Table of contents:
- When will the postpartum belly start shrinking again?
- Several things can be done to speed up a deflated stomach
- Breastfeeding
- Adjust your diet
- Sports
Many changes occur during pregnancy, including those that occur in the body. This makes some mothers fear that their body shape will change after pregnancy. However, with a little effort (exercise and regulating food intake), it is possible for mothers to get their body back in shape. Don't worry, the stomach after giving birth will shrink back again soon. But when?
When will the postpartum belly start shrinking again?
During the nine months, your stomach continues to grow while pregnant. This makes your abdominal muscles stretch. So, it's only natural that your body needs time to get back into shape like it was before pregnancy.
But, don't worry too much, because your stomach will shrink immediately after giving birth. The baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid that comes out during childbirth, makes your stomach not as big as when you were pregnant. You will lose about 5 kg of body weight after you give birth.
Even after losing some weight after giving birth, your stomach may still look like it was a few months pregnant. This is normal and should only take a few weeks to make it smaller.
It takes about 4-6 weeks for the uterus to shrink back. However, it can take several months for the skin to regain its elasticity. The time it takes for the stomach to return to its pre-pregnancy size may vary from mother to mother. This depends on many factors, such as:
- Body measurements before you get pregnant
- The weight you gain during pregnancy
- How active you are in activities or doing sports
- Heredity
- If this is your first pregnancy
Several things can be done to speed up a deflated stomach
There are several things you can do to make your stomach shrink back to what it was before pregnancy. Among them, namely:
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding makes the body burn more calories, about 500 calories per day. This certainly helps you lose weight after giving birth. So, your stomach will shrink faster. Not only that, when breastfeeding, the body also releases hormones that trigger uterine contractions. This makes the uterus shrink faster, so that the stomach after giving birth can shrink faster.
This must also be supported by adequate food intake. If you eat more than what you need, of course this can actually make weight loss more difficult.
Adjust your diet
According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), healthy eating habits that have started during pregnancy can make you approach your normal weight a few months after giving birth.
Even though you want to get your body in shape as before, you are not advised to limit your food intake. You only need to adjust your diet. Some of the things that can help you achieve a normal weight after giving birth are:
- Don't skip breakfast
- Eat lots of vegetables and fruit, at least five servings per day
- Eat lots of fibrous foods, such as wheat, oats, nuts, and seeds
- You can replace your main carbohydrate sources with ones that have more fiber, such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, or potatoes
- Adjust your meal portions, don't overdo it
- Pay attention to the amount and type of snacks you eat
Sports
To compensate for the calories that enter the body, you need to do sports. Exercise can help burn more calories and also help tone your abdominal muscles so that your stomach will shrink faster.
Start exercising with a mild type of exercise. Doing pelvic floor exercises or Kegel exercises can help tone your abdominal muscles. You can also take a walk in the morning while taking your baby for a walk. In essence, keep your body active.
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