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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

How long does it take to regain your figure after birth?

79 replies

ncagain222 · 01/04/2020 17:26

How long will it take for my pregnancy stomach to return to normal after giving birth - is it a matter of weeks? Months?

I'm due to give birth soon and have put on about 1 and a half stone during this pregnancy, so I've probably gone up at least one dress size at a guess.

I don't have any clothes to wear post-birth except my maternity stuff, which will be quite baggy round the stomach, and my pre-pregnancy wardrobe, which will probably no longer fit!

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somegoodnewsforonce · 02/04/2020 08:11

If you've only put on 1.5 stone then you should lose that quite quickly tbh. 1 stone is probably baby, placenta and extra water & blood etc.

After DS I lost 1 stone within 2 weeks.

EmotionalEllie · 02/04/2020 08:13

As others have said, everyone is different so it's really hard to know.

I went back to normal very quickly after the birth of both of mine and my figure has not really changed. Both vaginal births, one formula fed and one breastfed.

However I did find with my first that I didnt eat very well in the newborn stage as i was exhausted so ended up putting on loads of weight then! I'm 7 weeks in with my second and can tell this one might go the same way if I'm not careful!

Inappropriatefemale · 02/04/2020 08:18

Why are the things in brackets being printed?Confused

puppymouse · 02/04/2020 08:20

I gained 4 stone when I was pregnant. Lost over 3 of that in first year but didn't get to pre-pregnancy weight until I did SW when DD was 3ish.

My body is no different I don't think - never had a great figure as I'm an apple with a tummy but my shape is same and no further stretch marks I can see.

MarchMare · 02/04/2020 08:23

No one can tell you.

I'm pretty slim. Exclusively breast fed both times. I carried an additional stone and a half with first baby for about 14 months. The weight dropped off when I stopped feeding. Second baby I skipped home wearing my size 10 jeans. If anything, I struggled to keep my weight up second time around.

SinkGirl · 02/04/2020 08:24

Personally, never. I had twins and my whole body shape has changed - wider hips and ribs, stomach rounded and a bit hangy (diastatis recti and a c section). I also carry more weight in my face than I used to.

They are 3.5 now and I’ve been skirting around my pre-pregnancy weight for the last six months or so.

When I stopped pumping (7 months) I was a stone higher than before pregnancy and then put on a further half a stone. I never stopped moving and didn’t eat excessively, but weight just would not go, no matter what I did. I didn’t start to lose weight until they were nearly 3 and even now, my weight doesn’t seem to reflect what I eat / how much exercise I do (either positively or negatively!).

Yester · 02/04/2020 08:25

Looks at stomach...wonders if 15 years is normal....

DiscoDown · 02/04/2020 08:30

Just wanted to say that breast feeding doesn't always lead to massive weight loss - I couldn't lose weight until I stopped, it was like my body wanted to retain the extra stores, so I was about a size bigger than normal until I stopped!

Itsyoouu · 02/04/2020 08:37

Same as DiscoDown here, I couldn't loose my additional stone till I stopped breastfeeding, my body shape has totally changed since the birth but I'm the same weight as I was before.

Petiolaris · 02/04/2020 08:38

If you’re unlucky then never. I was fairly young, only gained 5lb on top of the baby and the fluid etc. But my stomach was huge because I had a big baby, you have no control over that. It was stretched beyond repair and I had an emergency CS too. I breastfed but didn’t lose a single ounce. Struggled to diet and found it demotivating because the more weight I lost the more my skin sagged and the worse I looked. I need a tummy tuck now and I’m in constant pain with the sagging skin.

Shayisgreat · 02/04/2020 08:47

I put on 20kgs in pregnancy. Lost 15kgs in the first 3 months but was still wearing my maternity clothes for about 5 months as my tummy just didn't go down. I was ebf but has serious pelvic pain so the exercise I could do was limited.

I wasn't able to shift the last 5kgs - despite eating very well, breastfeeding, and exercising every day - until ds started sleeping properly which was about 11 months. DD is 18 months and my weight is back to pre pregnancy but my tummy isn't flat yet and I may have to accept that it never will be.

shinynewapple2020 · 02/04/2020 08:50

18 years and counting ....

Flowerpot26 · 02/04/2020 08:51

I lost 1 stone within 2 weeks, but then I seemed to put to much weight on bf, as we were just sat around all the time, and when he was eating so I was!, also difficult birth gave me some problems I can't to be careful, lost 3 within 12 months, now pregnant with second and I can see it going the same way! But no more after this so I'm actually looking forward to sorting myself out and getting back to size 10/12 for good, I'm a 16 now and not happy, I imagine I'll go up to 18 again, my boobs are already massive so that makes me look huge anyway. Don't worry about it tho, there worth it, just enjoy

SinkGirl · 02/04/2020 08:59

I honestly believe that hormones play a huge role in weight loss or gain after pregnancy. Years before pregnancy I was on Depo provera and gained 3 stone. That went when I stopped it. Then I went on to a drug that induces pseudo menopause and lost 3 stone. Nothing else changed at all.

Transient thyroid issues are not uncommon after pregnancy and many women are (IME) symptomatic of hypothyroidism for a long time before their levels are sufficient for a diagnosis. I am certain after multiple thyroid tests that mine is struggling but not enough for doctors to do anything (weight isn’t the only issue, just one of many).

Myfriendanxiety · 02/04/2020 09:01

With my first I was back in my skinny jeans a week later. With my second I laugh at the thought of even trying them on! My hips are wider, and my stomach has a spare tyre that won’t disappear.

Xiaohei · 02/04/2020 09:05

I was at peak fitness, competing in triathlons, before having my first baby. But I ended up with Diastasis Recti which required a serious amount of physio to get back to anywhere near normal- so prob about 7 /8 months and then I wasn’t back to ‘normal’. Be kind to yourself

Fedupandpoor · 02/04/2020 09:06

First pregnancy, 2 weeks.

Second pregnancy, 3 years and counting. Probably never.

villamariavintrapp · 02/04/2020 09:10

Most of my normal tops I could wear within days, kept my maternity jeans on for weeks/months. Biggest issue was really constant breastfeeding so needed clothes that had access. Stretchy vests and cardies etc.

charlaz · 02/04/2020 09:18

Tummy was pretty much flat about an hour I gave birth, was in pre pregnancy clothes the next day. I didn't put any weight on during pregnancy though!

Shayisgreat · 02/04/2020 09:19

I think @sinkgirl has it right re: hormones playing a huge part in weight during and after pregnancy. Unfortunately all bodies react differently depending on various factors.

Mumof1andacat · 02/04/2020 09:25

If you ask my mum she would say 35 years and counting....I'm the youngest

woollylizard · 02/04/2020 09:28

Years!

severalboxes · 02/04/2020 09:30

My body has become like a slow landslide. Losing weight would only make it flappier!

ohwerehalfwaythere · 02/04/2020 09:30

Tummy went down loads in ten days, normal by about a month probably. Lost all weight (2.5st) within about three without trying x

MichelleOR84 · 02/04/2020 12:16

The first couple weeks I wore maternity clothing but after that I fit into my pre-pregnancy clothing , just not the tight , fitted stuff 😝 ! I’m 13 months postpartum and my belly never went back to normal though .

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