Pregnancy can be a beautiful experience but can sometimes feel like an endless period where you wish you could have your old body back. It’s all worthwhile though when you finally meet your bundle of joy. It takes about 6-8 weeks for mothers to recover from the birth process alone, so there should be no rush at all to get your body back to what it used to be. Instead, use that time to bond with your newest family member. So when is the best time to bounce back? That’s entirely up to you! Whenever you feel ready, check out these tips to help you get started.
- Set realistic weight loss goals
Celebrities usually flaunt their slim postpartum bodies days or weeks right after giving birth. You might start to challenge yourself to reach that goal as well. If that is what you want, then, by all means, go for it. But you must put things into perspective.
Each body type is different, and while one person might quickly revert to their old bodies, it might be a different story for someone else. Plus, celebrities have on hand world-class chefs and trainers to help them. It might be unrealistic to compare yourself to them.
You will naturally lose some weight before your first postpartum doctor’s appointment. Your doctor might be able to help you stay on the right path to losing weight. Once you are fit and healthy, you can consult with a dietician or start going to the gym again.
- Continue taking your vitamins
Do not discard your prenatal vitamins just yet. They are useful, especially when it comes to breastfeeding. These vitamins will help your body replace the nutrients you lost during birth. Additionally, your doctor may require you to continue taking other supplements like iron, mostly because some new moms tend to be iron-deficient after giving birth.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet
One of the key factors to helping you bounce back after a baby is eating healthy balanced meals. It is also an excellent method to help you shed some of that pregnancy weight. There is no need to rush into restricting your diet immediately. Instead, ensure that you eat meals that help with hormone regulation, and give you energy. The weight will eventually shed off, and you will be back to yourself in no time.
- Get surgery
Many women opt to go under the knife to help them bounce back after having a baby. The most common procedure that they receive is a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. For some women, diet and exercise might not be the solution to their loose and excess skin. Therefore, a tummy tuck is the only solution. Some people might decide to have the procedure done right after giving birth, but most plastic surgeons advise that you wait for about six months to a year before getting a tummy tuck.
Your life and body after having a new baby will change; getting back in shape might take some time, whether longer or shorter, but the most important thing to consider is to prioritize how much time you spend with the latest addition to your home.