Even though getting pregnant and having a baby is a special and amazing experience, you would like to get back to weight as quickly as possible. Preferably a good and healthy weight. Whether you can easily achieve healthy weight is primarily dependent on your pregnancy weight. If it was already overweight or underweight, it will affect your weight after birth.
It is normal for you to retain water for a long time after your childbirth. So don't be disappointed when you get on the scale after a few days and the pointer is too high. Also, it's not for nothing that people say: 9 months on, 9 months off. It really does take a long time. Good quality food and exercise are very important. Especially now you're a mother; you'll need plenty of energy to spare!
It is important that you return to your old weight between pregnancies. A Swedish study conducted amongst 150,000 women with normal weight found that, if they retained just 6 pounds after pregnancy, the risk of high blood pressure was increased. The risk of gestational diabetes increased by 30% and the risk of a baby with an overweight birth weight was increased.
When a healthy diet and lifestyle does not prove enough to achieve that healthy weight, you should contact your GP or dietician. Together, you can come up with a plan to get that desired result. Every body is unique and therefore what works for one mom might not work for another. Good luck!
Also see these information articles: · Weight · Baby weight loss · Growth retardation baby · Overweight mothers · Underweight mother · Weight during pregnancy