Read patient information from MedlinePlus: Losing weight after pregnancy. Breastfeeding can also help with postpartum weight loss. After giving birth, many moms assume those first pounds will melt off in days. But some women can hold onto weight for up to a month after giving birth. Body changes after childbirth . These contractions also help the placenta detach from the uterine wall. After the placenta is delivered, uterine contractions close off the open blood vessels where the placenta was attached. You may feel cramps, known as afterpains, as this happens. For the first couple of days after giving birth, you'll be able to feel the top of your uterus in the area of your belly button.
In a week, your uterus weighs a little over a pound – half of what it weighed just after you gave birth. After two weeks, it's down to a mere 1. By about four weeks, it should be close to its pre- pregnancy weight of 3. This process is called involution of the uterus. Post baby body (Mom Confidential)Not sure how you feel about your post- baby body? See all videos. How much weight will I lose right after giving birth? About 1. 2 pounds. You'll lose 7 or 8 pounds for the baby, about a pound of placenta, and another few pounds of blood and amniotic fluid. You probably won't return to your pre- pregnancy weight for some time, but you'll continue to lose weight during the postpartum period as your body eliminates all the extra water your cells retained during pregnancy, along with fluid from the extra blood you had in your pregnant body. So in the first days after you give birth, you'll produce more urine than usual – an astounding 3 quarts a day. You may perspire a lot, too. By the end of the first week, it's likely that you'll lose about 4 to 6 pounds of water weight. That's because your abdominal muscles get stretched out during pregnancy, and it takes time – and regular exercise – to get your belly back in shape. For the first days after you give birth, you may not feel an urge to pee, especially if you had a prolonged labor, a forceps or vacuum- assisted vaginal delivery, or an epidural. This is also more likely if you had a catheter during labor to help you urinate and keep your bladder from overfilling. But after delivery, your bladder fills up rapidly with all the extra fluid your kidneys are processing, so it's essential to try to urinate frequently, even if you don't feel the urge. If too much urine accumulates in your bladder, you might have a hard time making it to the toilet without leaking. What's more, your bladder could become overly distended. This can cause urinary problems and also makes it harder for your uterus to contract, leading to more afterpains and heavier bleeding. If you can't pee within a few hours after giving birth, you'll need to have a catheter put in to drain the urine from your bladder. If your bladder gets too full, it can actually keep you from being able to urinate. Will my vagina and perineum ever get back to normal? If you give birth vaginally, your vagina will probably remain a little larger than it was before. Right after delivery, your vagina is stretched open and may be swollen and bruised. Over the next few days, any swelling starts to go down, and your vagina begins to regain muscle tone. In the next few weeks, it will gradually get smaller. Doing Kegel exercises regularly helps restore muscle tone. If you had a small tear in your perineum that did not require stitches, it should heal quickly and cause little discomfort. If you had an episiotomy or a significant tear, your perineum needs time to heal, so wait to start having sex again until you get your provider's okay at your postpartum checkup. If you continue to have tenderness in that area, delay intercourse until you feel ready. This dryness may be even more pronounced if you're breastfeeding because nursing tends to keep estrogen levels down. This can make intercourse painful at first, but using a lubricant is a big help. Be sure to buy a water- based lubricant, especially if you're using a barrier method of contraception. See all pregnancy videos. What's this vaginal discharge? It's normal to have vaginal discharge, or lochia, for a month or two after you give birth. Lochia consists of blood, bacteria, and sloughed- off tissue from the lining of the uterus. For the first few days after birth, lochia contains a fair amount of blood, so it will be bright red and look like a heavy menstrual period. You'll probably have a bit less discharge each day, and by two to four days after you've given birth, the lochia will be more watery and pinkish in color. By about 1. 0 days after you've given birth, you'll have only a small amount of white or yellow discharge, which will taper off over the next two to four weeks. Some women may continue to have scant lochia or intermittent spotting for a few more weeks. What should I expect if I'm breastfeeding? The first breastfeeding sessions may cause some abdominal cramping because your baby's suckling stimulates the release of oxytocin – a hormone that triggers uterine contractions. And when your milk comes in, usually two to three days after you give birth, your breasts may get swollen, tender, and hard. They also may throb and feel uncomfortably full. This is called engorgement, and it should get better in a day or two. Nursing your baby often is the best thing you can do for relief. If these measures don't help and your baby seems to be having trouble latching on correctly, talk to your provider or a lactation consultant. What will it be like if I'm not breastfeeding? You'll still begin to produce milk if you're not breastfeeding, and your breasts will become engorged a few days after you give birth. This may cause considerable discomfort that can last for several days. The pain tends to peak three to five days after you give birth, and it can take several weeks for your milk to dry up completely. In the meantime, wear a supportive bra around the clock, and put cold packs on your breasts to ease swelling and inhibit milk production. However, this may prolong the process because stimulating your nipples and draining your breasts signals your body to make more milk. And don't apply warmth to your breasts either because this can also encourage milk production. Why am I losing my hair? If your hair got thicker during your pregnancy, it may now start to shed in handfuls. This happens to some new moms in the first few months after having their baby. Don't worry – you won't go bald. During pregnancy, high estrogen levels may prolong your hair's growing phase, causing less to fall out than usual. After you give birth, your estrogen levels plummet, and you begin to shed more. Over time (usually within a year or so), the rate of new growth and shedding will return to what it once was. On the bright side, if you developed excess facial and body hair during pregnancy (the result of a rise in hormones called androgens), it's likely you will lose most of that hair within six months after having your baby. What's going on with my skin? Hormonal changes, stress, and the fatigue brought on by new parenthood may affect your skin along with the rest of your body. Some women who had perfectly clear skin during pregnancy will have more breakouts in the months following delivery. On the other hand, if you had acne during pregnancy, you may begin to see some improvement now. Also, if you have chloasma (darkened patches of skin on your lips, nose, cheeks, or forehead), or a dark line running from your belly button to your public bone, the discoloration will begin to fade in the months after giving birth. It will probably go away completely as long as you protect your skin from the sun. Any stretch marks you developed will gradually become lighter in color, although they won't disappear entirely. Healthy weight loss after birth. When can I start to lose weight? Do bear in mind that your body may change shape after pregnancy, and you may find it difficult to return to your exact pre- pregnancy weight. You can start to do some gentle exercise (walking, pelvic floor exercises, stretching) as soon as you feel up to it. However, you should wait six weeks or so before taking up more strenuous exercise. Whether you are breastfeeding or bottlefeeding, you should aim to eat a healthy diet. The following general guidelines will help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Nice 2. 01. 0: 7)(NHMRC 2. Although it can be difficult to lose weight after having a baby, it's important that you do so, carefully and slowly. Even a small weight gain of 1- 2 BMI units between pregnancies can increase the risk of complications, such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, in your next pregnancy. You are also more likely to give birth to a larger baby (Nice 2. Because of the energy it takes to produce milk for your baby, you'll need around an extra 2. NHMRC 2. 00. 6). Some of your additional energy needs will be met from your body's existing fat stores. This means that breastfeeding can help you lose weight. It's safe to lose weight in this way when breastfeeding and it won't affect the quality or supply of your milk. See our diet for a healthy breastfeeding mum for some smart tips. It may take that long even if you were a model eater. Remember, you've just accomplished a strenuous, nutritionally draining feat. Give your body the time it needs to get back in shape. Diminution in Energy Expenditure During Lactation. Weight management before, during and after pregnancy. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Public health guidance 2. Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults, National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand, Including Recommended Dietary Intakes, National Health and Medical Research Council. Exercise in Pregnancy. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
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May 2017
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