Hello! 3 months post partum is a great time to start thinking about a couple of things.
Firstly the age old adage of it takes 9 months to grow a baby, and at least (!) 9 months to recover is absolutely true! You are still pumped full of hormones designed to help sustain your baby and yourself. Evolution did not consider size 10 jeans when thinking up how to fuel breastfeeding.
Secondly, regarding your stomach, have you started any core conditioning? This does not mean sit ups and burpees, but a womens health check up to look for diastasis recti? Then moving on to simple core tightening exercises, those ones where you lie on the floor with core engaged (eg pelvic tilt, naval pulled in) and steadily working those muscles to remember where theyre meant to work? There are a number of resources that can give you exercise ideas eg nhs, apps etc
Thirdly, diet - being just past the fourth trimester you may have been supplementing your energy requirements with (let’s face it) shite. Can you review your diet? Make sure you’re hydrated, full of nutrients.
With my first dc i gained 15kg during pregnancy, lost 5kg within a few weeks of birth, a further 5kg by 6 months and never got rid of the last 5kg. But that was okay for me as I found my body had changed and the effort required to lose that final poundage was not available with my personal circumstances.
It’s really hard getting used to a post partum body, especially when social media and mass media would have you believe if you didn’t walk out of hospital a size smaller Youve failed somehow… but whatbyou are experiencing is totally normal. Make sure you dress for comfort, but treat yourself to some clothes in the style you like in the size you are now… not because you’re not going to lose the weight but because you need to feel comfortable in your own skin as your body has done an amazing job to grow and feed a baby and in time when you have capacity you can do what you need to get to where you want to be.
Just don’t punish yourself