If you have recently had a baby, you might have seen celebrities on the television looking slim and fit just a few weeks after giving birth. In reality, this is not something you should be attaining to, especially if you are going to be breastfeeding your new arrival. However, if you would like to get your body back into shape after the birth of your child, then here are a few ideas to help you.
When is a Good time to Start?
Although you might want to start dieting straight after the birth, it can be a bad idea. If you have decided to breastfeed, then you need roughly 1800 to 2000 calories per day to give your baby the milk it needs. If you try to restrict your calorie intake, then you are not helping yourself or your new bundle of joy. The other reason it would be a bad idea to diet straight away is if you have had a cesarean section. A C-section is major surgery, and you need the calories to help you recover and heal. Many doctors think that the right time to start a diet would be not until after the six-week check.
Exercising
Although dieting is not recommended for the first six weeks, you can start to exercise soon after birth. Starting some gentle exercise at first, you can quickly work your way up to more advanced routines. There have been studies that have shown that as well as helping you to get fit again, exercise can also help with post-partum depression. Depression linked to after you’ve given birth is more common than you might think, and it can make the first few weeks, or even months, with your baby extremely difficult. Exercise has long been shown to be a big help with those who are suffering from depression and low mood, so getting out to the gym is a good idea.
Cosmetic Surgery
Although many women like their stretch marks because it shows they are a mother, there are many others who truly don’t like this area of their body after birth. You need to allow at least a couple of months for your body to return to normal before you consider doing anything to correct your tummy. If you are considering having your tummy reduced or perhaps breast implants, then you need to research a good plastic surgeon. The best recommendations will normally come from others that have had similar procedures. Chat with some other women to see if they can recommend anyone such as Discreet Plastic Surgery. You can then discuss what you would like, and they can see if they can help you.
The most important thing to remember about trying to get your body back after pregnancy is that it will take time. You shouldn’t try to go too fast straight away, particularly with exercise or you might sustain an injury. With time and the right routines, you can start to achieve the body you want, or perhaps one that is even better than before!
