Changes in body weight and shape after giving birth are normal. However, some women are worried that the shape of the body can not return to normal. You don’t need to worry, because there are several ways to get your body back in shape after giving birth. Starting from breastfeeding to wearing a birth corset.
1. Breastfeeding
When you are pregnant, you gain weight. Therefore, the first step to getting back in shape before pregnancy is to lose weight. Burning calories is the most effective way to lose weight. And who would have thought, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), breastfeeding can burn 450 to 500 calories a day. This will certainly help you lose weight faster.
Women who exclusively breastfed for 3 months lost 1.5 kg more weight than women who did not breastfeed or combine breast milk with formula
It’s undeniable that some women can’t breastfeed as surfers as others. The reason may be due to a little breast milk. But if you want to lose weight, try to breastfeed when you can.
2. Take care of food
Breastfeeding mothers need to eat a lot of food in order to provide good nutrition to the baby through breast milk. But make sure the food or drink you consume does not cause you to gain weight.
During breastfeeding, avoid foods that are high in sugar, such as cakes or packaged fruit juices. Besides being able to gain weight, sugar also does not provide much nutrition for you and your little one.
In addition, limit consumption of coffee. The reason is, coffee can make you urinate frequently so that you lose the fluids your body needs. Drinking coffee can also affect the hours of sleep you and your little one.
Instead you can eat healthy foods that stimulate milk production such as:
- Egg
- Fish
- Milk
- Nuts
- Vegetable
- Grains
- Fruit
The smoother your milk production, the more calories you can burn through breastfeeding.
But also pay attention if the baby has a rash or itching after you eat these foods. It could be, the child is allergic to one of these food ingredients. If so, consult a doctor immediately.
3. Light exercise with children
Regular activity can help burn calories. You don’t need to do strenuous exercise to lose weight. Light activities such as carrying a child or walking out of the house while pushing a child’s stroller can be an alternative. In addition to burning calories, of course this is also fun for you because you do it with your little one.
4. Massaging the stomach area
In addition to weight, your skin also undergoes changes after giving birth. When you are pregnant, the skin in the abdominal area stretches, causing stretch marks. Massaging the area can make the skin firm again. Especially if you massage it using a special oil like Buds Organics Massage Oil for Postpartum Mothers.
Buds Organics Massage Oil for Postpartum Mothers is a postpartum massage oil made from organic ingredients and has been certified Ecocert. The content is able to maintain and nourish the skin so that it helps restore the skin as it was before pregnancy.
In addition, this massage oil can also soothe your muscles and skin, and accelerate the healing of caesarean section scars. Buds Organics Massage Oil for Postpartum Mothers does not contain fragrances, artificial preservatives, and other harmful chemicals so it is safe to use for the skin.
5. Wearing a corset after giving birth
Since ancient times corsets or bandages are used to help mothers who have given birth to restore their body shape. The corset serves as a support for the abdomen during the postpartum healing period.
Corsets are also very useful in accelerating healing for women who gave birth by caesarean section. Because the stomach needs support after experiencing an incision.
A study also found that women who wore a corset after a cesarean delivery experienced less pain and bleeding than women who did not.
In ancient times the corset was made of a piece of cloth wrapped around the stomach. But now you can use a corset that is specially designed for new mothers. One of them is the Belly Bandit Viscose from Bamboo Belly Wrap, which is designed to restore the shape of the hips, abdomen and waist after childbirth. This bandage is made of soft material so it is comfortable to wear while moving.
In addition, this corset also provides several benefits such as:
- Strengthen core muscles
- Relieves back pain
- Helps speed up healing after childbirth
- Medical grade compression to help circulate fluids throughout the body
- Helps minimize stretch marks
Postpartum ideal body shape
Restoring the body shape postpartum is not impossible. By doing the ways above, you can get your body back to the shape it was before pregnancy.
For some people, changes in body shape can occur quickly while for others it is slow. However, you don’t need to worry, as long as you do it consistently, sooner or later this can be achieved.
Source: SehatQ