Pregnancy is not an easy deal. It takes you through several physical, mental, and emotional changes. Restoring your overall stability once the pregnancy is over is even more challenging. Getting back into shape is one of the most difficult challenges women must confront after pregnancy. It may take ages to get rid of droopy breasts, stuck-out abdomen, and baby fat all over the body if proper methods are not followed. So, if you have recently given birth to an angel and are all set for a ‘mommy makeover,” this post suits you. Let’s talk about how to restore body shape after pregnancy and look super slim once again. Keep reading.
1. Get Rid Of The ”Baby Fat”
It’s standard for women to gain weight during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters. While putting on an extra 25 to 50 pounds is considered normal and healthy, it can negatively impact your body shape if combined with unhealthy eating habits and a lack of physical activity. To regain your pre-pregnancy body shape, consider the following ways to shed those extra pounds. (1)
Also Read – Safe Beauty Regimen During Pregnancy – What To Use And What Not To Use
Diet:
Many women believe reducing calorie consumption is the easiest, fastest, and most excellent way to eliminate that ‘extra fat’ after pregnancy. But a drastic cut in calories will do more harm than good for a new mom as they must also breastfeed their newborns. It is better to stay away from dieting for the first six weeks. After that, keep your calorie intake between 1,800 and 2,000 calories daily. Losing more than one pound a week during this postpartum time is not okay. Also, live on a well-balanced diet containing more nutrients, vitamins, dietary fibers, and fewer fats. This will help you restore your nutritional status and energy to produce enough milk for your baby while getting back into shape.
Workout:
Exercise is a critical factor in new moms’ physical and mental health and is highly recommended during this time. A robust exercise routine can help you get rid of postpartum depression, keep up your energy level, and get your body back eventually. Try to work out at least four times a week. You can start with mild activities, such as walking, and keep adding more challenging ones as you feel up to it. A 30-minute session including aerobics and cardio will burn out your calories to a great extent. Include strength training exercises in it to build a strong core. Practice backward (from the third to the first trimester) until you return to your pre-pregnancy workout routine. Go slow and give yourself 4-6 months to be familiar with the entire process.
Always check with your doctor prior to starting workout after pregnancy to ensure complete safety. It is even more important if you have gone through a complicated pregnancy or delivery.
Also Read – Hair Loss After Pregnancy – Causes and Prevention
Breastfeeding:
Breastfeed your newborn as much as possible, as it can promote fat loss by helping you burn many calories. Studies have revealed that breastfeeding can eliminate reasonable weight (as much as 26.5 pounds) gained during pregnancy in just six months. You can expect the maximum weight loss associated with breastfeeding during the first 12 weeks after childbirth. (2)
Your body needs fat to produce milk for your newborn. Do not aim ai losing more than a pound of weight a week up to 14 weeks following childbirth. This will have no impact on the growth and development of your baby.
2. Turn Droopy Breasts Firmer
Hormonal imbalance during pregnancy can make the breasts of women grow larger. It has been seen that the breast size of women increases by more or less 2 cup sizes during pregnancy. After childbirth, it goes down significantly, which turns those precious organs droopy. While there are not many effective natural remedies for lifting droopy breasts, cosmetic surgeries can be a perfect solution for this.
The most popular post-pregnancy surgery for reshaping breasts is nothing but the ‘Breast Lift Surgery’ or ‘Mastopexy.” As the name suggests, this surgical procedure can give you a pair of well-toned, firmer, and rounder breasts by eliminating loose skin from them, reducing the sizes of the nipple areolas, and lifting the breasts considerably up. You can either go for the ‘breast lift’ alone or team it up with the ‘Breast Augmentation Surgery.” This surgery can boost the size and shape of small and deflated breasts to a large extent, thereby restoring the rounder, fuller, and younger look of the breasts.
3. Restore The Stuck Out Abdomen
After nine months, most new moms experience lengthened abdominal muscles and sagging skin over the stomach area. It may make your stomach look obtrusive. In such a situation, you can opt for cosmetic surgeries to get your abdomen back to its previous condition and enhance its appearance. (3)
The most common cosmetic procedure for the tummy is the ”Tummy Tuck Surgery” or ”Abdominoplasty’.’ A stoopy abdomen with loose skin and ugly stretch marks can be quickly restored with this surgical method. If you are a new mom, you can tighten your abdominal muscles with it and successfully bring back your shape. It is a less invasive operation with minor scars and lesser downtime. However, you need to lose additional weight and reinstate the standard functionality of your endocrine system before going through tummy surgery.
Words Of Caution
Other post-pregnancy body reshaping or contouring solutions include thermage, belly button surgery, liposuction, etc. However, you must consult your doctor to find out whether your body is ready for surgery or not after pregnancy. Also, practice the following cautions:
- Do not run, jog, or jump for 6-8 weeks to avoid significant stress on joints
- Keep a close eye on how your body reacts to your efforts and modify your activities accordingly.
- Seek medical attention in case of bleeding, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, prolonged muscle soreness, too much exhaustion, breathing trouble, etc.
Summary
Embarking on the pregnancy journey involves significant physical, mental, and emotional changes. Restoring overall stability post-pregnancy presents a formidable challenge, mainly when regaining pre-pregnancy body shape. Shedding excess weight and addressing changes like droopy breasts and a protruding abdomen require careful consideration and appropriate methods. Adopting a balanced diet, regular exercise, and breastfeeding can contribute to gradual and healthy weight loss. Additionally, cosmetic procedures like breast lift surgery and tummy tuck surgery offer options for restoring breast firmness and addressing abdominal issues. However, consulting with a healthcare professional, monitoring body reactions, and exercising caution during post-pregnancy recovery are crucial to ensuring safety and optimal results.
