How to get flat tummy after child birth

We often hear people complain about big belly and excess fat after women have given birth. This seem a natural sequence in women’s life. But the fact that most women develop big belly after child birth does not mean they cannot get flat tummy too after. So we explore how to get flat tummy after child birth.

First, we explain why women get excess belly fat after child birth and then we will take you on how to lose that fat and get back to your normal shape.

During pregnancy, everyone woman’s body changes to accommodate the foetus and after you have put to bed, it will take time to get back to normal. Many women will ask why do I still look like I am pregnant? You look so because you were recently pregnant and have just given birth. Is it an abnormality? No, it is a normal body change and you are neither the first nor the last one to experience that. You are not even the only one experiencing that now. But why? We answer the why in the next paragraph.

A woman’s womb (uterus) expands during pregnancy in order for her to be able to contain the baby. After child birth, the womb will naturally contract but it is often slow and takes between six to eight weeks to complete.

Also, during pregnancy, extra fluid and fat are built up to nourish the child. These will reduce gradually after child birth and your belly will return to its normal state. Aside from these, you may have a web of stretch marks and a dark line down your abdomen called linea nigra and these are all normal would be a part of your postpartum life for a while.

The Big Steps

So how do you get your get your tummy back to normal? To get your post-partum tummy back to normal, it is relevant that you take serious the underlisted actions. It won’t be easy and the results may not be quicker as you expect but these often work.

Breastfeed your baby

Breastfeeding is natural and one would ask why do you even mention this as step number one, but it is very important. Breastfeeding is an exercise in itself and can help you burn at least 500 calories a day. The amount of calories you can lose is not constant for everyone as some may lose even less. However, you are sure to lose your pregnancy weight faster than those who formula-feed their babies. Trying this will help mothers in their early post-partum life reshaping process.

Exercise

Yes, exercise is key in everyone’s life but for a new mother, it is an added need. You don’t need to lift weight or run for 10 miles a day to get this done. You could start with a simple walking exercise where you give yourself time to walk a certain distance within a specified time. This will ensure you burn some more calories and get your body up to gear to quickly return to normal. You could even start with pelvic floor exercise before gradually getting to doing some walks outside with your baby. For those who might have been doing exercise pre-pregnancy, this will be easier.

Eat frequently and healthy

Eat frequently and healthy if you want to get back to your normal levels after pregnancy. Eating healthy foods will help you get the energy you need to replenish every energy you lost during child birth. You will need between 1800 and 2200 calories per day as a breastfeeding mother and eating frequently will help. Eat small meals frequently and you may choose to do more naturals than processed foods. The most important thing is to eat diet that meets your nutritional need.

Post-partum massage

Post-partum massage may not be something everyone will get depending on your location and the cost but if you can afford one, go get it. Massage helps increase blood circulation and post-partum massage is specifically designed to handle that appropriately. Aside from increasing blood flow that would help in the recovery, the massage oil also will help improve the elasticity of your skin.

Bonus: Wear postpartum girdle

Postpartum girdles or wraps as others call them are medical grade compression garments worn post childbirth to help support organs and muscles as they move back. They also help in easing the pain and supporting the healing of women who have undergone caesarean-section. These medical girdles are often common with celebrities. They do have their side effects but if you get the right ones, you will be off to helping yourself. They improve mobility, blood flow, improve posture, reduce pelvic pain and also help reduce back pain.