Y ou have just given birth, and like many women, after carrying life for 9 months, you are wondering why your belly has not disappeared after the baby has come out of your belly. After giving birth, you are wondering how to lose belly fat and more generally how to get back to your original weight. If each woman is different regarding weight gain and the evolution of her figure during and after pregnancy, we will try to give you advice in this article to help you get your body back from before.
How to get your pre-pregnancy body back little by little?
The belly undergoes so many changes because it is the part of the body that is most tested, even after childbirth. In fact, the uterus has not yet regained its original size and position, and the abdominal muscles have lost their tone. You will notice these changes through the stretch marks that can appear on your belly, chest and hips, as well as the lack of firmness that accompanies them. And in some cases, a brown median mark at the navel level will appear. These signs show how much pregnancy has been a test for your body.
Perineal rehabilitation
First of all, it is important to re-educate your perineum. The goal of perineal re-education is to re-tone this set of muscles, weakened by childbirth.
To do this, 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth, you can go to the postnatal visit with your gynecologist who will prescribe several perineal rehabilitation sessions depending on its condition.
It is important to follow them rigorously in order to avoid having problems with incontinence, urinary leaks for example, which appear at the time of menopause. Take advantage of the fact that 10 sessions of perineal rehabilitation are fully reimbursed by Social Security.
There are several rehabilitation methods but there are 3 that come up often. Manual rehabilitation which is done with the assistance of a therapist. Electrostimulation uses an electric probe to stimulate the muscles of the perineum. Finally, biofeedback is a technique using a probe to become aware of how your perineum works. All you have to do is choose the one that suits you best!
Abdominal rehabilitation and sport
In addition, be aware that perineal rehabilitation is accompanied by abdominal rehabilitation. These muscles are also put to the test during pregnancy. Indeed, they lengthen, relax and their efficiency decreases. After childbirth, they are tired and slacken. This loss of abdominal muscles is generally accompanied by back pain and a change in the appearance of the stomach, which appears softer and less flat. This is why it is necessary to do abdominal rehabilitation and not start exercising directly, because this could damage the perineal muscles. Abdominal rehabilitation increases in intensity as the sessions progress and introduces increasingly sporty exercises.
Once the perineal and abdominal rehabilitation has been completed, you can start exercising again to regain your previous tone and shape. Exercise will help you sculpt yourself again and it will also do you good!
Stay hydrated and eat well
However, all these steps must be accompanied by a good diet. It is recommended to eat a balanced diet, for your own well-being and also that of your baby if you are breastfeeding. Having a balanced diet will allow you not to gain weight after giving birth and also to allow your body to regain its previous appearance more easily. And for your baby, favor a healthy and balanced diet!
Breastfeeding
Also, breastfeeding can be a good way to lose weight little by little. Indeed, breastfeeding helps burn fat! The latter was accumulated during pregnancy in order to feed your child. In return, you must remember to hydrate yourself well. You must drink often and especially when thirsty. A well-hydrated mother is a healthy mother, and that's what baby needs most!
During breastfeeding, a woman's body consumes twice as much water as normal. It is therefore recommended to drink 3L of water per day during the breastfeeding period.
A healthy and balanced diet and the elimination of fat through breastfeeding combined with sports are the best ally to lose weight after the birth of your child! Not only will you get back the body you had before your pregnancy, but above all you will be healthy and you will help your body to be healthy too. And it will give it back to you!
Lymphatic drainage
In addition, you can also use lymphatic drainage to eliminate water retention related to pregnancy. This will help deflate the lower part of your body (pelvis, legs, feet) which had become saturated with water. You will thus allow the lymph in your body to circulate everywhere again! The manual lymphatic drainage technique consists of a gentle massage aimed at stimulating the circulation of lymph. This will therefore eliminate toxins present in your body and strengthen your immune system. Be careful, however, to seek the advice of your doctor before proceeding, whether you are breastfeeding or not!
And above all, don't forget that nothing can stop a woman who feels good about herself and her body! So to be successful on all fronts, take care of yourself. It's the best thing you can do for yourself, for your loved ones, but especially for your children. A mom in top shape is a strong, inspiring and reassuring mom!