Will I ever get my pre-pregnancy belly back? It’s hard for many women to face this new situation, and we always hear questions about how to deal with a postpartum belly. Is it possible to have that toned, defined belly from before pregnancy?

To get your belly back, you need to take care of yourself before and during pregnancy, keeping your weight gain up to fifteen kilos throughout the nine months. But if you went a bit over, don’t worry, just follow your doctor’s instructions closely.

Does Having a Healthy Lifestyle Help Lose Postpartum Belly?

It’s important to be aware that the right thing is to have some care, starting from the beginning of pregnancy and continuing up to a year after it ends. Some women lose their postpartum belly more easily and soon have their pre-pregnancy tummy again, but this isn’t always the rule, after all, your body has gone through many changes.

It’s much easier to get your body back and reduce your belly if you were already taking care of yourself before pregnancy. Having a healthy lifestyle, good nutrition, and exercise all help you recover faster.

The best thing is to plan ahead before getting pregnant and think about these things: How to deal with the postpartum belly, how to lose postpartum belly, and when to use a postpartum girdle. It’s important to make exercise a habit.

Doing exercises at the gym, at home, walking are great options to keep your body in shape. Ideally, you should start before pregnancy and stay focused during and after it.

When you become pregnant, speak to your doctor about which exercises are best for you, if you can do them. Usually, the most recommended are low-impact activities such as: water aerobics, pilates, walking, and swimming—doing any of these greatly helps to lose postpartum belly.

Tips for Losing Postpartum Belly?

Some tips can be valuable to help in this moment of returning to your pre-pregnancy body:

  • If you don’t have the habit of drinking water, start now. Water helps hydrate you, flush out water retained in your body, and also contributes to breastfeeding.
  • The best way to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight and lose your postpartum belly is to breastfeed. Besides breastfeeding burning a lot of calories, it also helps your baby have a healthier life. Another benefit of breastfeeding is that when the baby suckles, it stimulates the production of hormones that help the uterus contract, returning it to its normal size.
  • Massage is important, as it helps reduce body swelling and water retention by stimulating circulation.
  • This is the time to build healthy eating habits, but it’s not recommended to start a strict diet. It’s good to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and greens.
  • Physical exercise should also be on your list—consult your doctor and check when you’ll be cleared to get started. Your doctor can also give you tips on how to deal with your postpartum belly and how to lose it faster.

Vaginal Birth vs. Cesarean Section

For those who had a vaginal birth the process is usually faster, but if you had a cesarean it can take about three weeks to be cleared for exercise. Practicing yoga is an excellent option as it helps strengthen the abdominal muscles and helps your organs return to their place more quickly. Yoga is something you can do from the start of pregnancy and helps with breathing and posture too.

Postpartum Girdle – When Should You Use It?

Whether or not to use a postpartum girdle is a controversial topic these days, and while many specialists recommend it, others don’t agree. Doctors say that a postpartum girdle does not help your belly go back to its place faster or return to what it was before. They even believe it can interfere with your body’s natural process by preventing the abdominal muscles from working as they should, which hinders strengthening.

The uterus needs to work for its natural reduction to happen, and for the organs that were displaced to gradually return to their places.

In the case of cesarean sections, the girdle helps especially with the mother’s sense of security, but the big question is: when should you use a postpartum girdle? Well, this will depend on each mom and her doctor, so it’s always a good idea to discuss it with your obstetrician.

How to Choose the Model of Postpartum Girdle

When the baby is born, every mom dreams of getting her pre-pregnancy body back, and the girdle seems like an answer at this time. But you should consult your doctor to find out which model is best for your case.

Your ideal girdle will depend on the type of delivery you had. For moms who had a cesarean section, the most recommended model is the higher girdle with a zipper on the side, so it’s easier to fasten and won’t affect the healing process. Some women easily adjust to this model, but others don’t and prefer a lower, more underwear-style girdle.

For this reason, it’s always best to talk to your doctor and choose the model that best suits your body and build. When it comes to size, it’s best to buy two sizes up from your usual size so it won’t squeeze the abdominal muscles too much.