As you must’ve heard from almost everyone around you, with the birth of your little one, your world will change. Almost everyone will tell you how the finger grasps, the smiles and frowns on your baby’s face while they sleep, the kicking and air cycling, the coos and babbles, and so on will define your world for the initial couple of weeks. What nobody will tell you is that while all these exciting moments unfold, you will get extremely busy adjusting to your new routine, leaving you with very little time to heal, get fit and healthy, and get back to normalcy. Also, what nobody will tell you is that even after delivery, your baby bump will remain for a while. And you will wonder when will you get back to your pre-pregnancy body, shape and size? Let us give you a brief lowdown on how long will it take your bump to go down after birth, and how soon can you get back into your pre-pregnancy clothes!

• Why Does The Bump Remain Even After Childbirth?
• How Much Of The Bump Will Remain After Childbirth?
• How Long Does It Take Your Bump To Go Down After Childbirth?
• Effective Ways To Lose The Bump After Childbirth

Why Does The Bump Remain Even After Childbirth?

It takes nine months for the uterus to expand to accommodate your baby. As the uterus expands during pregnancy, it rises above your pubic bone, and pushes your abdomen out. That’s when your bump begins to show.
Another reason could be diastasis recti, a condition quite common in women. In this condition, the muscles that run along the mid line separate to create space for the baby. The connective tissue becomes thin and weak and stretches sideways, leading to wider hips and bulging belly.
After childbirth, the distended uterus takes about six to eight weeks to shrink back to its initial, normal size and abdominal muscles about the same time to come back to their original tone.

How Much Of The Bump Will Remain After Childbirth?

This depends on your age and fitness regime, your pre-pregnancy weight, the amount of weight gained during pregnancy, the method of delivery and your method of nursing.

• Age and fitness levels play a vital role in shedding post-pregnancy weight and losing the bump. Exercises such as crunches that put pressure on the midline, can cause low-level separation of abdominal muscles eventually leading to diastasis recti, and well, a bulging belly. Hence, exercising right – before, during and after pregnancy – under supervision – is an important factor in losing the bump after childbirth
• The Institute of Medicine recommends gaining 25-30 pounds during pregnancy if you belong to the average weight bracket. This is a healthy range of weight to gain from the perspective of the mother’s nutrition and the baby’s development
• It has been observed that women who have a C-section, take a little longer to lose the belly fat gained from ‘eating for two’ during pregnancy, as compared to those who have a normal vaginal delivery
• Breastfeeding mothers burn typically 300-500 calories a day. To produce milk, the body requires energy in the form of calories. Hence, breastfeeding mothers are often asked to consume a few hundred calories extra every day. These are burned down rather easily while nursing the baby. Breastfeeding is known to release hormones that signal the uterus to shrink faster

How Long Does It Take Your Bump To Go Down After Childbirth?

• Immediately after birth up to one week later: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that new mothers lose up to 12 pounds of weight immediately after giving birth, which comprises the baby, blood, placenta and amniotic fluid. Also, an IV or an epidural
  could lead you to lose more fluids while you pass urine up to one week post childbirth. The cells in your body that swelled during pregnancy also release all the extra fluid in the form of vaginal secretions and sweat during this period
• Up to two months: Per the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a new mom could easily lose up to 20 pounds of weight in a month post childbirth. Thus the 25-30 pounds gained during pregnancy can be lost within two months post-delivery
• Six weeks to a couple of months later: It takes about six to eight weeks for the uterus to return to the pelvis leading to flatter and smaller-looking bump or pregnancy pouch. In a couple of months, you should be able to shed most of the extra weight
• Up to nine months: While it takes nine months for the baby to develop in the uterus, it takes a woman nine months to heal completely

Effective Ways To Lose The Bump After Childbirth

• Eat right: As a new mother, you are advised to consume whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and lots of water to ensure the intake of mandated vitamins and minerals. Eating right will not only expedite the post-partum healing process, but will also ensure good health
• Exercise: A balance between the right form and amount of exercise will help you lose the extra pounds. Walking, jogging, slow running and swimming will help reduce the belly. On a lighter note, it is advised to measure your waist and hip using a measuring tape while you try to lose weight on your belly. The loss in inches is a bigger indicator of how soon you will fit into your pre-pregnancy pair of jeans, rather than the pounds on the weighing scale

Every woman loses her postpartum weight at her own pace, depending on her motivation level and the actual time she gets to devote to a fitness regime. While some women may get rid of the pregnancy pooch as early as three months from childbirth, some may never lose it completely. Always remember that you gave birth / will be giving birth to a tiny human, and that you are star regardless of your body structure, size and appearance!