Weight Loss After Birth

Weight loss after pregnancy is not generally a problem but just how much weight you can lose depends on many things. Obviously just how much you lose after the birth will depend on how much the baby weighs and that of the amniotic fluid and placenta.

As hormone levels in the woman's body return a level of normality she will begin to lose more pounds but you have to remember that around an extra 7 pounds of fat are put on during her pregnancy. Energy is stored in this excess fat ready for breast feeding the baby but how quickly each woman loses weight is dependent on factors like genetics, the mother's health, how much exercise they get and the type of food they eat.

You should expect that it will take a little bit of time to lose the weight you gained during pregnancy because it did after all take you nine months to put that weight on although many women have successfully lost weight in just a few short months after a delivery. Some women will hang on to the last few pounds they have to lose until they stop breastfeeding because your body may want to cling to a few extra pounds to ensure you have enough energy to provide adequate milk for the baby but every woman's experience is unique with respect to this.

With today's nutritional information readily available, more is know about what we should and shouldn't eat so combined with regular exercise it is possible to lose the weight you gained. The truth is that a large proportion of mothers will in fact have their old weight and figure back within that first year if they maintain a good exercise regime and healthy diet. A small number of women will annoy many other mothers and have their pre-pregnancy figure back in under three months.

What it is not taken into account is the number of physical changes that happen to woman once she has given birth and will alter some things she may have taken for granted. In order to lose weight after pregnancy both safely, and effectively; a new mother should undertake a program of slow and steady dieting along with exercise that will produce long-term beneficial results.

In addition, dieting right after pregnancy for a new mother who is breast feeding should probably be put on hold as a breast feeding new mother needs a significant amount of energy for the continual 24 hour care of her baby that may last for a year. A feeding mother may take upwards of six months for the hormone and metabolic rate to return to normal but for some people the changes they experience end up being permanent.

Let us not forget that a pregnant mother can gain anything form twenty five to thirty five pounds but can lose up to fourteen when the baby is born. Now whilst this weight loss after pregnancy happens immediately it can still leave up to another twenty one pounds which needs to be lost in the next half to three quarters of a year, but it must be done safely.

Article by: Kate | Total views: 129 | Word Count: 517

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If you find the information above educational and useful, read more about pregnancy and birth at pregnancy101.org and have a look at healthy eating while pregnant.