Postpartum belly: everything you need to know
The pregnant belly, as is natural, has an absolute protagonist role. On the other hand, little is said about the postpartum belly , which often requires a little maintenance to regain tone after the birth of the child.
In fact, many women, after pregnancy, find themselves dealing with a more swollen and relaxed abdomen, and wonder, with great concern, if and how they will be able to get back in shape after giving birth .
In the absence of complications, fortunately, a little patience , a healthy diet and a little physical activity are enough to recover the original muscle tone.
Why do I still look pregnant after giving birth?
After the birth of the baby, it is completely normal for the belly to appear more swollen, flaccid and not very toned . In fact, remember that the skin and muscles of the abdomen, together with the pelvic floor, have undergone considerable stress throughout the pregnancy.
Except for particular problems (as in the case of abdominal muscle diastasis), all these structures need about 1-2 months to return to normal , depending on the type of delivery and the mother’s physical characteristics.
At the same time, the uterus must also return to its original size, going from the 35 centimeters reached at the end of pregnancy to about 8 centimeters before conception. To do this, it will take 4 to 6 weeks , through particular contractions which are called uterine bites .
Finally, the shape and appearance of the postpartum belly are also influenced by water retention and the weight accumulated during pregnancy . After the birth of the baby, however, the body tissues begin to lose excess fluids (through urine, sweat and vaginal mucus) and the body begins to draw on fat reserves to obtain the energy necessary for the production of milk.
Postpartum belly: how long does it take to go away?
In most cases, it takes a few months for your belly to return to normal after giving birth.
Weight before and during pregnancy, fitness level and genetic predisposition can influence the speed of recovery, as well as the size of the future baby or the mode of delivery (cesarean or natural).
Because of this, some luckier moms could show off a perfect figure shortly after giving birth to their baby, while for others it could take longer than average. Some women may also notice a permanent change in the shape or appearance of their belly.
How to get rid of postpartum belly?
Regular exercise and a balanced diet , as well as a good dose of patience , are the best allies to reduce postpartum belly.
In addition, breastfeeding burns calories, helping you lose weight faster after childbirth, and stimulates uterine contractions, allowing the uterus to return more quickly to its normal size.
On the other hand, there are conflicting opinions on the use of postpartum girdles (also called containment bands or shaping girdles ). Many professionals advise against them in the case of natural childbirth, because their negative effects would be greater than the possible benefits. In case of cesarean delivery , however, they could be useful for the mother to regain mobility more quickly.
In general, the advice is to always consult your gynecologist or midwife before using a postpartum girdle .
Postpartum belly: recommended exercises
Walk
A 30-minute walk a day is ideal for keeping fit after childbirth, without overexerting yourself. Even a simple outing with the stroller or sling can be a good opportunity for some training.
Abdominal exercises
As for the exercises aimed at combating the “soft belly” after childbirth, many videos and websites offer mothers to perform the classic abdominal exercises .
In fact, this type of exercise can be harmful postpartum and have negative effects on the pelvic floor .
To reduce the belly without weakening the muscles of the perineum, the most suitable activity after childbirth is the so-called hypopressive gymnastics , a type of training that is able to strengthen the abdominal muscles and the pelvic floor at the same time.
Hypopressive abdominal exercises can also be performed by women who have undergone cesarean delivery or who suffer from diastasis of the abdominal muscles .
Although they are very simple, the advice is to start practicing them with a professional, to check that they are performed correctly. The ideal is to rely on a midwife who specializes in pelvic floor rehabilitation .
Postpartum belly: massages, creams and other remedies
To restore elasticity to the tissues and stimulate cell renewal, it may be useful to massage with an elasticising cream and delicate scrubs on the abdomen.
Further help can be offered by some herbs, to be added to a non-greasy base cream :
- Ivy glycolic extract 5g (tones loose skin)
- Calendula glycolic extract 10g (it is healing and anti-inflammatory)
- Horsetail glycolic extract 10g (increases tissue elasticity)
What about a cesarean delivery scar?
To promote healing, once the stitches have been removed, it is advisable to massage the area daily with St. John’s wort oil . Alternatively, there are elasticizing gels and creams that can improve the aesthetic appearance of the scar and avoid any permanent thickening and enlargement (keloid) .
Postpartum belly: how to get rid of extra pounds? The dietitian answers.
I gave birth by caesarean section 34 days ago. During pregnancy I have now gained 10 kilos, but as soon as I gave birth, I lost 8. Before pregnancy I weighed 42, now 44.5. How can I do to get rid of these two kilos that won’t go away and above all get rid of the swollen belly that is still so evident and unsightly for me?
I’m not a big glutton, maybe I overindulge in fruit, including sugary ones like grapes. Please give me some advice!!! Thank youDear reader, you have not yet gone through the famous 40 days after giving birth and you would like to be like before her, wait for her body to recover and regain her physiological balance.
Pregnancy is a particular physiological period of great changes, the kilos acquired in that period are essential for safeguarding the child and provide a source of energy for the period following childbirth, especially if you are breastfeeding.
So if you are breastfeeding , relax, don’t think about the 2 extra kilos, on the contrary, try to eat properly by always eating 5 meals a day without missing anything, you will see that you will lose weight in a very short time due to the increase in your basal metabolic rate. The risk, on the other hand, is that she could find herself underweight and therefore malnourished if she tends to be restrictive in her eating behavior.
Instead if you don’t breastfeed, by resuming the regularity of meals, without eliminating any food group and without excesses or whims, it will return within a few months to how it was before.
A swollen belly is normal, I repeat it hasn’t passed the first 40 days yet; moreover, he has undergone an operation and everything must return to the way it was before (organs, tissues, circulation, metabolism, etc.).
Eventually, if you feel the need to learn more about proper nutrition, contact a dietician, who will surely be able to help you in a personalized way based on your habits and difficulties.
Kind regards and good luck with her new joy!
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.