Losing weight after childbirth or how many kg are lost immediately in the maternity hospital. How weight changes after childbirth

Weight after childbirth usually does not suit any mother. With rare exceptions, a woman after childbirth feels exhausted and “unattractive” in appearance.

All the tips on how to effectively lose unnecessary body weight, remove belly fat, cellulite, restore breast shape, make stretch marks invisible, the reasons why we gain weight and the secrets of getting rid of it are presented in our article today.

Reasons that prevent you from losing weight quickly

During the time that passes from the beginning of pregnancy to childbirth, all women, as a rule, gain weight. The average weight gained is 12.5 kg, of which about 6 kg is lost during childbirth and for several months after it. But it’s impossible to quickly reset the rest even after a year.

Excess weight after childbirth may be due to:

1. Imbalance of a woman’s hormonal levels. Signs of it can be not only quickly gained weight, but also:

• a decrease in the amount of milk produced by a woman’s mammary glands;
• sudden shifts in emotional processes;
• severe non-stop hair loss on the head;
• hair growth in places previously uncharacteristic.

2. Regular lack of sleep is the cause of constant fatigue for a young mother. The body requires more food to restore strength, which leads to weight gain.

3. Lack of movement. Starting from the last months before childbirth, a woman’s physical activity is sharply limited. The body not only quickly accumulates calories and weight, but gets used to doing this constantly, which makes it even more difficult to lose extra pounds afterwards.

4. Nutritional imbalance. Excessively high-calorie dishes will not fail to affect the female form. The habit of eating at night or before bed is also harmful, which is especially familiar to nursing mothers.

5. Isolation and lack of vivid impressions lead to the fact that food begins to act as the main pleasure, often leading to overeating.

What to do? Fighting extra pounds

Knowing the reasons why excess weight is gained, we can lose it more effectively. General tips:

• First, it is necessary to check the level of hormones in the blood in the hospital. If the check shows that their level is normal, move on to the next steps. If not, contact an endocrinologist.
• Secondly, get plenty of rest. If you do not overwork, you will lose weight effectively and quickly.
• Third, increase the amount of effective physical activity. It's good to start with light jogging, race walking, yoga, and water aerobics.
• Fourthly, you need to make your diet correct. This applies to both the products themselves and the rules of eating. Here are some recommendations: eat little and often - about 5 times a day;
• have breakfast without fail;
• have dinner three hours before bedtime;
• eat more foods that are sources of dietary fiber: bran, cereals, dried cereals, beans, cabbage, apples, greens;
• do not forget about protein foods, especially if you do physical exercise: low-fat meat, dairy, fish dishes;
• fats should also be present, however, no more than 40 g with a daily intake of 1500 kcal;
• It’s better to drink not juices, but as much water as possible;
• Women who are breastfeeding are forced to eat a varied diet, but limiting the consumption of fatty, sweet foods and baked goods will be completely useful.

Exciting women's problems: how to overcome them

So, you have already started losing excess weight. The first grams or even kilograms began to decline. What about the most difficult problems? Stretch marks, cellulite, sagging breasts, an ugly protruding belly after childbirth... You can fight this too.

How many kilograms will be lost after childbirth: norm and deviations

How much will your weight increase during pregnancy, and how many kilograms will you lose after childbirth? Anxiety can creep in as the numbers on the scale increase weekly. Childbirth can mean sudden and dramatic weight loss, while some pounds may linger for weeks or months after birth. Expectant mothers can look at the averages to get an idea of ​​what weight they can expect in the minutes to months after giving birth.

While many of us want to magically lose all those extra pounds we gained during pregnancy the moment the baby arrives, the truth is that no one gets back to their weight after giving birth that quickly. Do you want to know how many kilograms you will lose after giving birth?

How to remove belly fat after childbirth

Probably the most pressing problem for a woman after childbirth is her stomach. The fat layer has become larger, the muscles have weakened, and proper nutrition is useless. Let's reveal a few secrets on how to lose belly fat and the weight along with it:

1) Physical activity on all abdominal muscles. The lower abs are strengthened when you lift your legs while lying down. The other part of the abs, on the contrary, swings if you lift your upper body. Cross movements of the legs and torso train the oblique abdominal muscles.

2) An effective remedy that quickly removes belly fat is the hula hoop. A regular iron hoop or a modern version with special bulges that perfectly tighten the skin of the abdomen will do.

3) Abdominal massage. Do it regularly, for a few minutes every day. Start with stroking movements in a clockwise direction so that the skin of the abdomen warms up well. Then you can perform various plucking movements from top to bottom. Tighten your abs while doing this, so you will further strengthen your muscles.

Anti-cellulite program

Physical activity and massage will help.

The simplest sports activities:

• walking up the steps is a replacement for step aerobics;
• jumping rope - not only cellulite, but also overall weight goes away quickly;
• exercises at home - swings, leg lunges; squeezing the ball between your thighs.

The effectiveness of the massage can be increased if you use the massager together with anti-cellulite products.

Weight gain

Not all the extra pounds that a woman gains during pregnancy are associated only with the child. According to some reports, a woman who had a normal weight before pregnancy can gain from 11 to 15 kg over the entire period. Only about 3-4 kg of this figure is due to the child. The placenta, extra breast tissue and amniotic fluid weigh between 2.5 and 5 kg, while your dilated uterus gains between 0.9 and 2.4 kg. The extra blood supply needed to maintain the pregnancy can also mean an extra 1.8 kg. While most of this weight will be lost soon after giving birth, the 2.2 to 4.5 kg of fat accumulated during pregnancy may persist longer.

Restoring the shape of the breast

Before giving birth and while breastfeeding, pay attention to the underwear that supports your breasts. Then later you will spend less effort to restore shape. Constantly monitor your posture. The straighter your back is before and after childbirth, the less your breasts will sag.

After feeding is left behind, you can begin sports exercises:

1) Push-ups from the floor or stand, can be done with bent knees. The back should be straight. First, do the exercises several times, moving your elbows back, parallel to your body. Then try moving your elbows out to the sides. This way different muscle groups will swing.

2) Standing or sitting, fold your palms with the inner surfaces, elbows pointing in different directions. Squeeze your palms forcefully for 20 seconds, then relax.

3) Circular arm swings are very effective for restoring breast shape.

4) Exercises lying on your back with dumbbells. Stretch your arms in different directions, then bring them together in front of you, repeat 10–20 times. Similarly, place your hands behind your head and lift them up to chest level.

Along with the exercises, the fullness of the arms acquired after childbirth will quickly go away, the relief will become clearer, strength will increase, and the shape of the breast will improve.

Down with stretch marks

The best way remains to prevent the appearance of stretch marks - mandatory daily moisturizing of the skin of the chest, abdomen, thighs during gestation and for some time after childbirth with special oils, a bandage, and shapewear.

If stretch marks do appear, they will quickly become almost invisible, especially after the weight goes away. To speed up the process, use special creams.

Any woman wants to remain in the same shape after childbirth. Believe in yourself and you will be surprised how quickly the excess weight gained before and after childbirth goes away!

Setting realistic weight loss goals after childbirth

After giving birth, you will slowly lose weight. You may want to speed up the process by talking to your doctor to achieve your goal in the safest way. A good rule of thumb is to lose no more than 700 grams per week.

All women lose weight at their own pace. By examining the real-life results of how many pounds are lost immediately after giving birth (feedback from young mothers was taken as a basis), it has been proven that many factors influence your weight loss journey:

• your age (metabolism slows by about 2 percent every ten years after age 25, so you burn fewer calories);
• your diet (when you eat more protein than carbohydrates and eat more early in the day, your body burns more calories and works more efficiently);
• your activity level (the more you move, the more calories you burn);
• your natural metabolism, which is determined by your genes;
• When calculating how many kilograms you will lose after childbirth, remember - if you gained more than 16 kg during pregnancy, it may take additional time (from 10 months to two years) to return to normal.

We gave birth and have already lost weight

When does a woman start to lose weight after giving birth? Immediately after leaving the delivery room. More than half of the weight gained during pregnancy comes from:

• the child’s weight is normally from about 2 kg 500 to 4 kg;
• amniotic fluid – about 1 kg;
• enlarged uterus - more than 1 kg;
• placenta and fetal membranes – 600-700 g.

In addition, a lot of calories are lost during childbirth: it is really hard work! How much weight does a woman lose immediately after giving birth? If you step on the scale as soon as you get out of bed for the first time, the figure will turn out to be impressive - from 5 to 9 kg, depending on the woman’s constitution and the “pregnant” increase to her usual weight.

How much does a woman lose after childbirth in the first days?

In the near future, the woman in labor will lose a few more kilograms. While she was pregnant, hormones made major changes to her body, with a side effect of weight gain. These are the following factors:

• increased blood volume;
• increased amount of intracellular fluid;
• breast swelling, etc.

After childbirth, within a few days, the hormonal background changes dramatically again, adjusting to a new state - lactation, or, if the mother does not breastfeed, it simply begins to return to the pre-pregnancy norm. Thanks to the rapidly contracting uterus, the decrease in excess volumes of blood and other fluids, another 2-3 kg will disappear from the mother.

Weight after childbirth while breastfeeding

Nature provided the remaining few additional kilograms to ensure energy costs for milk production. If a woman is breastfeeding, this weight will gradually go away over 6 months to a year after giving birth: naturally, subject to a properly organized lifestyle and normal nutrition. If you don’t overeat and help nature a little with physical activity, the mother will be able to say goodbye to 5-7 kg in the first year of the child’s life without any excessive effort.

Under no circumstances should you rush, trying to get back the desired numbers and fit into your favorite jeans in a month or two. Forced weight loss can negatively affect a woman's lactation and overall health. The hormonal balance will return to its original state only after a year, or even two.

Mothers who do not breastfeed can afford to slightly speed up their weight loss due to greater freedom in diet and permitted physical activity.

Why doesn't a woman lose weight after giving birth?

If the weight does not go away, but on the contrary, it increases, you need to look for the reason, and it is better to deal with it as quickly as possible. The firmly gained kilograms “stick” to the woman-mother along with the changed lifestyle, and getting rid of them will be much more difficult than if you act immediately. Test yourself:

• do you continue to “eat for two” out of habit;
• perhaps you are succumbing to pressure from loved ones trying to feed you more calories, “so that the milk is nutritious”;
• improperly organized diet - short snacks instead of normal meals, heavy meals at night, lack of sleep;
• low physical activity, limited to short walks and sitting with a stroller on a bench.

In these cases, you need to reconsider your lifestyle and diet: the competent specialists of our project will be happy to help you do this on an individual basis.

What if you need to see a doctor?

How much a woman loses after childbirth is a relative question. Weight loss or, conversely, excessive weight gain during the postpartum period is not always normal. In about 5% of cases, it is not food or exercise that is to blame, but hormonal factors or health problems.

Too much…

Postpartum neuroendocrine syndrome is a disease in which the balance of hormones is disrupted. Women whose pregnancy had complications - threat of miscarriage, gestosis, increased sugar levels, etc. - are more predisposed to it; caesarean section also slightly increases the risk. This disorder is accompanied by rapid weight gain - a woman gains 8 kg or more in the first few months after childbirth. In this case, you need to consult a doctor to prescribe drug therapy. But medications must be supplemented by adjusting diet and physical activity - we will be happy to help with this.

No need to melt before your eyes

Rapid weight loss after childbirth is less common, but not impossible. If you lose 7-10% of your weight too quickly, this is not a reason for joy, but for concern, especially if a woman is breastfeeding. Sudden weight loss not only indicates problems in the mother’s health, but can also be detrimental to lactation. The reasons may be:

• neglect of one’s own nutrition and sleep and rest patterns;
• manifestations of postpartum depression;
• disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract;
• more serious health problems (hepatitis, tumors, etc.).

It is imperative that you consult a doctor to find out the cause of weight loss and take the necessary measures. A psychotherapist can help with depression. This does not negate the need to establish nutrition, reasonable physical activity and a normal daily routine.

Sources:

https://yaposlerodov.ru/roddom/skolko-kg-uxodit-srazu.html https://fb.ru/article/460054/skolko-kilogrammov-uydet-posle-rodov-norma-i-otkloneniya https:// mama-poslerodov.ru/blog/ves-mamy-posle-rodov-cto-proishodit-s-organizmom

What is your motivation to lose weight after giving birth?

There may be several reasons for losing weight after childbirth. One of the factors or a combination of them may predominate:

1. Dissatisfaction with one's own appearance. When you no longer want to go to the mirror, so as not to see the shapes that have added volume.
2. Physical discomfort. Shortness of breath, rapid fatigue, even with light exertion.
3. Return to the old wardrobe. Favorite things gather dust in the closet. They are waiting for the owner to return. Updating your wardrobe is an expensive business, and shopping is not fun when you can’t fit into the desired item.
4. Reproaches from a picky spouse or fear that he will start looking “to the left.” Not all husbands correctly assess the changes that accompany the birth of a long-awaited child. The external attractiveness of a wife is what they need, and the details are not important.
5. Sometimes work requires attractive appearance, including figure.

8 rules for losing weight

It is difficult to lose weight without strict diets, the use of medications and dietary supplements for weight loss, as well as surgery. All this cannot be used in the first time after childbirth. Because it can harm the baby if you are breastfeeding. And it is fraught with the return of lost kilograms. Therefore, we adhere to the following rules:

1. Movement is life

During pregnancy, especially in the last months, you moved slowly and carefully. Now we need a new rhythm of life. We increase physical activity.

Morning exercises and moderate physical activity in the form of exercises for various muscle groups will increase vitality. They will charge you with vivacity and energy. Excessive exercise can be harmful, but many exercises are beneficial even for pregnant women. For example, flexibility or stretching exercises, exercises on a fitball. On the latter, you can simultaneously rock your baby and adjust your own figure.

Daily walks with a stroller are beneficial for you and your child. Breathe fresh air and lose weight. Coming to the playground and sitting on a bench is not our option. It is better to move with a stroller, moving at a fairly fast pace and with a straight back. 1 hour of intense walking burns about the same calories as 3 hours of exercise.

It is also very useful to carry the baby in or out as exercise.

2. Proper nutrition

It should always be followed. This is ideal. And this is especially true when you are breastfeeding. After all, all the “harmful” things eaten are passed on to the baby through mother’s milk.

Eat more often, in small portions, eat with your child, about 5-6 times a day. Don't indulge in sweets, even if you really want to. Better vegetables and fruits than confectionery. We eat porridge, soups, low-fat meat and fish dishes. We refuse sandwiches on the run, fast food, semi-finished products, fried foods. Have a good and hearty breakfast. As at all times, breakfast is considered the most important in the daily routine.

Such nutrition will not only make you slimmer, but will also have a positive effect on the development of the newborn’s digestive system. “Mom should eat for two” is a myth. On the contrary, overeating contributes to increased gas formation and allergic reactions in the child. It is better to choose foods rich in healthy vitamins and microelements.

The main substances the body needs after childbirth and especially if you are breastfeeding are iron, calcium and protein. Therefore, it is necessary to consume sufficient quantities of milk, cottage cheese, lean meat, beef liver, fish and cereals. Drink plenty of fluids, but not coffee or tea.

If you are bottle-fed, you can add calorie calculations. Any counter on the relevant websites will help you calculate the amount of calories per day that is acceptable for you. You just need to enter the necessary parameters: initial and desired weight, age, height.

3. Breastfeeding

It’s one thing when giving up breastfeeding is a necessity due to objective reasons. For example, illness or disappearance of milk in a mother, allergies in a child.

If the reason for refusal is a reluctance to “spoil your figure,” this is wrong. Taking care of the baby is a priority, and the benefits of mother's milk are obvious. In addition, contraction of the uterus during feeding will quickly bring the giving birth body back to normal. Consequently, the extra pounds will go away faster.

4. Take into account hormonal imbalance

After bearing a child and giving birth, certain processes in the body may be disrupted. After all, childbirth is a big shake-up for the female body.

Restoring hormonal levels is a slow process. Therefore, do not be surprised that the weight begins to come off gradually, “with a creak.” Give your body the opportunity to adapt, don’t give up. And soon you will return to your previous levels.

Note to moms!

Hello girls) I didn’t think that the problem of stretch marks would affect me too, and I’ll also write about it))) But there’s nowhere to go, so I’m writing here: How did I get rid of stretch marks after childbirth? I will be very glad if my method helps you too...

5. Avoid stressful situations

After the birth of your child, you have not yet had time to come to your senses, but your worries have increased significantly. Frequent feeding of the child, getting up at night, lack of opportunity to get a full night's sleep, washing diapers. And no one canceled household duties: cooking, cleaning the house.

Don't put everything on yourself. So you will come to nervous exhaustion and... And, by the way, it increases appetite. Call your household members for help: mother, husband, grandmother, mother-in-law.

If this is not possible, once again give up everyday household chores in favor of sleep and rest. Even a short break will give you a positive outlook on the world. Moreover, you have a huge bonus - the presence of a small source of joy nearby, your child.

6. Exercises with your baby

You can exercise without going to the gym. You can put your child in a kangaroo to do homework, you can put your baby on your chest to pump up your abs, you can... Yes, you can come up with many different exercises with your child that will bring a lot of pleasure to both you and your baby. It is also very important that the load in this case will increase gradually as your baby grows.

7.
Return to the joys of sex
The first time, when the painful sensations after childbirth are still alive, and you don’t want to think about it. However, return to this source of vitality a little later. During the intimate process, not only calories are burned and excess weight is lost, but also pleasure is delivered, psychological comfort is restored, self-esteem increases, and health improves.

As a rule, after childbirth a woman becomes more sensual. Therefore, fall in love with your partner again, discover new facets and shades of sex with him. And at the same time, lose weight!

8. Positive attitude

We're back where we started again. Remember motivation.

Don't put off losing weight until later. Tomorrow will be late. The sooner we start, the sooner the result will come.

If you stumble or break down, start again. It didn’t work out now, it will work out a little later.

Thinner friends and companions on the playground are not an object of envy, but an object of imitation. Catch up and overtake! - let this be your motto.

And lastly, perhaps one of the main ways to look good is to set yourself up for it. Not a single negative word in front of the mirror to your reflection! Remember the famous Soviet film of the same name - the system of self-hypnosis works, and since then it has repeatedly justified itself. As you tune in, so it will be! Now there is a living positive thing with you - your baby. It’s better not to iron the diaper once again, but to play with it, laugh and enjoy the existence of your baby.

Every kilogram lost is the result of your work on yourself. You are strong, you can handle it! Become slimmer, more beautiful and attractive. You are not only a wonderful mother, but also a wonderful Woman!

Young mother Yulia tells how long after giving birth you can start doing weight loss exercises and going to the gym. She also talks about how to properly plan your diet and shares some recipes. In addition, Yulia draws attention to the common mistakes that young mothers make when trying to remove their belly and sides, and explains how you can start training at home. And it is really very important to understand that you can lose weight after childbirth not only in the gym, but also at home, because... First of all, you need to strictly adhere to the correct diet.

Note to moms!

Hello girls! Today I will tell you how I managed to get in shape, lose 20 kilograms, and finally get rid of the terrible complexes of fat people. I hope you find the information useful!

Bearing and giving birth to a child is a period in a woman’s life that cannot be compared with anything. The birth of a new person, his development and birth, taking on the role of a mother - all this makes her truly happy. Along with the good moments associated with motherhood, there are also unpleasant nuances such as the appearance of excess weight. Every expectant mother, in anticipation of the arrival of her baby, has at least once wondered how many kilos are lost immediately after childbirth.

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Excess weight during pregnancy occurs for several reasons. A common misconception is that weight gain occurs as a result of a combination of the mother’s excessive appetite and the baby’s growth. Many people really do not limit themselves in their gastronomic desires during this period, however, this is not the root cause of the problem; in fact, there are many more factors contributing to its appearance. Some of the weight gained goes away immediately after childbirth, while some can be lost during the first weeks. Losing weight can happen in a matter of days and completely effortlessly, or it can last for many months and even years.

It is impossible to avoid weight gain during pregnancy. In addition to the obvious reasons for weight gain, which include the appearance of a baby in the belly and an increase in the mother’s appetite, there are a number of physiological reasons. It is worth noting that on average a developed fetus reaches a weight of 3.5 kg. Before the onset of childbirth, a number of “extra” things are formed in a woman’s body, which will “disappear” immediately after the birth of the child.

These include:

• afterbirth, the weight of which can reach a third of the child’s weight - 0.6 kg;
• as the baby grows, the volume of tissue fluid and blood in the body increases - 3 kg;
• amniotic fluid – 0.8 kg;
• increased size of the uterus 1 kg;
• formation of adipose tissue in the abdominal area – from 2.5 kg.

In addition, the closer to childbirth, the heavier the breasts become. During this time she gains about 0.5 kg. This occurs due to the fact that the body is preparing for lactation. As for fat deposits, they can appear not only in the abdomen, but also on the hips and buttocks. To a large extent it depends on nutrition. A growing child requires many nutrients for normal development. They are also required by the mother so that pregnancy does not negatively affect her health. In addition, at this time a woman needs a lot of energy.

You absolutely cannot go on a diet at this time, so as not to deprive yourself and the fetus of important elements. In this regard, you should not limit yourself too much in food, but you should eat right. The obstetrician managing the pregnancy will monitor weight gain until birth. Too much increase can negatively affect the health of the child and mother.

Note! The normal gain for the entire period of pregnancy is 12.2 kg. This indicator may vary depending on the woman's body type and health status.

In this case, any norm is conditional. It is absolutely not the same thing to add 10 kg to a thin, tall girl or to gain the same amount to a short and obese lady. The optimal value for a particular case is calculated taking into account all individual characteristics. During registration, the doctor takes all the necessary measurements, on the basis of which he concludes how many kilograms gained before the onset of childbirth will be the norm.

Why doesn't the mass go away?

There are cases when what has been typed cannot be removed by any means. This greatly upsets the mother and leads her to low self-esteem and even depression. Sports, diet, massage and an active lifestyle may not produce results for various reasons, sometimes not obvious to the girl. Young mothers are also familiar with another situation, when the number of kilograms is the usual figure (which was before pregnancy), but the appearance of the figure and the reflection in the mirror are not pleasing.

This may happen for the following reasons:

• muscles were replaced by fat in 9 months (due to a lack of protein in the diet);
• abdominals);
• fluid is retained in the body and swelling has formed;

​To avoid this, you need to eat more protein foods (sources: eggs, fish, meat, cottage cheese, cheese, plain yogurt, chicken, legumes and nuts), lead an active lifestyle, drink enough water and be sure to consult a doctor. It is important to follow all the specialist’s recommendations and carefully monitor your health.

Childbirth is a long-awaited moment both for the pregnant woman herself and for the fetus, which is already quite ready for normal life outside the mother’s body. All his organs have formed sufficiently for full functioning. Before childbirth and during this process, the mother’s body loses a considerable amount of fluid, including amniotic fluid.

What will happen to the remaining kilograms gained during pregnancy?

Gradually, the uterus will shrink and return to its pre-pregnancy size and weight. By the time she is discharged from the maternity hospital, she will have lost about 200 g. If a woman does not breastfeed, then this figure will be slightly lower. Indeed, during breastfeeding, there is a stimulation of the body’s active production of the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates uterine contractions, and with them a decrease in the volume of this organ.

Moreover, it is against the background of such contractions of the uterus that bloody discharge, better known as lochia, occurs from the genital tract. Thus, the body is cleansed of what is no longer needed in the uterine cavity. By the way, it is with lochia that excess blood flow comes out, which has increased significantly during pregnancy.

But the fat deposits accumulated during pregnancy will not simply disappear. However, over time they will gradually be used up, because lactation in the female body is a very energy-consuming process.

Experts pay special attention to the fact that if a new mother eats a balanced diet, does not overeat and consumes no more than 2,600 calories per day, while leading an active lifestyle, then the excess fat from her belly and sides will gradually disappear on its own. There is no need for additional physical activity. Moreover, after childbirth they are allowed only after the end of the postpartum period, which can last 2-6 months depending on the course of labor and the characteristics of the female body.

Your personal optimal weight after childbirth

You may have heard that many new mothers lose weight quickly. And while it's hard to say exactly why weight loss slows down, research shows that no matter how many pounds they shed after giving birth, many women keep the 4-5 kgs off forever. However, this most likely has nothing to do with pregnancy, and has more to do with changes in your diet and activity level after baby comes into your life: caring for a new family member takes up the time you previously spent to yourself. But while losing those last few pounds can be challenging, eating right and exercising can help your body become attractive again.

Exercise after childbirth

Even if you're super busy, you can always find a way to start exercising with your baby (this could be as simple as taking the stroller out of the car or using a baby carrier). Get the green light from your doctor before you start exercising again. Find an activity you enjoy—running, yoga, cycling, swimming, walking—and schedule it for the week ahead. In addition to helping with postpartum weight loss, taking your baby for a quick walk to a nearby park or playground is a great way to meet other moms who are just as keen on losing weight as you.

Hormonal and other processes

You need to understand that during pregnancy a lot of interesting things happen to the body.
First of all, we are talking about hormonal changes that are needed to provide the body with a sufficient amount of estrogens, which affect the development of the mammary gland and the growth of the uterus. The body produces a large amount of the hormone, which is responsible for the formation of the fetus and its retention in the uterus. That is, at this time the female body is oversaturated with hormones, which can be the basis for the occurrence of obesity. In fact, the very oversaturation of hormones triggers a program of excess weight gain only in the presence of additional unfavorable factors. These include an unhealthy lifestyle and poor diet. There is a common misconception that pregnant women should eat for two and not exercise much. It is because of this that the problem of excess weight arises. Especially considering the fact that after giving birth it can be very difficult for women to rebuild and start something to regain their figure if all they did during pregnancy was eat and lie in bed. It should be taken into account that the hormonal state returns to normal within two years after childbirth. This time is enough for a woman with normal substances to return to her pre-pregnancy state.

Pregnancy and childbirth cannot but affect a woman’s appearance. Very often, motherhood brings with it extra pounds, which are not always easy to get rid of. Weight gain after childbirth is natural: during pregnancy, the body accumulates the necessary reserves to bear and give birth to a healthy child, and it takes time to restore its previous forms.

Weight gain during pregnancy

According to experts, it is normal if a woman gains from 7 to 16 kilograms during her entire pregnancy. Frail expectant mothers often gain more, and an overweight woman’s gain may even be slightly lower than normal.

At the same time, most of the kilograms gained are not fat reserves at all - more than half of the weight will come from the weight of the fetus, uterus, placenta and amniotic fluid. In addition, blood volume and extracellular fluid volume increase in the body of a pregnant woman.

It is not uncommon for pregnant women to gain weight much higher than normal. On the one hand, this is due to hormonal changes, on the other hand, to overeating, self-indulgence, and physical inactivity, often forced.

Experts do not encourage excess weight gain in pregnant women: extra pounds can lead to varicose veins and diabetes; obese mothers often give birth to large children, which can cause unforeseen complications during childbirth.

Excess weight may also be caused not so much by the accumulation of fat reserves, but by fluid retention in the tissues, indicating impaired kidney function

How weight changes after childbirth

After childbirth, a woman’s weight decreases by about 5-6 kilograms - this is the total weight of the fetus, placenta, and blood lost during childbirth. In the next few days, another 2-3 kilograms will disappear - weight loss will occur due to a decrease in the volume of intracellular fluid. However, it will not be possible to return to your previous weight soon; it usually takes from 6 months to two years.

The remaining kilograms are provided by nature for gradual consumption during lactation. On average, if a woman breastfeeds her baby exclusively for the first six months, she can lose about 7 kilograms without making any additional efforts, but also without overeating.

At the same time, women who give up breastfeeding often lose weight faster - this is due to the ability to follow any diet and exercise without restrictions.

However, you cannot force things and try to lose weight in a couple of months - hormonal balance after childbirth is restored slowly, and it takes at least one and a half to two years to return to the “pre-pregnancy” level of hormones

It happens, however, that nursing mothers do not lose, but, on the contrary, gain weight. This often occurs due to overeating and lack of exercise. Having become accustomed to eating “for two” during pregnancy, a woman continues to eat often and in large quantities after childbirth. In addition, older relatives, and more often female relatives, can add fuel to the fire by demanding to eat more and slipping in more high-calorie pieces so that “the child gets more nutrients.”

The changed lifestyle dictates its own conditions. Often, new mothers do not even have time to do gymnastics at home, not to mention going to the gym; walking with a stroller cannot always be considered a serious physical activity. All this leads to weight gain, which is subsequently impossible to lose without serious effort.

Postpartum neuroendocrine syndrome

Approximately 4-5 percent of women quickly gain a lot of excess weight after childbirth. This is not due to poor diet or low activity, but to a serious illness - postpartum neuroendocrine syndrome, also known as postpartum obesity.

Postpartum neuroendocrine syndrome is caused by disturbances in hormonal levels: increased levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, testosterone, prolactin, decreased levels of progesterone and other ovarian hormones.

Most often, this disease develops in women whose pregnancy and childbirth were accompanied by complications (preeclampsia, excess body weight, increased levels of sugar and cholesterol in the blood, surgical interventions during childbirth)

Postpartum obesity manifests itself not only in the form of rapid weight gain after childbirth (8 or more kilograms), but is also accompanied by other problems: hypertrichosis, menstrual irregularities, increased blood pressure, headaches, and fever.

To treat postpartum neuroendocrine syndrome, diet therapy, dosed physical activity, and drug support are used.