Why Your Body Does Not “Snap Back Together” After Childbirth
Physical Therapist and author, Marianne Ryan explains why it takes time to regain your pre-pregnancy figure and gives 5 tips to help you get back in shape quicker.
After the excitement of childbirth, first-time moms are often shocked to discover that their bodies don’t automatically snap back into shape immediately after their baby is born.
The first thing I remember after I got home with my new baby was looking sideways in a mirror and gasping…I still looked pregnant! Was I ever going to see a flat tummy again!?! Wow, how unfair! How come I saw celebrities looking like hot babes shortly after giving birth?Expecting yourself to be “red-carpet ready” soon after delivering your baby is unrealistic for the normal everyday gal. In truth, it’s not even normal for celebrities.
In this post I will share 5 tips for caring for your body right after childbirth.
But first I would like to explain why your body doesn’t just “snap back together,” especially during the first 4 to 6 weeks after having your baby.It will take time for your belly to shrink no matter who you are. Realistically, it takes at least a month for your body to start to get itself back together, usually longer for most women.
Right after birth your body is left with a lot of excess fluid that can take a week or two to lose and it can take a full month for your uterus to shrink back down to its pre-pregnancy size. So don’t put yourself under the pressure to be “Facebook ready” two days after you deliver your baby – it’s just not going to happen and you have far more important things to worry about!
Why does it seem that celebrity moms look better faster? It’s true that most can afford a lot of extra help, but more importantly, they take postpartum recovery seriously. You may not be able to afford a full-time nanny, night-time baby nurse, personal trainer, and a cook, but you too can take your own recovery seriously. So put aside all your pregnancy books and let your own postpartum needs come front and center.
Here are my 5 top tips for getting back in shape once your baby has arrived:
- Do not lift anything heavier than your newborn baby for the first 6 weeks after childbirth. This is a time to get help with household tasks and lifting a toddler.
- Avoid activities that put pressure on your abdomen such as getting out of bed by doing a sit up. Instead, get out of bed by rolling over onto your side and swinging your legs over the side of the bed before sitting up.
- Breathe. Whenever you lift something heavy such as a grocery bag, or a large pot of pasta, EXHALE to reduce the strain on your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles.
- Most women can start to do gentle Kegel exercises the day after childbirth. Exhale gently each time you contract your pelvic floor muscles. Make sure to get medical clearance from your doctor or midwife first.
- Try to start a walking program as soon as possible. Once you have been given the green light to get out of bed, try to start with 2 or 3 ten-minute walks and gradually build up to a 30-minute walk per day.Most women want to get back into pre-pregnancy shape immediately after childbirth, but it is important to make a slow return to full activity.
If you follow these 5 simple tips during the first 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth they will help you to get your Baby Bod back into pre-pregnancy shape.
In my book, Baby Bod®, I explain the effects of pregnancy on the body, offer many more tips, and advise on the best way to get back into shape after having a baby.
There is more detailed advice in Chapter 8 for moms who had a vaginal delivery while Chapter 9 gives advice to moms who had a C-section.I love to read your stories, thoughts and questions so please share them in the comments box below. And, if you’d like to receive future posts direct to your inbox then you can subscribe by using the subscription box.