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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how long it took you to 'get back in your jeans' after a baby?

344 replies

HelloThursday · 08/10/2018 08:52

Hello :)

I'm just curious really - I was talking to a friend and said I was hoping to be in my old clothes 3 months after the birth - it's my first baby and I'm naturally very slim, the only weight I've gained in the pregnancy is basically bump/baby. She said I was BU and that it would take at least 12 months! I know losing the weight really isn't the be all and end all but just for my own reasons really I'd love to be in a situation by then where my pre pregnancy clothes would fit (unless of course I have a c sect or very difficult birth that means I can't actually get out for walks and stuff for a while!)

I guess my question is am I being unrealistic? Interested to hear everyone else's stories?!

OP posts:
Tomboytown · 08/10/2018 11:23

The next week
But I didn’t gain any weight, I actually lost some
But I was fat to begin with

ohgiveitadayoff · 08/10/2018 11:24

Just had dd 4 weeks ago and got back into mine last week.

HmmmWellAllRightyThen · 08/10/2018 11:24

A year is the average amount of time that women return to their pre-pregnancy weight so maybe that's why she thought that?

Considering what you've described about yourself then 3 months or even less seems realistic for you.

Based on what I've seen in my local area most women gain more weight in pregnancy than recommended so it makes sense that it could take a year to lose it. I'm still working on losing mine at almost 6 months later.

WrenNatsworthy · 08/10/2018 11:25

I never have.

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 08/10/2018 11:25

Couple of weeks with Spanx and couple of months naturally.

YesitsJacqueline · 08/10/2018 11:26

Haha omg it took me a year and I had a massive muffin top !
Only now ds is 4 I feel really happy with myself and back to pre pregnancy body.
I was 38 when I had him and over ate massively!

Goostacean · 08/10/2018 11:27

I gained 25kgs during my pregnancy (I don’t recommend trying to copy me...) and had an EMCS. Was back in my size 8-10 jeans after 5 months, I believe, but not very comfortably! Now, 8 months after the birth, I’m a kilo away from my starting weight, despite no efforts at working out and no diet. My tummy is a different texture though, softer. Need to get in the gym to fix that!

happyasasandboy · 08/10/2018 11:28

I've had two c sections.

During both pregnancies I didn't gain any "size" other than the bump, so after the birth I was already my normal size plus a wobbly belly. I weighed the same at my 6 week check as I did at my booking in appointment.

My jeans would have fitted within a week or so once the wobbly belly had subsided a bit, but I would have found that painful as my whole stomach area was tender for a couple of months after the c sections.

Although I didn't gain weight and could wear my jeans, I am a completely different saggy shape. I used to have a fairly solid/firm stomach area (by no means toned!) but now I have a muffin top and c section apron.

RedPandaMama · 08/10/2018 11:29

I was back in mine at about 2 months but I'm a size 16, so not naturally small and slim. Although I did carry on wearing maternity jeans too for quite a few more months as they were sooo comfy.

Foofloofah · 08/10/2018 11:30

Baby 1: 12 months (Size 14/16)
Baby 2: 3 months (Size 12)
Baby 3: 2 weeks (Size 10/12)

I will never ever get rid of my baby tummy overhang. It is here to stay. The thinner I am the more pronounced it is. I don’t care though!

PlinkPlink · 08/10/2018 11:32

Everyone is different. For me it was 9 months but I stacked on the weight like a heffer 😂

Just make sure you look after yourself and don't put pressure on. It will happen when it happens.

Hope you have a lovely birth Smile

Babyshark2018 · 08/10/2018 11:34

I gained over 3 stone when pregnant. 3 months on I still have a stone to shift.

My weigh fluctuates a bit anyway so I can get into my size 12 jeans but wouldn’t attempt a size 10 yet.

I just wish my flabby tummy would go down, it’s my own fault for eating too much chocolate but it bothers me more than my actual dress size iykwim.

Drycleanonly7 · 08/10/2018 11:35

Wow. Is it a race then? Never owned a pair of jeans as I am too big for them even pre baby. Good luck to you!

Ta1kinpeace · 08/10/2018 11:36

Three days
yes really
I did pilates right through my pregnancy and the muscles sprung back like elastic
I had him on the Friday and went to show him off to my Pilates teacher on the monday Grin

borntobequiet · 08/10/2018 11:37

3 days. In 1980!

Foofloofah · 08/10/2018 11:39

drycleanonly7 I think it isn’t a race but to assure OP that everyone is different, your shape & size can fluctuate and/or be altered, sometimes for ever. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Most important it a healthy mother and baby.

Ghanagirl · 08/10/2018 11:44

OP honestly I work with mother’s through pregnancy and up until age 3 most of the above are unrealistic most mothers take around 9 months if not more.
But people that post are probably those that want to boast, it’s not a race and I think it’s a sad reflection on society that it’s seen as an achievement.
And no I’m not overweight, I returned to work at 12 months and was then in my prepregnancy clothes.

Mominatrix · 08/10/2018 11:44

Before 6 weeks with my first one. Probably same with second - not exactly certain as I just did not feel like wearing jeans after the second and was more comfortable in dresses. I am guessing 6 weeks as about then I could wear a favourite belt which is 65cm in diameter.

Crunchymum · 08/10/2018 11:45

I'm 6 years and 3 DC down the line and I've never managed to get back into my fave jeans.

Ta1kinpeace · 08/10/2018 11:57

By the way I know weigh two stone less than I did before I got pregnant - as I was overweight for years before having kids.

Getting back into my jeans was a funny fluke, no more than that

OutPinked · 08/10/2018 11:59

Five years after the first Grin. I had three DC in the space of 2.5 years.

ElspethTascioni · 08/10/2018 12:00

DC1 I went home from the hospital in them Blush but I was only 19 and super skinny. DC2 about 4 months, DC3 &4 about 8-9 months?

AnotherPidgey · 08/10/2018 12:13

I went into maternity jeans from 8 weeks pg and out grew them by 28 weeks. I was gutted that I was too big to wear maternity jeans home from hospital- not helped by an EMCS and various complications affecting water retention. Back in maternity jeans after a couple of months then went through a couple of interim pairs until I was back in my normal ones around 9 months when I got back to pre-pregnancy weight.

SadieAB9 · 08/10/2018 12:21

I don't think I had any clothes which didn't fit - maybe a couple items which were less flattering than they used to be. I didn't go up any dress sizes but definitely took a long time to tone up again (still not where I want to be but not had the time to work on it! Also not so bothered about it as I used to be before DC for some reason!)

Verbena87 · 08/10/2018 12:23

I could do them up within a month, but to wear them all day comfortably probably 8-10 months really - I got serious pelvic floor damage and had to avoid tight waistbands for ages because the muscles couldn’t withstand extra pressure and my bladder would bulge out (nice!) - but I like high waisted Lycra-free Levi’s, so if they’re stretchy hipsters you might fare better.

I didn’t have to buy new clothes except nursing bras if that’s your concern? Just avoided jeans and tailored dresses until they were comfy again (and can only wear the stuff it’s easy to get a boob out in, but if you put a vest top underneath that’s still most tops)