All women (even the Duchess of Cambridge!) have a bit of a belly for the first four to eight weeks after giving birth, as the uterus shrinks back to size. But for some of us, that “five months pregnant” look can last months or even years.
Exercise, a nutrient-rich diet, and a solid amount of grace and patience are the best ways to approach any goals you may have to get rid of your postpartum belly. While many moms may believe that breastfeeding is the best and quickest way to lose baby weight, research doesn't completely back this.
It's recommended that belly bands are worn between two to 12 weeks postpartum for the best possible results.
The first six weeks post-delivery.
Your belly will gradually slim down as your uterus shrinks back to its usual size and excess fluids are flushed out of your body. Your stretched-out abdominal muscles and lax skin will most likely begin to firm up.
However, a belly bulge that doesn't go away for months after delivery can be a sign of diastasis recti—a separation of your abdominal muscles. The normal separation between your abdominal muscles is about 0.5 – 1 centimeter or about one finger width.
Whether you deliver vaginally or via c-section, you can expect to look down and still see a bump. But unlike your prenatal bump—which was your growing baby—your postpartum belly is the result of an expanded uterus. “During pregnancy, your uterus grows with your baby,” explains Bhagwandass.
You may have what is generally known as Mummy Tummy, Mummy Pooch, of Baby Belly. Many people think it is an inevitable retention of pregnancy weight, but it's not; it's not even weight, or fat, at all. In medical terms, it is a pospartum complication called diastasis recti or divarication.
Usually, your separated stomach muscles will go back into place on their own by 8 weeks after giving birth. Using a wrap can compress and support your muscles as they move back into place. A postpartum belly wrap isn't a cure for diastasis recti.
Manufacturers of such belts usually advise that they be worn for 10-12 hours each day, for 6-8 weeks, but in some cases this can last up to 3 months. It is not advisable to wear the belt for a longer period than this, since pressure on the uterus and internal organs can lead to other undesirableeffects.
Aid in healing.
Sharma likes postpartum belly wraps in cesarean recovery because they can offer “lower back and abdominal wall support, especially for the first 30 to 60 days as the abdominal incision is healing.”
A belly band can offer both support and relief during the postpartum period. But there are limits to what a belly band can do. “In the long run, a belly band won't make your waist smaller or help you lose weight,” says Dr. Newlin.
If you aren't experiencing symptoms, the garment isn't likely to do much for you. It's job isn't to shrink your waist, flatten your tummy, reduce your diastasis or generally to heal your body on any kind of accelerated timeline.
Yes, you can wear it during breastfeeding, but you must avoid eating and sleeping. Using a postpartum support belt can help tighten the abdominal muscles and slim down your waist. The abdominal belt is a great one for improving posture.
For the first couple of days after giving birth, you'll be able to feel the top of your uterus near your belly button. In a week, your uterus will be half the size it was just after you gave birth. After two weeks, it will be back inside your pelvis. By about four weeks, it should be close to its pre-pregnancy size.
There is consensus that the postpartum period begins upon birth of the newborn. The end is less well defined, but is often considered the six to eight weeks after birth because the effects of pregnancy on many systems have largely returned to the prepregnancy state by this time.
Avoid stairs and lifting until your doctor says these activities are OK. Don't take a bath or go swimming until the doctor says it's OK. Don't drive until your doctor says it's OK. Also wait until you can make sudden movements and wear a safety belt properly without discomfort.
Side sleeping: This position helps to improve sleep, lose weight and pain. back, avoid swelling in legs, buttocks, thighs. Sleeping on the left side is a good position for the digestive system, avoiding the accumulation of fat.
Getting enough sleep and getting this sleep at the right times for your body clock can help you lose belly fat, however. So, if sleeping on your back helps you do this, it may be the best position for you.