They are finally here your precious baby that has been in your uterus for the past nine months. Well, now that they are here your belly should go back to normal right? Not exactly. How quickly you bounce back from pregnancy is dependent on a variety of factors. We know that you probably want to get right back out there and get rid of your baby belly, but it will take some time and work. In this article, we will talk about what is normal in a postpartum body, and how to get rid of your post-pregnancy belly.

Your Post Pregnancy Belly

The average baby weighs around 7.5 pounds, and the average woman gains around 25-35 pounds during her pregnancy. It is very normal to gain weight during your pregnancy and it is actually necessary. Your body needs the extra nutrients in order to create a new life. I know it’s easier said than done but, don’t be hard on yourself. Your body is doing what needs to be done and what is natural.

After giving birth the pounds are not just going to melt right off. Yes, you will lose the weight of your baby, but the rest of it is going to take time. Your body needs to adjust to no longer having a baby to take care of. All the extra fluids, blood, and amniotic fluid need time to expel themselves from your body.

In addition to the extra fluids, your uterus needs time to shrink back down to its natural size. This can take a few months as your body naturally adjusts and finds a good balance. It is perfectly normal to want to shed the pounds as fast as possible, but you also need to be healthy about it.

The Run Down on Post-Pregnancy Belly Fat

Most of your post-pregnancy weight is going to be stored in your belly. Many women refer to this fat as their “jelly belly.” After pregnancy, the additional weight that you put on during pregnancy cannot all be attributed to the pregnancy itself. Almost all women have a little extra belly fat that they gain during their pregnancy. This fat is caused by a variety of things: genetics, hormones/stress, and diet/exercise. In order to get back to your pre-pregnancy body, you will need to work on these things.

Dependent on your genetics, some women are more likely to carry extra fat in their stomach region. This may mean that no matter how much you workout and how little you eat, you still may have a little tummy. This is completely normal and natural for your body. Similarly, your hormones and stress levels can influence how much fat your body holds onto. The hormones that your body produces during pregnancy and breastfeeding cause your body to store fat. In addition, if you are under a lot of stress your body will go into a “panic mode” and store any extra fat.

Finally, diet and exercise are incredibly important in influencing your fat storage. If you are eating more than you burn during the day you will gain weight. Vice versa, if you are burning more than you eat during the day you will lose weight. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine is essential for getting rid of your postpartum belly.

How to Get Rid of Your Postpartum Belly

So, how do you get rid of your postpartum belly in a healthy way? There are a variety of ways that you can lose weight. Maintain a good diet/exercise routine, breastfeed, and use a postpartum girdle.

Diet/Exercise Routine

A healthy diet and exercise routine is not only necessary for reducing belly fat, but for staying healthy as well. High amounts of processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine can all affect your mood, body, and health. The best way to maintain a healthy diet is to avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and processed foods. Natural whole grains, fruits, veggies, and proteins are the best way to ensure you maintain a healthy weight and diet. Similarly, starting or continuing an exercise routine helps to strengthen your muscles and stay healthy. Not all exercise is created equal though--particularly in your postpartum body. Some exercises, like those requiring a lot of abdominal strength, are not safe to perform after pregnancy. Try doing small weight training and low-impact cardio exercises.

Breastfeed

Oddly enough, breastfeeding can actually help you lose the baby weight faster. This is because your body burns about 400-500 more calories to produce milk. This increased calorie burning can actually cause you to lose weight faster if your body needs to burn some of its fat storage.

Postpartum Girdle

Finally, one of the quickest ways to lose weight is to use a postpartum girdle. Postpartum girdles are garments that are designed to provide medical-grade compression to your abdominal region. This compression can help to shrink your uterus faster which causes you to lose weight. In addition, it can help to expel the additional fluids that your body is holding on to. Not only that, but postpartum girdles can help prevent diastasis recti. Diastasis recti is a condition where your abdominal muscles separate. Too much exercise or too much strain on these muscles can actually make the condition worse. With a postpartum girdle, your abdomen is held in place and prevents you from putting too much strain on these muscles.

Key Takeaways

You may be looking to get rid of your post-pregnancy belly as fast as possible, but it is going to take a little time. Your body naturally needs to adjust to no longer being pregnant and you need to implement lifestyle habits to lose weight. Thankfully with a healthy diet, exercise, breastfeeding, and a postpartum girdle you can get back to your pre-pregnancy body in no time.

Buy a Bellefit postpartum girdle today to feel more confident and look your best.