How long did it take for you to stop looking pregnant after the birth?

[Soontobemama]

My baby is 4 days old today and I still look pregnant. How long should I expect to wait until my stomach starts to go down?

Obviously I know its going to take a while but I'm new to all this and have no idea whats normal.

I had an emergency section and my legs are still really swollen too. I got a big shock when I looked in the mirror after I got home and saw them as nobody had warned me and I hadn't really gained weight on them during the pregnancy so I was a bit WTF!?

Also did any one else find they had no appetite afterwards? I'm not sure if its as a result of the tiredness or a side effect of the epidural etc.

I still look about 7 months pregnant. DS is 20mo. For some it flies off, for some it doesn't.
My breastfeeding Sil was thinner than she'd been for five years after 6 months of bfing. Not her dd is 2 and she stopped bfing about 3-4 months ago, she's ballooning.
We are all.different.

I'm not talking about weight here or getting back into shape. A lot if replies seem to think that's what I'm concerned about.

What I mean by "looking pregnant" is when does the bump go down ie how long did it take other posters for their uterus to shrink back?

I've no idea how much actual weight I do or don't have to lose but I do have a bump still. It's gone down over the course of the week but as my DH charmingly put it I look a pregnant shape as opposed to looking like I'm a bit fat around the middle. I don't know whether that's normal or not? I was expecting more of a deflated balloon type look.

I've been quite constipated since coming out of hospital and am not sure whether that's making me bloated and I should start taking something to help. I'm taking so many other tablets and injections right now I'm loathe to have yet another thing to remember to do.

To

Whoops! Took about 10 days for my uterus to shrink back down, midwife had a prod of my tummy and told me it had gone back down, I had no idea what I would have been expecting. Breastfeeding contracts it back quicker, as does drinking raspberry leaf tea :)

soontobe It took about 10 days/two weeks for my uterus to contract down to normal size, and for the water retention (totally to get normal post-baby - I am very puffy on early baby pics) to go. The midwife will check your uterus is shrinking at your visits.

I was also appetite-less and constipated. Walking helped the latter, when you can manage it (a gentle stroll round the corner a week or so after had me pooing almost immediately after I got back!). Syrup of fig might also help but ask your midwife - constipation post-birth is totally normal, they asked me about it at every postnatal visit. Plain food like tea/toast/potatoes/fish was good for the no appetite.

As you say, the rest of the weight is not really relevant to your q, but you can think about that, if you need to, once you've got over your c-section. But incidentally I easily lost the overall weight and more, possibly from all the pram pushing I was doing! Everyone is different.

*totally normal to get, even!

Varies I think. I had DS3 5 weeks ago and my stomach had pretty much gone down to its previous 'just a fat belly' status in about a week but then I did have mega after pains shrinking everything down! And the joy of DS1 saying "mummy it looks like you've got another baby in your tummy"

Everyone is so different. I actually lost 4 stone in pregnancy due to hg, so I think baby just filled my loose tummy skin and I had zero bump whatsoever 24 hours after giving birth... Jammy, eh?!

You need to change your name soontobe ??

My tummy is still all jellyish, and pregnant looking in tighter clothes. Jeans still dont fit me.

I swear i was slimmer about a week after having her than i am now Its being at home lots i just eat!!

She is 16 weeks.

Congratulations!

Can't remember exactly but I'm sure I was in my pre pregnancy jeans within 2 weeks.