How to Get Rid of Postpartum Belly “How do I get rid of all this baby fat?” is the first and most common question that comes to mind after you deliver a baby.
Going through a painful and tedious delivery isn’t the only thing that mothers need to do. Stretch marks and scars are just the beginning. The real ‘fun’ starts after that. Yes, that’s right, we’re talking about postpartum fatigue, roller-coaster emotions, breakdowns, and last but definitely not the least, postpartum belly.
Real Talk!
On most days, you might even feel like you have to choose between a flat belly and new cuddles! But it is important to know to celebrate your body for the great miracle it has done and remember that an immediate flat tummy is unrealistic and overrated, and perhaps fits better to celebrities with personal trainers and nannies.
However, after that, you can take heart in knowing there are things you can do to lose the baby weight that seems to hang out at your midsection stubbornly.
Why Do I Still Look Pregnant – Get to Know Your Belly
Now that you’ve delivered the baby, you’re probably wondering what’s making your belly so huge. Is it hormones, belly fat, or loose skin?
Truth be told: It’s a bit of everything!
During pregnancy, the growing baby stretches the abdominal muscles. The mother’s abdomen changes shape during the pregnancy because of the baby’s growth and movement, so the abdominal muscles are also affected.
From the moment you deliver your baby, hormonal changes occur in your body, causing your tummy to reduce in size. However, it does take around another six to eight weeks for your womb (uterus) to adjust to its pre-pregnancy size.
The extra fluid built up in your body during pregnancy will gradually decrease, reducing swelling and bloating. And all the extra fat you put on to provide for your baby also starts to burn off, especially if you’re breastfeeding and exercising regularly. Mothers must be patient and keep in mind that it does take a few weeks to see noticeable results.
Timeline to Lose That Postpartum Belly
You know you have it, but what do you do to reduce it?
We have all heard countless stories of new mums who are lucky enough to regain their pre-pregnancy bodies within a span of a few weeks of delivering their child. Even though it is possible, it is not the case for most mothers. Keep in mind that the weight and shape of your body change dramatically after pregnancy, and it does get hard for most mums to regain their bodies back to their pre-pregnant self.
It requires a lot of patience. Since it took your tummy nine months to stretch and accommodate your baby, you cannot expect it to adjust or tighten itself in a matter of days.
How fast and how much your tummy tightens depend on the following factors:
- What your actual shape and size were before you got pregnant.
- How much weight you put on during your pregnancy.
- How busy you keep yourself with daily activities.
- Your genetics.
Factors that some mothers have that makes it easier for them to shed weight:
- Less weight gain during pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding your child.
- If it’s your first child.
Most women choose to play it safe and don’t wish to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight through exercise or diet control until about six months after their baby’s birth.
Safe and Proactive Steps to Get Rid of Your Postpartum Belly
After delivery, most women try different methods to drop all their weight during pregnancy and get back to their pre-pregnancy body. Breastfeeding often helps in the initial stages, but it comes down to the diet and, most importantly, exercise.
Exercise Right
Do some exercises daily that will help you get rid of the postpartum belly as fast as you would like it to. The secret is, however, to focus on your abdominal muscles.
Here are a few tummy tightening exercises that you may wish to try:
Scissors kick:
For this, you need to lie down very carefully on your back and lift both legs off the floor. Then very slowly, scissor your legs by lowering and lifting them alternatively. You can do this daily about 15 to 20 times.
Forearm plank:
Once you lie down on the floor with your forearms, rise onto your toes and suck in your belly. Tighten your buttocks and hold for a few seconds and keep building as you get stronger.
Reverse crunch:
The trick is to lie down on your back with your knees bent, and your thighs perpendicular to the ground. Now using your abs, you need to bring your knees toward your chest. Hold for around two counts and repeat it about ten times.
Post Pregnancy Toning Simulator
One of the most used ways of reducing the postpartum belly is the post-pregnancy belt, which targets the excess skin and belly fat along with helping you to get rid of it as soon as possible. As you cannot simply rush to a gym or do extensive exercises with a baby bump, the post-pregnancy belts are here to help.
Unlike other simulators, this post-pregnancy toning simulator known as the Fitness4Life MT-24 has many great benefits for a postpartum belly:
- It is a great post-natal tummy stimulator that gives you that desired toned core.
- It is an ideal muscle trainer for women after pregnancy.
- Only 20 minutes of use, and this is equivalent to hours of physical training in the gym.
- This abdominal muscle stimulator improves your posture, relieving your stress, and diffusing your pain.
- Versatile and easy to use; you can use this while reading, relaxing, or doing house chores.
- Core muscle electric equipment helps tone, firm, shape, tighten, and strengthening the muscles effectively.
