When did people start to get back to their pre pregnancy weight/figure?

[Strawberry06]

My baby boy is 4 weeks old today and I had him via ELCS. When he was a bump everyone told me I was 'all baby' and that I hadn't put weight on anywhere else (I begged to differ!)

Anyway I feel great after the surgery, no pain apart from in my lower back, which I think is just due to bending/lifting him.

I look at myself in the mirror and I don't think I look that bad yet none of my pre pregnancy clothes (especially trousers) fit me.

Ultimately my number one priority is looking after my baby and I've just been living in leggings and stretchy tops but I'm starting to think about my body too and keep telling myself I'll start after Easter but I don't actually know what it is I'm going to start!

For my wedding I lost 23lbs which was a mixture of giving up sugary things, half an hour pilates everyday, ensuring I did 10k steps every day and cycling to and from work every day. I'm not a gym person at all!

I'm struggling to see how I'm going to be successful in losing my baby weight and what the hell I'm gonna wear this summer!

When did others start thinking about it and what did you do?

Breastfeeding.

The weight fell off and I was slimmer than pre-pregnancy within 8 weeks.

I wasn't particularly young either - 30s.

6 weeks. I EBF, we had a dog that needing walking every day so I was doing a few miles, my baby slept terribly and was fussy so I was constantly on the go and lunch was often something like a scotch egg because, after cutting it, I could eat it one handed. I was also 30’s.

Well... my children are 11 years and 13 years and I'm finally getting back to my original pre-kids weight at the moment. A mix of mental health, cake, cheese, 2 c-sections, more cake, health issues and probably more cake. But I'm well on the way now purely because I actually have time and headspace now to focus on my own health at last. If you get there quicker than that then great, if you don't that's also great. My point is you'll get there when the time is right for you whether that's 4 weeks or 4 decades. Equally some may never get back there and that's ok too. Congratulations on your little one

The advice is to wait 8 weeks after birth for proper exercise, but light exercise like walking you could probably start doing when you feel ready.
I followed the postnatal plan on Fiit, an app I've had for 3 years. Lots of focus on pelvic floor, and protecting the abdomen. Lots of postnatal pilates :)
I got back to pre-pregnancy size after about 6 months with my second - but I was getting good sleep as we co-slept. Different story for my first - I hadn't started exercising at that point in my life, plus lack of sleep, lack of routine, so my weight just went up and up until I started weight training.

I should've been clearer. The cake etc is how I kept some weight on, I realise it sounds like that's how I'm getting back in shape

One week after having DD, calorie counting (but carefully as breastfeeding) Gym 5 days a week from 6 weeks postpartum (which is my usual)

I had put on three stone during pregnancy, also aware many people wouldn't want to start one week after birth, I had an easy birth however and felt brilliant (wasn't quite the same story with my first)

I breastfed but still had my tummy, which went down gradually and now most normal I’ve been since about 15 months pp. It will happen, it just takes time it happens when you don’t even notice it 😊

Breastfeeding made me cling on to the weight. I lost it in spurts as the baby fed less. Finally lost the last 2kg when I weaned completely at 13 months.

Accept that there is no "going back" to your "pre baby body" that's a good start. It's a partriarchal media obsession. You're four weeks post major abdominal surgery, and awash with hormones. Wear what feels comfortable, eat healthily so you've got the energy you need, and be kind to yourself.

Don't put yourself under too much pressure to get back to pre- pregnancy. I'd focus on health, eating well, light exercise etc for now. Your body has been through a lot to create your baby it's best to give it time to recover. I've had 3 children and although I'm now lighter than I was before DC1 I'm not the same shape.

I'll let you know if it ever happens op...

To be fair with my first I did slowly go back to a similar size and shape over maybe 6-9 months by breastfeeding and having the right genetics. What I didn't do was worry about returning to my 'pre baby body'. I was/am not pre baby, I am a post baby woman and that is absolutely fine.

I gained a bit of weight in the time I had multiple miscarriages in between my first and second. And was definitely heavier in Pg with dc2. The weight stuck harder. Lucky genetics didn't stretch that far. But at 4 weeks pp I was completely wrapped up in gratitude for my long awaited newborn I didn't give a shit about my waistline. I have lost a lot of the weight but I never fit into my pre pg trousers again. You probably will, but it's fine if not and there's no time limit.

Enjoy your baby op. Everyone is different, but my opinion is that you should let nature slowly return your body to a size you're more familiar with, stay gently active in the meantime which will help, and wait a few months before taking more active steps to fit those jeans.

Congratulations on your baby boy xx

I'm still breastfeeding my near 2 year old. Breastfeeding makes me hold onto weight. Be kind to yourself and don't judge yourself too harshly it can take awhile for the body to settle. I'm definitely not the same shape my hips are wider boobs bigger. I also have diastasis recti that only surgery can fix. So one to watch out if you feel your stomach muscles are not back together in 6 months/years time.

Mostly just enjoy your baby and give yourself time.

I don’t know if you’ll ever have the pre-baby body back necessarily. I’m naturally slim without exercising and was fitting back into my pre-pregnancy jeans at about 4 month pp. But I feel like my actual body shape has changed in the sense that my hips seem slightly wider, not noticeably to others, but the way my jeans now fit I can tell is slightly different. I also have a slightly wobbly tummy whereas before it was pretty flat. It just means I don’t tend to wear tops that are as tight as I used to.
But 4 weeks pp is super early to be too concerned - you’ll probably find as you heal more over the next few weeks / months that you’re able to move more and with spring / summer you’ll be getting out for more walks and weight will start to drop off more easily. But please don’t put pressure on yourself. It should take time to go back to any sort of normality. 9 months to grow a baby can’t just be undone in a few weeks.

There is no rule of thumb. Some people fund it falls off. Some people fund it never does. Some people go through some hyperthyroid period directly after birth and end up skinnier. Others find breastfeeding does nothing at all.

It's a case of being healthy and see what happens.

Much too early to worry about that. I was also “all baby” (not really). I didn’t have a c section but a traumatic instrumental delivery - was barely able to walk for months after. It took me about 6 months to be back in pre-baby clothes. That was while breastfeeding too. I found it went in shifts, so I could suddenly get in a smaller batch of clothes after about 6 weeks, then more suddenly after 3 months, and then finally (just about) back to normal after 6 months. This wasn’t just weight - the bump just took a long while to go down for me. I’ve always wondered if it was because I had to have the placenta removed manually.

I was really sick when pregnant, and came home from hospital after delivering my over 9lb baby almost a stone lighter than before I got pregnant! Clothes still don't fit. I've changed shape. I don't think there is a 'going back'.

4 weeks is ridiculously early, I think I'd barely looked in the mirror at that point! I don't have scales so I'm not sure when I lost the weight but I'm now in pre pregnancy clothes 7 months pp and some are a bit too big for me. I presume breastfeeding has helped me get the weight off!

Congratulations!
id just enjoy being a mum, your baby is only 4 weeks old.

With my first the weight just naturally fell off with walking with the pram, forgetting to eat, being a mum and focussing on my new wee family.

i don’t think it ever fully came off after the 2nd and they are nearly 21! 😂😂

Two and a half years for me. I was pretty much taking care of DS on my own and had no time to take care of myself.

This! Think about your new fabulous body instead. For me I'd say I didn't feel anything resembling "normal" until 2 years postpartum, though breastfeeding for a long time contributed. Even now my body is not like it was and that’s just fine.

I'll never get back to it, DD1 is 18 and I was 9st odd before I got pregnant. The lightest I've been since then is 11 and a half stone.

My eldest is almost 13 and I’m nowhere near. Honestly I never will be, my body shape has completely changed. Generally they say 9 months in 9 months out. So allow 9 months for everything to settle down, but it’s also really important to accept that for most people there is no getting back to their pre pregnancy shape.

Still waiting! It's been 23 years.

I was “all baby” as well and the weight came off in a few weeks, I burned so many calories bf. I’d wait until your wound is well healed before starting any serious exercise. I had VBAC’s and could exercise from about 6-8 weeks. My stomach area has never been the same after nearly 10lb DD, but my weight’s been fine.

Six months. Suddenly went from looking quite voluptious to skinny. Didn't do anything - just happened. Perhaps it was breastfeeding? Obviously, my tummy always has evidence of pregnancies.