To ask how long it took to get your figure back after having a baby?

[SilkObsidian]

And if it took longer the second time?

After DC1 my body went back to normal within 24hours of giving birth (flat tummy, no stretchmarks or saggy skin) and I wore non-maternity clothes home from hospital. I'm 32.

Everyone says the second time is different!

I must have been lucky, I'm short with a short torso but cant see any difference to my ribcage, I dont think having children made any difference to me, my body looks the same now at 50 as it did at 25

sadly the same is not true of my face:o

Interesting responses!

To the poster who asked if I've forgotten how long it took, my baby is only 7months old so no I haven't forgotten
The midwives on delivery suite commented on how my bump had 'disappeared' straight away, so did the staff on post natal ward. My tummy was a bit wobbly and soft for 24hours but back to normal by the time I went home.

I wonder if, like a PP mentioned, I had exceptionally strong contractions of womb that pulled it all back into shape. For a few days after birth the after pains were excruciating especially when BF; I was in tears every time I BF as they felt like labour pains, I even rang the ward thinking something was wrong! I also needed to wee constantly so maybe my body expelled the excess fluid quickly.

I had some separation of abdominal muscles but the gap was only noticeable when they examined me (lying down) nothing visible. It closed after 3months.

I did put some extra weight on bum and thighs during 3rd trimester but lost it all in the first week after birth. Also I had terrible reflux during pregnancy so couldn't eat much.

I used bio oil every day and for half the pregnancy wore a tubi grip support thing (severe SPD) so maybe that supported muscles and stopped too much stretching?

I had a 'flat' stomach again after a couple of weeks. Well in clothes anyway, my stomach obviously likes that shape. I remember going into the butchers of all places with dd2 at about that time and the woman was is that your baby????

It took 18 months to lose my baby weight though and I wouldn't say I ever had a pre-baby body again (she's now 4).

I was in tears every time I BF as they felt like labour pains
I remember being very distressed by after pains when I first fed my second baby....is that not the case for everyone?
I was also nauseated much of the time and quite anxious about not eating enough

Depends what you mean exactly by 'get it back'

• back to original weight, about 9 months (also no longer BF etc)
• back to original shape and proportions, still not there, but appears to still be in flux 18 months later. I note that these are both good and bad - I have more spare tyre but also bigger boobs/much more toned arms now.
• back to 'normal' exactly as it was before, well, that won't ever happen, partly because of direct physical damage and also pregnancy triggering arthritis that I'll now have forever....

The first time it took me 6 months and the second time 3 months, my body will never look the same but my weight has gone back to what it was.

My stomach and upper fanjo is more stretch marks than skin, very deep purple stretch marks so they will never go away.

Did anyone else have really toned arms from all the lifting / carrying / pram pushing?

I actually gained weight on mat leave due to slobbing around breastfeeding eating copious amounts of biscuits and cake.

After about a year wanted to start TTC again but had always said I would go to pre pregnancy weight between pregnancies so lost 2 stone via 5:2 diet to go back to normal and then got pregnant again!

I went from being a healthy, fit 9.5st (5'5"), training for a half marathon and going to the gym twice a week this time last year, to a bloated 13st the day before I went into labour. The reason? Probably a variety of reasons. Nausea and exhaustion followed by breathlessness and spd put paid to exercise. I stopped going to the gym by 13 weeks and by 25 weeks couldn't walk the 30 mins to work without being in pain. I craved salty cheesy things to get me through morning sickness, but after that first trimester just ate fairly normally (I eat very healthily normally). The weight still piled on. It was a hot summer and our office was like an oven so my legs and ankles swelled so much I could hardly wear any of my shoes. By the end, I could only wear my running shoes (ironically).

Post c section birth, I lost 2 stone in 2 weeks thanks to that excess water draining away (epic wees!) and feeling pretty disoriented and shell shocked by what had just happened ('I just had a baby?! WTF?!') so I struggled to eat enough to get my milk supply going.

Now, 3 months in, I'm still 2 stone heavier than what I would like to be (ie pre pregnancy). I can't just exercise it off - I still have spd issues so am waiting for physio and will not start going to the gym until I know which exercises to do. I can walk with the pram but my pelvic pain flares up after a while (although it's the only way to get the baby to sleep sometimes!), and despite everyone raving about how breastfeeding made the weight just drop off, it hasn't done so for me. I've lost half a stone since Christmas but it's been through eating sensibly and walking. I also have a bit of s gap in my stomach muscles, so I hope the physio can suggest exercises to help with that. And I have stretch marks on the saggy pouch that my tummy has become.

I guess what I'm saying (by waffling a lot) is that it's not quite as straightforward as lurked suggests, as just not gaining the weight in the first place. Anyone doing a lot of exercise and then being forced to stop suddenly will gain weight quickly and people's bodies all react differently to pregnancy. My body has always been hard wired to hang on to weight wherever possible so 'just not gaining the weight in the first place' was probably never going to happen.

About 3 months with DS, without even trying. DD is 3 months and I am a good 10lb off. Also my body seems to have irretrievably changed shape now ! Everything has gone very flat and saggy!

Not too fussed though - just grateful for my DCs !

About a week first time and a month / six weeks the second time, when I was older - in my thirties instead of twenties.

Oh yes except my ribcage, that has not gone back to the way it was before, and my boobs disappeared once I stopped breastfeeding.
So maybe I ought to change my answer to never!

2nd time was the quickest for me. Flat tummy after 3 days and back into all my jeans within the week. DS was 9lb 1oz.

Oh, and I was 27.

1st time I left hospital in my pre-pregnancy jeans, it all went back very quickly.

I had horrendous morning/noon/night sickness for the entire pregnancy and didn't gain weight

With number 2 it took longer, but again had horrendous morning/noon/night sickness for 9 months.

My DD is 13 months and whilst I have nearly lost the weight I put on (about 26lbs) my body has changed shape. My bum is massive I've started running so as to tone up a little but I don't think I will ever be the same again, and that's fine!

Did anyone else have really toned arms from all the lifting / carrying / pram pushing?

Yes! I only get to the gym about three times a week now, whereas I used to go everyday pre-DS, but I've finally got the toned arms I've been craving for years!

I'm getting married 14 months after this baby (number 2) and I'm terrified about how my body is going to look. I know people will say it's only a wedding but this really is a dream come true day for us and I want to feel confidant

14 months is plenty of time! Give yourself a couple of months breathing space then really start being strict on exercise / diet.

I swear by 5:2, but it's not for everyone.

Well! Funny you should say that! 5:2 is what I've been reading about! I think I'm gunna go by that. With excersise on the non fast days. I'm a slimming world girl, big fan and it's a way of life for us now. But I'm gunna need to switch it up to something new to motivate myself and have an impact. Can you pm me how you do it and your results? I'm just about to buy a book on it aswell so if you have any reccomendations?!

I have three, aged 7, 4 and almost 2. My body's a mess. Worse thing is that I have severe recti diastasis, a big gap in my stomach muscles. I look 4 months pregnant. Booking a tummy tuck for later this year.

Peppa - I got all my info on 5:2 from the forum on here. Would highly recommend getting on that topic - they are so knowledgable and supportive. I'll be doing it again as soon as this baby arrives (28 weeks preg)

Four children later, I am in my 40's and a comfortable 10-12. My stretch marks (all over 8lb, last over 10lb) have not and will not ever go, and nor will my little pot belly but I feel much more comfortable in my own skin than I did in my late 20's as a size 6. I don't know as my body ever returned to pre-pregnancy shape, but I'm not sure I expected it too. Now feeling slightly envious of women who have had a child and pinged back into their pre/baby body.