How long to get rid of the baby bump

[lucyioannou]

Hi all,

Hope you are all doing well

Wanted to pick your brains, so I'm hopefully going to be a parent come 15th May 2021, (very early pregnancy, and I suffered a miscarriage 6 weeks ago, which is why I use the word hope) our wedding was meant to be this year delayed due to Covid and have now moved this to September 2021, and we thought what the hell why put our lives back let's try have a baby! So hopefully it's second time lucky for us.

So I want to ask how long it took for your bumps to go completely away? And to return to somewhat your previous body shape ? I'm petite, 5 foot 3, and normal weight is about 8st 7lbs. Reason I ask is I have to try and find a wedding dress before I start getting a bump, so trying to figure out what to go for, baby will hopefully be 4 months by our wedding date, your advice would be greatly appreciated :) ideally I want to hear 4 months is plenty of time lol

[BluebellsGreenbells]

First baby stomach back to normal in 4 months
Second (twins) I was half a stone light and a dress size smaller 3 days later(people were surprised they were mine)

I don’t think you’ll have a problem, just avoid anything too tight round the middle, some stretch, some don’t!

But - what surprised me is my chest grew by a few inches (not boobs) bit rib cage - so some dresses never zipped up!

[AnneLovesGilbert]

Congratulations on your pregnancy

I was back to normal well before 4 months, despite an EMCS and hip to hip scar. I’d put on just under 2 stone and EBF and the weight was gone in 6-8 weeks I think. My boobs are a few sizes bigger, still feeding, but I fit all my old clothes.

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

I'm also petite, I had DS in June. Bump was all gone by September and stomach and waist were back to their normal size by beginning of December. Unfortunately, 14 months later I'm still trying to shift the last 5lbs of stubborn thigh fat

[ChanklyBore]

Nearly gone in minutes. Literally, the midwives commented on it. Back in jeans with baby 1 day old. I mean, it looked like jelly crossed with roadkill and wasn’t that rounded even with a baby in it, but dressed it was fine. I was also young, if I did it now I imagine it wouldn’t ping back in the same way (and I’d cut myself far more slack, and eat far more cake).

I hope it is a sticky one for you.

[TheNewLook]

It all depends on how much weight you gain. This is often influenced by how sick you feel! I lost weight in each of my first trimesters... It’s not a good idea to gain too much. No need to eat for two!

Generally I was back to normal weight by 4 months I reckon. Breastfeeding will help a lot. You might find your shape changes a bit - the hips and ribcage especially.

Congrats!

[MandalaYogaTapestry]

Back to flat stomach in a couple of days after labour. But I hadn't gained much weight during pregnancy (still a 6.5 lb baby) and had good abs. Not sure if you can do sit-ups now that you are already pregnant (do check though and if you can - do them) and watch your weight is my advice.

[AnneLovesGilbert]

Most women find breastfeeding helps a lot. It helps your uterus contract back to normal as well as burning off a lot of calories.

[ShyTown]

About 6 weeks. I didn’t gain much non-baby related weight and after a c-section I found I couldn’t stomach rich foods or large portions so the weight just fell off.

[Chazzaaa]

I had a flat stomach immediately after (natural birth) and when I weighed myself a couple of weeks after having him, I weighed less than I did before I got pregnant. Still not sure how that's even possible?!

Congrats by the way!

[BumbleNova]

i had a very similar situation. I had a wedding dress bought and altered before I was pregnant. I was almost exactly your measurements too. I didnt put on a huge amount of weight when pregnant and it all pretty much fell off breastfeeding and walking with baby in the sling.

HOWEVER - my rib cage expanded. I think its gone back but getting me in my wedding dress was actually a bit of a drama. it was a very structured dress and there was very little "give". by 9 months after the birth, it was fine. at 4 months, it would not have fitted - I had another fitting to check! so i'd be quite careful about styles.

[user1493413286]

My stomach had gone back by 4 months with both my babies but my rib cage took 6 months to go back, (it increased by 2 inches) and if you’re breastfeeding you may find that your boobs are bigger. I got married 9 months after my baby was born and chose my dress while I was early pregnancy, I’m also same size as you. I chose a dress that was forgiving around the tummy just in case and I think they ordered the dress in on my 4 month pregnancy size which was more of a 10 than a 8 and said it was easier to take it down than try to find extra material although they did say that it’s possible to add extra panels in if really needed.

[lucyioannou]

Thank you ladies for sharing your stories and advice!! Been a massive help, seems around the board that gaining a few inches by the rib cage, is expected, that really helps as naively didn’t even think about that changing! Or that breast feeding could help with weight loss! I cant believe how quickly some of you got back into shape! That is absolutely amazing! Gives me some hope 😊
 
I did think it depends on the weight you gain, during pregnancy so thank you for those who mentioned this, im going to try and be careful and not eat the fridge! Just planning on having a healthy well balanced diet, hoping the cravings are apples and pears rather than chocolate and crisps.
 
I am not very active I must admit, as I am currently working from home, so my steps a day is embarrassing, is it okay to work out and go to the gym in early pregnancy ? gyms near us have only just opened a month ago, so I was planning on going back before finding out I was pregnant

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

@lucyioannou I'm in the US, where they weigh you obsessively in pregnancy. If you're starting at a healthy BMI, they tell you to put on 25-35lbs. I put on 28lbs total and went back to normal pretty quickly - I think keeping the weight gain under control makes a HUGE difference.

RE: exercise, YES! So good for you during pregnancy, and it makes labour easier (allegedly). I think you're not supposed to dive into a hardcore new exercise regime when pregnant, so check with your midwife, but I don't think prenatal Pilates or a gentle session on the cross trainer would hurt. Check with your midwife.

[lucyioannou]

@allfurcoatnoknickers my thinking exactly, I always planned to stay eating healthy during pregnancy anyway regardless of the wedding, will keep an eye on my weight gain as I'm not sure how it works in the UK if they constantly monitor you or not, but I'll be sure to keep an eye on it too

In terms of exercise thank you I will touch base soon as I've met the midwife, and if it can even possibly make labour that tad easier, then hell yeah im all in!

[MandalaYogaTapestry]

I wouldn't go to a gym now if I were pregnant. You are considered vulnerable in the Covid pandemic.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Swimming is good when pregnant and I did water aerobics which is great for core strength. Congrats on your pregnancy!

[Ranunculi]

Breastfeeding can be a blessing or a curse. It burns extra calories so it can help with weight loss. But it also upsets your hormone balance and makes you incredibly hungry and tired, which can hinder weight loss. I was one of the unlucky ones - breastfeeding prevented me from losing weight and in the end I actually quit breastfeeding because I couldn’t cope with being fat any more. When I stopped breastfeeding I lost weight immediately.

[NeverHadANickname]

I was overweight before pregnancy (and still am) but it took me 2 weeks to get back to pre pregnancy weight. I only gained 17lb the whole pregnancy so I'd say to try and make sure you do not gain excessive amounts to start with then you have less to lose, mine was pretty much all baby, fluids, blood flow etc rather than fat. I'm not sure what is recommended for you but I think someone else mentioned amounts upthread so obviously be healthy about it too.

[FoxtrotSkarloey]

Congrats and all the best.

I still have no idea if I lost more weight whilst bf or after I stopped, but I definitely have a permanent increase in rib cage size.

Remember it's so much easier for a dress to be taken in than try to have panels added to let it out. Nothing to do with a baby, but mine needed so much altering, it felt like it paid for reams of layers of fabric rather than an actual dress!

[FiddlefigOnTheRoof]

It’s not just your tummy, as PP said, your upper arms and torso get bigger too. I’m your build and can’t fit into pre preg stuff despite naturally being slim.

Also be aware you may be shattered in that period, and for me, eating delicious healthy food (not loads, but not consciously limiting myself and certainly no salad based stuff) was crucial to mental health. You don’t want to spend that precious time denying yourself pleasures of life just for one event!

[Globalpandemicmum]

I found my hips got wider at the very end of my first pregnancy and despite losing all the weight I’d gained, my hips have never gone back to size.