anyone gained 5st+ with baby weight? How did you lose it?

[ninaandbean]

Hi there,

I had DS three weeks ago and am not actively dieting yet! However, I did gain around 5st with this pregnancy and so far 2 has come off on its own. This still leaves me with 3st more than my pre-pregnancy weight so I was just wondering, when does 'natural' post partum weight loss stop (ie when all the water weight, baby, plaacenta etc has gone and milk is in) and when do you start exercising? Am not BF :( for many reasons (a whole other thread on that issue) so can prob think about diet/exercise earlier than some. Am thinking around 8 weeks would be a good time to come up with a gentle plan.

If you gained this much (or more) how long did it take to lose it? what did you do and what would you recommend? Suggestions and advice welcome!

Congrats on new baby :)

Three weeks is nothing and your body will barely be beginning to think about sorting itself out yet. Your hormones will be all over the place still and your body will be 'planning' to feed your baby (even though you are not feeding) so will prob be trying to stock up on nutrients.
Once you feel fit enough put baby in the buggy and go for lots of nice long walks and eat sensibly and the preg weight should start dropping off naturally :)
I wouldn't even start contemplating anything major for about 12 weeks...baby needs to be sleeping a bit at nights first.

lol don't worry jendot I'm not contemplating anything major yet at all! Just interested in what/if/how others coped with the whole post pregnancy 'regaining your figure' issue. I have no intention of missioning back into my pre-preg clothes this year, if ever... (was a bit skinny if anything before) but still, it's definitely something that crosses your mind... Personally, I have bloomed up to a 34H bra size (!!) and jumped about 4 dress sizes up which is a bit, well, different! Planning to join a local buggy walking group in a couple of months but other than that, no definite plans yet. There's heaps of diet threads on here, so was just interested in if anything in particular has worked for ppl.

Hi,
Congratulations on your baby! So lovely small ones. I've had such a great year with my DD. Its been really special and I hope its going to be special for you too.

I was in same boat. One year one I've the last 10lbs to go. And I didn't really start until 3 months ago.

I did BF but I wouldn't say that helped much in the weighloss dept.

Exercise like swimming has helped the most.

Some weight does drop off naturally more or less by itself. I'd say about a stone but the rest you'll have to work on.

I was a bit skinny before having DD too and also majorly bloomed in the bra dept too. And jumped 4 dress sizes. It did surprise me after I had given birth - for some strange reason I expected it would all be back to normal and I hadn't really appreciated how much bigger I was.

That said, whether I get rid of the last 10lbs, I'm not really concerned now.

Walking is good but I didn't find it helpful with weightloss despite walking 3 miles per day for many months. You need to get the heart rate much higher in order to burn fat apparently.

Swimming worked well for me and some clinical pilates with a physio for my somewhat unstable pelvis.

As you're not BFing (don't worry about it!! HOnestly, so many people are not able and their babies don't mind - had lots of friends who didn't BF and it has not affected any bonding or special time with baby at all), your ligaments will tighten up soonish as the hormones will settle quicker and that way you'll be able to get into exercing again sooner.

Enjoy your small new one - before you know it they'll be a year old and start demanding things (raisins, mummy carry, trips to park to look for dogs etc etc).

x

And healthy eating. Staying out of Starbucks and away from cookies and cakes.

ooh - I had terrible SPD, and my pelvis is still painful now. Walking for more than half an hour causes pain in my symphysis pubis and sacro illiacs still (front and back for those who've not had the pleasure!) I'm still wearing a support belt and was on crutches for the end of my pregnancy and post delivery until last week... pilates has been recommended to me but I've no idea what to ask for in terms of clinical pilates v legs bums and tums pilates. How did you find a practitioner? Do you know where I could find one? Am in the UK, south of London. Thanks!

Hi there,

You def need clinical pilaties!!

Had issues with SI joints post partum (but not during preg) and also diastisis recti (seperated stomach muscles).

Physio has totally saved me!

Poor you with SPD! So painful and restricts you so much (and makes you miserable).

Clinical pilates is done by Chartered Physios and not someone who has done a 2 hr training course in pilates and could cause you no end of damage.

Not sure what your budget is but the very very best London has to offer is Six Physio.

They have branches is various parts of London and have physio who specialise in pregnancy and post pregnancy rehab. They are in Fulham, Wandsworth and Chiswick as well as Harley St.

Phone them up and go and see one of the pregnancy rehab people.

Once you've been assessed and perhaps had a few 1 to 1 sessions, you can go on to do their pilates classes at £25 each which isn't that bad.

1 to 1 session are £60+ so not cheap but if you have referral from your GP and private medical ins (or your DH has from work), they'll generally pay about £1000 of physio per year.

They will help you with any current pain you're in as well as assisting you in rehabilitating your body (the battered bits...).

Once you're getting into the swing of things then you can start swimming (front crawl ONLY to avoid putting strain on your pelvis). That will help weightloss.

Also can I be boring and recommend the Jason Vale 7 Day juice diet? Done it once and lost 12lbs and am starting again tomorrow to rid of last 10lbs. As I was skinny before pregnancy I had never done a diet in my life and this one suited me as it was a short term 1 week blast to kick start things.

I EBFed for 6 months and that kept my ligaments loose for longer so it took a long long time to sort out my issues (pain) in my SI joint. As you're not BFing (and this is very much to your advantage if you have full on SPD), your ligaments will tighten much sooner which will help your recovery.

If you can get to Six Physio, look up Clinical Pilates for your area on google.

X

thanks Skandi1! I'm not in London but i'll see if they can recommend anyone on the south coast and see how i get on :) fingers crossed it improves soon - still can't really walk very far which is rubbish, can't bear the thought of being house bound and in pain with DS indefinitely! Will think positive and get on the exercise wagon asap to avoid that!