Something that we all know about pregnancy is that you’ll be growing that belly of yours to make room for your baby. And of course, after you finally deliver your baby, your body does not immediately go back to normal - no matter how much you want it to!

After being pregnant with a child for about nine months, your body is going to look and feel like it isn’t your own. If you’re at a normal weight even before pregnancy, you should be gaining about 25-35 pounds during your pregnancy. 

Of course, after delivering your baby, you’re going to want to go back to how you used to look and feel - and perhaps that begins with getting your weight down. 

Here are all the ultimate facts you need to know about postpartum weight, and how to get rid of it!

What Is Baby Weight?

Every woman who gets pregnant knows what they’re getting themselves into … Baby weight is an inevitable result of pregnancy and having a baby. 

However, many women may not know why they grow baby weight during pregnancy and how much of it they’ll gain. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you should gain about 25-35 pounds during your pregnancy if you are of normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9) before your pregnancy. The weight gain varies depending on if you’re underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese before getting pregnant. 

The weight gain that results from pregnancy is due to the baby, placenta, amniotic fluid, breast tissue, blood, uterus enlargement, and extra fat stores. 

Although this is typically normal, excess weight can also occur when you have gained too much fat during your pregnancy - something women like to call “baby weight.” As a result of the excess fat, you would be faced with an increased risk of being overweight, having diabetes and heart disease, and a greater risk of complications during pregnancy. 

 

How Much Weight Do You Lose After Delivery?

Of course, after giving birth to your child, you will lose a lot of the weight you have gained over the term of your pregnancy. 

Most women will cut around 13 pounds after delivering their baby, whether that is through a vaginal birth or a C-section. The majority of this weight being lost comes from your baby since most newly born babies weigh between 5 ½ and 8 ¾ pounds. 

The rest of the weight being lost is due to the delivery of the placenta and the loss of the amniotic fluids that surround your baby in the womb. 

During your first week postpartum, you may also lose a little more weight by getting rid of retained fluids. You may notice that you will start peeing and sweating more frequently than usual!

How To Lose The Weight?

Losing some weight may be one of the things on your mind after delivering your baby, so we’ve got you covered! 

Here are some tips on how to lose baby weight:

Be realistic 

Despite what you may see from celebrities, magazines, or on television, losing weight after carrying a baby for nine months takes time. 

Depending on how much weight you gained during your pregnancy, it’s common to lose about 10 pounds over the first 1 to 2 years postpartum. 

Stay positive and remember that you are beautiful no matter the body changes you’re going through!

Don’t diet 

It’s typical to resort to quick and fad diets in order to get rid of some of the weight you’ve gained. However this strategy may actually do more harm than good as it can make it harder for you to lose weight. Your body needs fuel to heal!

Instead of cutting foods out of your diet, it’s a better idea to count your calorie intake instead. Your body is actually going to require more calories than it would need normally. 

Make sure to have a healthy diet that consists of nutrients that are good for you rather than resorting to foods that are high in non-nutritional fats and sugars. A low calorie diet will keep you un-energized and leave you feeling tired. 

Breastfeed

Breastfeeding will be a huge help (and your baby will thank you for it, too!). 

Breastfeeding during the first 6 months of your child’s life is extremely beneficial for both you and your baby. 

Breast milk contains all the nutrients that your baby needs to grow and become healthy during the first 6 months (or longer) of their life. It also contains important antibodies that will help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria that they’ll be exposed to at a young age. 

As for you mom, women who breastfeed their baby have lower risks of diseases such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. 

Research has also shown that breastfeeding can support postpartum weight loss! 

Stay Active!

Get moving, mama! 

Exercising during your pregnancy has its benefits as it can keep you in shape while you’re carrying your baby and keep your mindset in the right place. 

Any form of cardio such as walking, jogging, running, cycling, or interval training can help you burn calories. Exercising also improves your health in general and reduces risk of several types of diseases. 

Giving birth will take a toll on your body, so make sure you wait for the right time before you begin your postpartum exercise routine!