Gave birth 6 weeks ago but still look pregnant :-(

[MrFranklyShankly]

Hi ladies

I have a gorgeous new she's just beautiful but I'm getting really down about the way I look. I still look very pregnant. I know I have a good bit of weight on and will eventually come around to loosing it I did with my other dds, but it took a while....I'm just really worried this time I've destroyed my stomach muscles and I will never get rid of this pregnant look. I know it's all very superficial but other people have made so many comments to me about it and its really starting to get to me. I was really active before I got pregnant was running and walking loads, and I did try to do some walking last week but found it hard as I'm just sooo tired with getting up a few times a night with dd, dh told me its way too early yet and to just to enjoy dd but its really getting to me and getting in the way of my enjoyment of my gorgeous dd.....any advice ladies, please tell me it's normal to still look like this at this stage?????

Thanks

Frankly

Totally normal! Give yourself a break and enjoy dd. You're only just coming up for your 6wk check from the docs and potential sign off to start GENTLE exercising again.

For those of us who aren't schlebs and dont have personal trainers and dieticians on standby, this is how it is. Besides, if you are bf at all then you'll still be full of hormones and too much exercise, or the wrong sort, could do damage.

Don't panic, you will get there, but it does take time. 2 years for the body to totally recover from pregnancy. In the meantime (and I'd use the excuse of a newborn to have cake with it, but that's just me!)

Thanks pudtat yeah I know your totally right just wish I could chill out a bit, it's others comments I think that has got me more than anything, with my other dds I didn't think about it at all until they were nearly. A year and then got going on the dieting/exercising, just everyone I know seems obsessed with dieting and weight loss....going to have a cuppa now and I'm sure there is cake around here somewhere (if I haven't ate it all :-))

Thanks for the words of sanity!!

Frankly

Remember, it took 9 months to get that way, you can't expect it to ping back immediately. That said, I'm getting a bit embarrassed about being offered seats on the train, DC3 is almost 3

Lol mikkii that's funny....my mum said the exact same thing that it took 9 months so will take the same again, if not more to get back to normal....whatever that is:-)

Totally normal! With ds1 my mum commented when he was 6mo that I still had "a bit of a saggy tummy". Well, for a former anorexic (thankfully recovered) that didn't sit too well...! But it went completely with time. With dd2 I didn't put much weight on at all during the pregnancy (unlike with ds1 - he made me crave cake and curry) and lost the weight very quickly. But the tummy 'bump' remained for months! I had to remind myself that my weight was fine, it was just the weakened stomach muscles that would take time to tighten up again. And with each pregnancy it takes a little longer, but will improve. Personally I would just tell yourself that and not worry about it, but if it is really bothering you then at 6 weeks you're able to start doing some sit ups to help things tighten up a bit faster. Don't go nuts, just do a few reps at night, and only if you want to / can be bothered. I meant to, but never got round to it. Incidentally who are these people making comments on it???! How rude!! Carry your baby everywhere so people can see you've just had a baby!! Not that you should have to do that, or feel you have to, people just shouldn't be so rude...

Please don't do sit ups. Google Tupler technique
They are exercises that help your core stability and can be done sat down (while eating cake if you want). I started doing them and my tummy was much better after just a few days despite my still having a couple of stone to lose.

Just to say maybe get your abdo checked by GP at the 8week check. Sometimes your abdo muscles can become damaged in pregnancy leading to a longer lasting prominent bump. They can refer you to women's health physio for exercises to build them up again.

After having 2 children within 15th months - 7 months later and I still look pregnant! You're doing fine I'm sure.

One day I will do more exercise than pounding the streets with my buggy/sling but until I get sleep - no chance!