Question: “I had my baby a couple of weeks ago, and I’m so ready to get my pre-baby body back! How long before my baby belly goes down?”
Answer: The timeline to lose the baby weight is different for every woman and depends on a few factors. These include whether or not you’re breastfeeding, how much weight you gained during your pregnancy, your diet, and how much exercise you get.
Two weeks after delivery, try and avoid weighing yourself. If you’re breastfeeding, you’re probably still getting the hang of it. Plus, your hormone levels are just starting to come down, so you’re still in the “baby blues” phase when anything can make you cry. Don’t feel discouraged, because the number you see on the scale usually doesn’t indicate lots of body fat.
About six weeks after you deliver, your uterus will return to its normal spot in your pelvis, making your belly look flatter and smaller. We recommend keeping the healthy eating habits you began when you were pregnant. Try and fit some exercise in when you can, too. Something as simple as taking your baby on a walk around the neighborhood will help you get fitter, faster.
At the end of the day, every woman is going to lose postpartum weight at her own pace!