaginally. According to Parents.com, about one in four births in the United States are C-sections. Since so many women are having C-section births, it's important to understand the special requirements in healing from this type of delivery, especially as it relates to weight loss. Many women want to lose weight as soon as possible after having their babies, but women who have C-section births may need to approach weight loss from a different perspective.
Step 1
Breastfeed your baby instead of bottle feeding. According to La Leche League International, women who breastfeed their babies lose more weight than women who use formula and do not breastfeed. In fact, La Leche League International states that during the first four to six months, breastfeeding women lose about 1.3 to 1.6 pounds per month without dieting or exercising. Breastfeeding is a great way to burn calories, especially when you are still recovering from your C-section and may not be able to exercise.
Step 2
Start watching what you eat as soon as you have your baby. It's important not to go on a very low calorie diet if you're breastfeeding, as that may affect a mother's milk. It is a better idea to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat and processed foods, like chips and candy. Cleaning up your diet is the main way to lose weight while you are recovering from a C-section and cannot exercise yet. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating small portion sizes and using low-fat dairy instead of regular diary products.
Step 3
Wait six to eight weeks before exercising, as recommended by Jill Stovsky, exercise physiologist and contributor to BabyCenter.com. She recommends discussing a healthy time frame for healing with your doctor. Cesarean sections are major surgery, and they take quite a while to heal. If you start exercising too early, you may risk pain or injury, which could slow down your recovery time even more.
Step 4
Add exercise into your daily routine with your baby when your doctor says that it is safe for you to exercise. You should start slowly since you haven't been exercising for a while. The Mayo Clinic recommends exercising with your baby by taking the baby in the stroller on walks or jogs. You can even lay the baby on the floor while you do exercises like push-ups and sit-ups next to her.
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