Now that your new baby is here, your life will have changed completely. There are many things to think about – what to do when your baby cries, getting into a feeding routine, remembering everything, and losing ‘baby weight’ may be the last thing on your mind.
With these helpful tips from HARTMANN Direct you can enjoy gradual weight loss after pregnancy.
1. Don’t Diet
Contrary to what you may think, creating a new, strict eating regime just when you have had a baby is the wrong time to start. There are so many happy moments with a new born baby but it is a time of many challenges too.
Rather than being too hard on yourself, take a balanced view of your diet. Just like in pregnancy, vary your food choices and when you can, enjoy creating tasty dishes in the kitchen.
There will be times when your day and night don’t go according to plan. Disturbed or minimal sleep can leave you feeling drained and hungry at odd times in the day.
Try to make healthy choices, even when your body is craving chocolate or sugar – but remember it is ok to have the occasional treat.
2. Super-Charged Foods
As a new mum, whether it is your first baby or your fourth, you will need foods that are packed with nutrients but ideally light on calories and fat.
Super-charge your diet with great foods such as fish. Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, it helps your new-born develop a healthy brain and nervous system, nutrients that are passed on as your feed. Stick with cold water fish such as salmon, sardines and tinned tuna. And don’t forget your dairy intake too. Milk and yogurt contain essential calcium and stick with lean meats such as turkey, chicken and lean red meat.
3. Consider Breast Feeding
There is no scientific evidence that supports the theory either way that breast feeding supports weight loss after pregnancy or not. Some studies suggest that it can, but others suggest not.
Irrespective of the arguments, if breast feeding is right for you and your baby, then go for it. Breast feeding uses up extra calories – up to an extra 300 in a day, more if you have a heavy feeder or twins etc.
Bur, this doesn’t mean that breast feeding is an excuse to eat whatever you want…!
4. Stay Hydrated
The feeling of thirst is often mistaken for hunger pangs so instead of reaching for a snack, reach for a glass of water instead.
Staying hydrated stops you from snacking and is also great for making your feel alert and on top of
things.
Keep an eye on caffeinated drinks and try to limit your consumption of soft drinks too. Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you are breast feeding.
5. Get Moving!
Exercise as well as diet is important for a new mum.
As well as helping you get back into shape and tone up, exercise is important for your emotional well-being too.
Post-natal depression is estimated to affect 1 in 10 new mums but it remains a hidden problem because many women don’t realise the symptoms. Some women develop serious levels of depression that require treatment, whilst other women ‘live through’ their depression.
Exercise produces endorphins, the ‘feel-good’ hormone that lightens mood and helps with a positive outlook. A stroll in the park on a sunny day is fantastic exercise so don’t assume that the only place you can get fit is the gym.
6. Ask for Help
All new mums need help. Whether that is someone to watch the baby while you go shopping or someone to help with your other children. It may be that you are also struggling to get a decent night’s sleep and this affects not only your mood and enjoyment of your baby, but also how and what you eat.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. Ask people to help you out – you’ll probably find you won’t be short of volunteers!
Losing weight after giving birth is a sensitive subject. Coverage in the press of celebrity mums may leave you feeling ‘lacking’. Getting back into your favourite jeans will happen but it will take time but don’t forget, enjoy your baby too!
Have you any tip to lose weight after pregnancy?
HARTMANN Direct provide a range of high quality incontinence produce, including a selection suitable for use during and after pregnancy.
March 28, 2017 at 1:17 pm
Exercise is so important to stave off depression. I have no experience with pregnancy, but I deal with bouts of depression in my life a lot, and working out or dancing always helps at least a little.
March 28, 2017 at 1:46 pm
My friend is due to give birth in May, and already worrying about how to shed the baby weight – so thanks for the info, I’ll forward it over to her x
March 28, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Some great tips here. It can be difficult to lose that post baby weight. I think I still have it and my son is 20!
Mellissa Williams recently posted…Put Some Love Back Into Your Home
March 28, 2017 at 6:40 pm
Pretty much the same as you
All to easy to snack and eat sweet things but so much better to make time for meals and gentle exercise
March 28, 2017 at 6:46 pm
I love these tips. I had my little girl eight months ago, and am just getting back into exercising etc. I definitely agree with the ‘Don’t Diet’
March 28, 2017 at 11:40 pm
This is really good advise for a new mum, I think you should just eat a healthy diet and try and exercise rather than restrict your self to stricts diets.
March 29, 2017 at 9:27 am
Having prepared food must be important as I know a lot of mums and they snack on bad things as they only get a spare few minutes to eat so don’t have time to always prepare healthy food x
Rhian Westbury recently posted…Two Foundations Under £15 You Need To Try
March 29, 2017 at 11:26 am
Great article, and you’re so right about it taking strength to ask for help; I really respect anyone who feels able to reach out, it’s often not easy.
March 29, 2017 at 7:45 pm
Great tips thankyou. I definitely need to work on preparing foods rather than leaving it until the last moment ending in snacking 🙁
March 29, 2017 at 10:55 pm
The focus after having a baby should be on eating healthily and staying hydrated. Great post with some good points.
March 30, 2017 at 1:15 am
As a new mom for the 2nd Time, this article really hit so close to home. I never dieted after my babies were born, just tried to eat more sensibly to provide my nursing newborns with the nutrients they needed. The weight came off in due time and I never put too much pressure on myself. Good luck to all the other new moms out there!
March 30, 2017 at 10:34 pm
As a mummy of two, I completely relate to this post. Although I never really ‘dieted’ I tried to watch what I ate after my babies were born. I did gain weight but I didn’t really worry about too much until things had settled at home. Sometimes I think when we put pressure on ourselves too much, we make it worse!
March 31, 2017 at 1:18 pm
I agree with MELANIE EDJOURIAN – “The focus after having a baby should be on eating healthily and staying hydrated”.
Veronica Lee recently posted…Tail & Trouble
March 31, 2017 at 3:22 pm
I hope I get pregnant in the future, so I was interested to read your thoughts. I think they follow a nice common sense, very useful! x
April 1, 2017 at 10:47 am
Some great tips. I never bothered to make a conscious effort to lose any of my baby weight. But my friends have told me I look like I’ve lost weight. Its gotta be the breastfeeding because I’ve been eating my weight in kebabs!
Amy recently posted…5 Things that Make Me Happy Off Screen
April 1, 2017 at 5:43 pm
These are great tips! Especially the one about staying hydrated, so important! xx
Stephanie Usher recently posted…The Essie Spring 2017 Collection
April 1, 2017 at 7:03 pm
These are great tips, even though my daughter is now a toddler and im still strugglng, but asking for help which i dont does really help.
Lindsey recently posted…Orange, Carrot, Ginger And Turmeric Booster Juice
April 1, 2017 at 10:09 pm
So many good tips and so many important points made x
Rachel recently posted…Latest In Beauty Good Housekeeping Beauty Edit
April 5, 2017 at 11:46 am
Yes I can testify that breastfeeding supports weightloss. New moms should know that it took 9 months to pack on the pregnancy weight and it won’t melt off in a month. 18-24 months is a good time length to lose the weight after the baby.
You have sound and solid advice here