5 Ways to shrink the stomach after giving birth that you need to try

Many new mothers with children are looking for various ways to shrink the stomach after giving birth. The reason is, sagging abdominal muscles, saggy skin, and fat in the abdomen will reduce the self-confidence of postpartum women. Actually, how long will the stomach continue to enlarge after giving birth, and how do you shrink the stomach after giving birth to return to normal?

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Why does the stomach still look big after giving birth?

You may have tried various ways to shrink your stomach after giving birth, but why does the process take so long?

Yes, this question may often come to the minds of mothers who have just given birth and feel their stomach size has become bigger.

Basically, it is normal to have a belly of a size like the first trimester or early pregnancy even though you have given birth.

It takes time and a separate way for the body to return to its original size as before pregnancy and childbirth.

This is because during pregnancy the size of the stomach will gradually enlarge as the baby grows.

When you give birth, the enlarged belly size does not suddenly decrease suddenly because the baby has been born.

The stomach takes some time as a way to adapt from a large size until it finally shrinks back.

In essence, the stomach will return to its original size and be more stable, but gradually.

Hormones in the body are one of the things that play a role in shrinking the stomach as changes after childbirth.

For about 4 weeks or during the puerperium, the hormone levels will decrease so that it can shrink the stomach to its original size.

Not only that, all the cells in the body also usually swell and enlarge, for example the hands, stomach, and legs swelling after childbirth.

Over time, the cells in the body, including the stomach, will begin to release fluids in the form of urine, sweat, and so on.

Even the longer and more regularly you breastfeed your baby, the fat deposits in the body also start to burn.

However, it will take at least a few weeks to get the real results after you apply various ways to shrink the stomach after giving birth.

How long will it take for the stomach to return to size?

The time it takes for the body to return to normal in every postpartum woman is not always the same.

Likewise with the way to slimming the stomach after giving birth which may not always be effective in some mothers.

Maybe you've heard or even know firsthand, there are mothers whose stomach size can return to normal in just a few months after giving birth.

On the other hand, there are also mothers who need more time and different ways to return to reducing the size of the stomach like before being pregnant after giving birth.

No need to worry if you are a group of mothers who need more time and different ways to shrink the stomach after giving birth.

After all, patience and effort are an important part of this process.

Because, for about nine months the abdominal muscles stretch because of carrying a baby.

Therefore, it will take a long time and various ways to reduce the size and condition of the stomach to its original condition after giving birth.

There are several factors that affect the speed and results when using various ways to shrink the stomach as before after childbirth, including:

• Belly size before pregnancy.
• Weight gain during pregnancy.
• The level of activity after giving birth.
• Body genes.

Whereas in some cases, it may be easier for you to lose weight and apply the way to reduce the size of the stomach as before after giving birth, if:

• Weight gain during pregnancy does not reach 13.6 kilograms (kg).
• Exercise regularly during pregnancy.
• Breast feeding a baby.
• Pregnancy and giving birth to the first baby.

Ways to shrink the stomach after childbirth

In fact, over time, the size and fat in your belly will shrink on its own.

However, it all does not come by itself so it is necessary to apply various ways to shrink the stomach after giving birth.

You still have to compensate by doing various ways to shrink the stomach after giving birth.

This method, for example, applies a healthy diet and lifestyle that can help you achieve success.

Here are some easy and simple ways to slim down the stomach after giving birth:

1. Get enough sleep

No doubt, sometimes it feels difficult to get enough sleep.

On the other hand, mothers often lack sleep during breastfeeding, especially when your baby is less than 1 year old.

In fact, adequate sleep is part of the care after normal delivery and post-cesarean section.

Don't get confused, because there are actually tricks you can do to get enough sleep. You see, a newborn baby sleeps or needs more than 14 hours of sleep per day.

Now, when the baby sleeps, you can also sleep following several hours of sleep time for your little one at the same time.

Try to also rest when the baby is sleeping and avoid doing various activities.

Because not infrequently, some mothers may prefer to steal time doing other activities while the baby is sleeping.

In fact, you can get enough sleep that is not enough while your little one is resting.

Besides being good for health, adequate sleep also has a positive impact on maintaining a healthy body weight.

Launching from the Mayo Clinic page, people who get enough sleep experience less weight gain than people who rarely sleep.

One reason is that sleep time affects the hormones that regulate hunger.

The less sleep you have, the easier it will be to feel hunger.

This is what triggers you to overeat, making it difficult to restore stomach size and lose weight after giving birth.

2. Breastfeed the baby

One way to shrink the stomach after giving birth is by breastfeeding the baby.

By breastfeeding, you can burn calories. Breastfeeding in the first months after giving birth can make you tend to lose weight faster.

In addition to adding ties, this method is quite effective for slimming the stomach after childbirth.

A study published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal proves this.

The 2016 study found that women who exclusively breastfeed their babies lose weight more easily during the first 6 months postpartum.

In fact, not as a way to burn calories and shrink the stomach after it runs out.

Breastfeeding can also bring you closer to your little one because it builds a stronger bond.

3. Choose healthy food sources

It would be nice if you multiply eating various types of food sources of carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Food sources can include vegetables, fruit, milk, eggs, lean chicken, lean red meat, and various other types of food.

Don't forget to meet the fiber intake which can help the digestive system work smoothly as long as the body applies various ways to shrink the stomach after childbirth.

Thus, the stomach does not feel bloated while keeping it slim and not looking enlarged.

Apart from being able to shrink and reduce belly fat, these various foods can contribute a number of nutritional content to breast milk.

As a result, babies get exclusive breastfeeding that is healthy and rich in nutrients. It is important to note, you should not need to go on a weight loss diet during breastfeeding as a way to shrink the stomach after giving birth.

Instead, you only need to eat foods that are low in fat and rich in nutrient intake.

4. Exercise

In addition to the various methods previously mentioned, efforts to shrink the stomach after childbirth can also be helped by regular exercise.

Exercise can also be useful as a way to tighten the stomach after childbirth.

Since you are still recovering, postpartum exercise should be light and not too strenuous.

Don't forget, make sure you have consulted your doctor beforehand to start doing physical activity as a way to shrink the stomach after giving birth.

Usually, physical activity can only be done after undergoing a medical examination.

Approximately you are only allowed to do physical activity as a way to shrink the stomach, which is about six weeks after giving birth.

Here are various forms of exercise that you can do as an option for ways to shrink the stomach after giving birth:

Walk with the baby

If you are still having trouble being separated from your baby, try to involve your baby in the exercise process.

You can try it by walking while pushing a stroller, at a distance of approximately 1.5 km per day.

This distance is able to burn your calories up to 100 calories.

No need to rush, you can just walk casually while taking the baby to sunbathe in the morning as a natural way to shrink the stomach after giving birth.

Do Kegel exercises

You can do Kegel exercises as one of the various ways to shrink the stomach after giving birth.

The following are the stages of Kegel exercises that you can do:

• Lying relaxed on the floor of the mat, with your knees bent halfway upwards as a way to start shrinking your stomach after childbirth.
• Inhale and slowly lift your pelvis upward.
• Try not to touch your back on the floor for 15 seconds.
• After 15 seconds, lower your pelvis.
• Repeat the movement about 8-10 times in several 3 time sessions each day, or according to your ability.

In Kegel exercises, the only moving parts of the body are the hips and knees.

Besides being good for shrinking the abdominal muscles after childbirth, this method also helps tone the bladder muscles.

Kegel exercises can also help reduce the risk of developing urinary incontinence. This condition is one of the problems that often occurs after childbirth.

Exercises the abdominal muscles

As the name suggests, abdominal exercises can help tone and strengthen muscles.

Here are easy ways to train your abdominal muscles that you can do as a way to shrink your stomach after giving birth:

• Sit up straight, then inhale deeply as a start in doing how to shrink the stomach after giving birth.
• Hold your stomach with both hands, and feel the contractions caused by the stomach as you breathe.
• Hold the movement for about 8-10 seconds, then exhale slowly.
• Repeat the movement several times.

Train the pelvic muscles (pelvic)

This one exercise movement is not only a way to shrink the stomach after giving birth, but also helps relieve back pain.

If you want to try it right away, here are the stages of pelvic muscle training that you can do as a way to shrink the stomach after giving birth:

• Position your body as if on all fours with your hands straight down supporting your body and touching the floor.
• The back should be straight and straight, not arched.
• Inhale slowly as you pull your buttocks forward. Then tilt one of your hips and turn it to the side.
• Hold that position for a count of 3, then return to the starting position.
• Repeat the same for the rest of the pelvis.

5. Drink enough water

Not to forget, you also need to keep your body optimally hydrated throughout the day.

This is because drinking adequate amounts of water can help maintain the elasticity of your skin as well as promote weight loss.

As a result, indirectly this habit can also be quite an effective way to slim down the stomach after giving birth.

At least, you need eight glasses of mineral water a day.

In fact, you need more than that when you are breastfeeding and applying how to shrink the stomach after giving birth.

Should you wear a corset after giving birth?

A corset that is used after giving birth is useful for binding the belly shape for a long time.

In addition to stomach and back problems, a corset is also useful for improving abdominal posture due to cesarean section to support one's self-confidence.

A corset after childbirth will not immediately restore the shape of the stomach in an instant.

Usually, it will take you about 4-6 weeks to wear the optimal corset, depending on the individual's body condition.

Wearing a corset is fine as long as it is not overused.

Avoid wearing a corset too tight all day it is feared that it will cause pressure on the abdominal wall.

What's more, if you have had a cesarean section, you need to apply SC (caesarean) wound care so that the caesarean section scar heals quickly.

Use a corrector by wrapping it on the lower part of the stomach, avoiding wrapping it up too much.