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?

I was also "all bump" although I still weighed about 7kg more than pre pregnancy for months afterwards.

Breastfeeding made me hold onto the weight. I'm naturally quite slim and I never really attempted to lose it as such but I was baffled as to why it was staying on. I stopped ebf by 6 weeks but pumped 3x a day until 6 months. I was back to pre-pregnancy weight almost straight after stopping the pumping. It was bizarre! I think because most people say you lose weight when breastfeeding.

I'm pregnant with my second now and suspect I'll be bigger overall this pregnancy (same starting weight but feel a lot heavier already) but am going to try and not worry about losing it after this time, especially if breastfeeding.

I was quite lucky as I didn't ever have cravings or an increased appetite during pregnancy so pretty much all of my additional pregnancy weight was baby weight. I was back to pre-pregnancy weight (9 stone 10lbs) after six weeks of giving birth, I had second degree stitches during labour so for the first three weeks I didn't even leave the house and ate whatever I wanted, and after that I began doing 20 mins of walking per day with baby and went back to eating healthily and it dropped off within a few weeks of that

About 6 months to lose all pregnancy weight, after a c section and I bottle fed. Honestly, I find it so busy that I don’t eat nowhere near as much as when I was at work having snacks all day!!

Same here, @MightyGoldBear , massive baby DD caused me diastasis recti too. I sometimes wonder whether to get surgery, but it’s been nearly 19 years now. 😂

I weigh now now than I did when I was pregnant, and my daughter is 6 years old. When she was a few months old I was a stone under my pre-pregnancy weight thanks to severe post partum anxiety, breastfeeding and walking miles pushing the pram to help her nap (she hated sleep!) I remember someone commenting that I'd "snapped back into shape"... Meant as a compliment but really not helpful as I wasn't healthy at all. I then went on anti depressants which I still take, and those combined with lockdown eating and general lack of exercise mean I piled on the weight and haven't managed to do anything about it yet... However, the anti depressants alongside talking therapy helped me climb out of the dark hole I was in, and I'm still alive, which was by no means a certainty in those early months.

I think what I'm saying is that you are in the very early days, try not to worry too much about your weight or fitting into clothes (I've had fun buying a new wardrobe and going for a much more bold and bright look, it's an option in the future if you need it!) and make sure you look after your health first and foremost. Nourish your body with food, exercise gently when you feel ok to do so, but please don't worry about 'getting back into shape' as a thing you're supposed to do. Your body has done something amazing growing a whole new life and it should be celebrated exactly as it is right now! 💐

I think around 6-8 weeks can't remember exactly after D1 and about 12 weeks after DC2. I didn't put a lot of weight on either time partly due to HG and I was lighter in between and post-DC2 than I was when I became pregnant with DC2, never went back to that weight again (not loads heavier but one dress size). They were both vaginal births though, not sure if that makes any difference, and I breastfed both which I think was partly what helped me lose the weight quickly because it burns a lot of calories.

I think for me I was very light just before I had kids and I couldn't maintain that lifestyle to be that slim once I'd had kids as it was so different. I actually did very well getting down within a stone of pre-baby weight (I had put on 4 stone in pregnancy) while on mat leave and when I returned to work. Then I changed jobs, got stressed and started comfort eating. Changed jobs again and just about managed to get down to normal BMI before getting pregnant with DD2 (in 2009!). I only put two stone on this time but I was two stone heavier to start with.

I am currently about 10lbs over the top end of the healthy BMI range. I briefly touched normal BMI in 2021 doing Very Fast 800, but as soon as normal life resumed I couldn't sustain it and piled the weight back on quickly, and more. I'm only going for BMI 24 as my goal, I just think BMI 19-20 as I was at 28 would be pretty unrealistic at 48.

For me, wanting to go back to the pre-pregnancy weight and to fit into my clothes gave a big push. I loved my pregnancy body, and I loved to see my belly grow. But as soon as my baby was out, I was like: I am done with this body, need my old body back.

It took me 3 months to lose everything. I wasn't hungry during breastfeeding - I was extremely thirsty. Drunk loads of water and did pilates after 6 weeks.

Second the suggestion of breastfeeding (if you're able to and doing this anyway), but other thing to do alongside or as a standalone is just plenty of walking. Once you're able get yourself a carrier (Ergo baby 360 I found the best post c section) and get walking up hills if you have any near you, every day if you can. I found a national trust membership was great as offered lots of different walks. That and a healthy but not restrictive diet, full of whole foods and plenty of protein, will do wonders.
From a time perspective, I had my daughter in April and I think by June I was feeling pretty good figure wise. The following summer when I stopped breastfeeding I actually felt less comfortable figure wise so think the breastfeeding must have really helped me.

Honestly, about 2 weeks. I know it is uncouth to say so though. Breastfeeding a velcro baby and no help in terms of bringing me food/water (dh had zero paternity at that time - he did later though), also not gaining much weight at all, and it fell off very quickly. I wouldn't say it's the be all and end all. I preferred post partum baby number 3 where I lay in bed with the baby being brought tea, cakes and Chinese takeaways for 10 days or so - the weight didn't come off for months after that baby, but the time was much better spent imo.

Mine was around 6 months until I went back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I noticed every month I had a period I lost weight and my belly felt less 'jiggly' I am naturally slim and had HG throughout my entire pregnancy - I looked the same but I didn't weigh the same, and I knew I hadn't really gained any fat as I could barely keep anything down throughout my pregnancy! I didnt exercise and I ate like a pig to make up for the lost 9 months

Hi,
just looking at posts about post partum bodies as I’m struggling! How long would you say it took for your stomach to go down? I’m exercising and eating well but it’s still there!

Did the jiggle eventually go? Struggling with it at the moment