How long till everything shrinks again after birth?

[bonbonpixie]

This may sound rather vain but I was wondering how long it may take to get my body back to normal again after the birth of my daughter eight weeks ago.
I put on a little over 3 stone during pregnancy but was very small to begin with. Now 8 weeks later I've got another 11/12lbs to loose before hitting my previous weight, however I almost feel like my hips and pelvis have become wider. I know this happens during pregnancy and is needed for the birth but when do they shrink back down to pre-pregnancy size? I think that it will take my stopping breast feeding to lose the remainder of the extra weight (as my eating habits are back to what they were and I'm doing a lot of walking with the pram and I haven't lost a single pound in about 5 weeks) will this mean my hips will stay this size until then also??
I guess what I'm asking is this increase in size due to these last 11lbs or have to pelvis bones not gone back into place?

Would love to hear of others experience! Thanks in advance!

8 weeks is so soon! AFAIK it takes up to a year for your body to get to [its new] normal. I was back in my jeans pretty quickly but still think my hips are wider than pre dd (2yrs), sorry!

9mths on, 9mths off!

yeah, after a year I was looking and feeling good again, without making any efforts. One was ffed and one was bfed and for me I was much thinner with the bfing one. In fact, I am now thinner than I was when I left school and I eat loads. This is one of the reasons I am still feeding the toddler

Give yourself time.

Check out that fabulous baby - YOU made that

I was 26yo, a gym-nut and a very trim size 8-10 before DD1 was born. Afterwards, I got back into shape quite quickly. I'd say 3 months and I was back to a size 10; pelvis/hips felt back to their normal size by 5-6 months post partum.

With DD2 I was 3 years older, not so avid with gym attendance so was a less trim size 8-10. I'm almost 12 weeks post partum now and am a size 10-12. My pelvis and hips still feel wider and although I've been going gentle toning exercises since week 6, my tummy is still rounder. I had an ELCS this time (first was VB) so this might have something to do with it.

I think though, that this being my second pregnancy and baby is more the thing.

Even if my body retains this new, slightly different shape, I'm okay with that. My body is definitely what I'd consider to be more 'womanly'; I don't know what my old obsession for thin ad toned was all about! My boobs have gone from a 34D to 34F when bf and now a nice 34DD now bottle-feeding. My tummy isn't flabby, just softer.

And I totally agree with what was said upthread. Look at that gorgeous babba you have! How you look is important to how you feel, but if you ever feel down about your looks, remember that your body grew that baby :)

LO is 11 weeks old - I gained 3.5 stone during pregnancy, and would need to drop another 1.5 stone to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

My hips didn't expand...for me it's my ribcage. My ribcage is so much wider than it was, and there is no fat on that area. I can barely get my old bras done up because of the difference in width.

I've always been told that it took you 9 months to put on the weight, it'll take at least 9 months to get your body 'back'. Be proud of yourself, your body is not the same anymore, it has done the amazing thing of building a whole new human bean, it needs time to recover!!

Hello - I'm 38, it took me a year, but then I wasn't working too hard at it. My shoulders are bigger for some reason:( Just had second and hoping boobs go down, I look quite school Maam ish with my big shoulders and massive knockers. I'm going to try and get back before a year this time, will be being healthy and exercising as soon as BF stops. There is too much pressure to look great afterwards these days, but I do feel a woman should have pride in her appearance and should aim to be fit and healthy.

With DC1 I was mid twenties and not skinny, but not obese and I was back at pre-pregnancy weight within about a fortnight of the birth. I had been v sick throughout pregnancy, though. Everything was less toned, although my middle was fairly flat as before pregnancy. Boobs much bigger.

However, my body has never been he same or gone back to 'normal'. Each pregnancy (now cooking DC4) has left permanent changes of one sort or another.

In general, with a decent diet of healthy food, breastfeeding and some exercise including something to tone up your middle, 9 months is about right to be back in some sort of shape again.

For some reason before having children it never occurred to me the process would leave permanent changes. I did find it wuite hard to come to terms with after DC1. Give yourself some time.

Congratulations on your beautiful baby

DS is now 16 months, and I'm back to pre pregnancy weight despite gaining around 5 stone

I've got a thicker waist than I did pre baby, it's not fat as such but just not as defined (was always a slim hourglass figure before, am more apple shaped now). Going to start 30 day shred as walking everywhere just isn't making a difference to it, but have accepted I may never get my 24 inch waist back!