Your postpartum belly won't instantly go back to how it was before you were pregnant – it's a process that can take months or even years, while some bellies may take on a different shape permanently. Some moms may experience a bulge caused by diastasis recti, a separation of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy.
All women (even the Duchess of Cambridge!) have a bit of a belly for the first four to eight weeks after giving birth, as the uterus shrinks back to size. But for some of us, that “five months pregnant” look can last months or even years.
After giving birth, it can take several weeks or even months for the skin around the abdomen to spring back to its pre-pregnancy shape. Some women may find that their skin has lost some of its elasticity.
You gain weight over 9+ months of pregnancy, so it's normal to take 9+ months to get back your pre-pregnancy body after your baby is born. However, a belly bulge that doesn't go away for months after delivery can be a sign of diastasis recti—a separation of your abdominal muscles.
Diastisis recti is the most common cause of what some call the mom “pooch.” For new moms, getting back to your pre-pregnancy body becomes a top priority, but for an estimated 60 percent of postpartum women, getting a flat tummy is impossible because of a medical condition they may not know they have.
As well as helping burn calories the nipple stimulation of breast feeding produces the hormone oxytocin. This stimulates the muscles of the uterus to work and therefore helps to tone your tummy muscles so that they achieve their pre-pregnancy state.
Generally, if the muscles are going to heal on their own, they will within three months of birth.
To prepare for nursing, breast tissue and milk-producing glands enlarge and become fuller. Once you've finished breastfeeding, they shrink back down to their previous size. You may then notice that your breasts are softer and less full than when you were nursing, resulting in a droopy appearance.
On average, exclusively breastfeeding mothers may see a loss of 1 to 2 pounds per month. For those struggling to lose those extra pregnancy pounds, breastfeeding isn't the answer. Instead, the focus should be on a healthy diet and exercise.
Nearly all women experience diastasis during pregnancy, and as many as 50 percent of them will still have some degree of separation weeks to months after giving birth, research shows. If that separation is greater than 2 centimeters, you may be experiencing diastasis rectus abdominis.
That post-pregnancy bulge is commonly known as a "mommy pooch" or "mommy-tummy" and it will not go away with diet and exercise. DRA is not a cosmetic concern. Left untreated, it can cause significant back pain and make it difficult to lift heavy objects.
Thicker Thighs and Legs
It can take up to a year to lose the weight gained during pregnancy, says Dr. Dawson. To lose weight gradually, experts recommend a mix of exercise and well-balanced nutrition.
Your body will almost always create milk for your baby even if you under-eat. But, the nutritional quality of the milk will be decreased. Your body puts baby first, so if you aren't consuming nutritionally dense foods, and enough of them, YOU will suffer the most.
If your weight retention or gain is related to breastfeeding, whenever you decide to stop breastfeeding you may find it easier to lose weight – if that's what you want. I'm not suggesting you quit breastfeeding to lose weight.
If your breasts don't leak very much, you don't have to worry about wearing a bra. But, if you have very leaky breasts, you need something to hold your nursing pads in place. This will save you from waking up in a puddle of breast milk and having to change the sheets every morning.
You can expect your nipples to return to their original size and color (likely lighter and smaller than when you were breastfeeding) and extra veins should disappear, says Kasper. All those stretch marks, however, are yours to keep, she adds.
Some moms say their breasts stay larger after they've finished nursing, while others say they become smaller than they were before getting pregnant — which can be either a relief or a disappointment, depending. Regardless, it's perfectly normal not to notice a change in your breasts at all after breastfeeding.
Avoid stairs and lifting until your doctor says these activities are OK. Don't take a bath or go swimming until the doctor says it's OK. Don't drive until your doctor says it's OK. Also wait until you can make sudden movements and wear a safety belt properly without discomfort.
National Sleep Foundation's recommended seven hours of sleep per night during the postpartum period in which they answered the survey.