Still looking for answers on how long after birth will my stomach go down months after welcoming your little one?
As you have noticed, your postpartum belly will take a while before you can bounce back to your previous body shape.
And despite what you see on the telly and social media sites, your stomach might not disappear in a day or two.
Your body needs time to fully heal from pregnancy. It will take time for your postpartum tummy to return to its pre-pregnancy state; this process may take months or even years.
We understand how disheartening it can be. That’s why we are here to give you all the details and what you can do to get your flat belly back.
I Still Look Pregnant; Why?
Even after giving birth, women will still look pregnant. The truth is, your uterus will expand once you are pregnant.
It does this to accommodate your growing baby. As the months pass by and your little one grows, it extends further.
However, it doesn’t shrink back to its normal size as fast as you’d want once the baby is out.
Instead, the uterus will go through involution, a process through which it shrinks back to normal size gradually.
How Long After Birth Will My Stomach Go Down
How long will it take your stomach to go down? It varies from one mum to another. It also depends on several factors, like:
- The amount of weight you added during pregnancy
- Your diet plan
- Whether you are breastfeeding
- Whether you are working out
That said, your stomach will take anywhere from 6 weeks to 9 months to go down completely.
There’s usually a timeline for this. For instance, within the first week of giving birth, your body will still be getting rid of fluids through peeing.
Apart from the fluids in the uterus, it will also include epidural or IV fluids you received. Believe it or not, these will contribute to losing that pregnancy stomach.
By week six, your stomach will be smaller than it was in the first week.
However, it might not have shrunk completely. So rather than relying on your body’s ability to shrink naturally, you can do something to speed the process.
There is a popular belief that it takes as much time to lose the pregnancy brain as it took during pregnancy.
That means you will have to be more patient as your body might take even 9 months.
Still, it might take longer for you, especially if you gained more than the recommended weight of 25 to 5 pounds.
If you did, it means your belly still has more pregnancy fat accumulated around this area.
How To Lose Pregnant Belly
Sadly, for some women, the postpartum belly might not go away, even after 9 months.
That’s because our skin around the stomach might have lost its elasticity.
In this case, it loses its ability to shrink completely, even if your uterus is back to its normal size.
Such skin is what makes you have a postpartum belly. Is this what you are struggling with? The good news is, there is something you can do about it.
Learn more from a related post: Tips For Flat Tummy After Pregnancy
1. Exercise
When is exercising never an excellent way to lose weight? Probably never.
You can work with a physical therapist who can recommend the best workout routines for you. But, here are some of the exercises you can try on your own:
- Squats
- Reverse clunches
- Planks
- Burpees
- Walking
- Running
2. Changing Your Diet
Your diet could be getting in the way of losing your pregnancy belly completely. Are you eating healthily?
The recommended amount of calories, lower carbs, and foods high in protein and fiber? If not, start implementing these changes.
3. Breastfeeding
If you added more than the recommended weight during your pregnancy, breastfeeding would help you lose the extra weight.
Your body requires to burn fat to produce enough milk for your little one. These calories will come from your current diet and the fat already stored in your body.
4. Use Supplements and Apply a Skin Cream
Is your skin still loose? This could be the reason why you still have a belly. Skin creams with collagen can help you in tightening the skin.
We also recommend taking supplements with collagen.
Apart from these, ensure that you include foods with collagen in your diet. These include:
- Berries
- Citrus fruits
- Fish
- Chicken
- Yellow veggies
- Red veggies
- Garlic
5. Consult Your Doctor
Does your belly look separate? You could be suffering from DR, diastasis recti.
It is a condition where pregnant women’s bellies separate and remain like that even months after delivering.
DR goes undetected most of the time. Unfortunately, it leads to back and pelvic pain because your back and pelvic support the extra weight.
When you consult your doctor, they will recommend the best course of action. It could include exercise or a surgical procedure.
Related Post: How Long Does It Take For Diastasis Recti To Heal?
How long after birth will my stomach go down is a common question. Regardless of your situation, when you compare it to others, you do not need to panic.
Everyone loses the pregnancy belly at their pace. While your body will shrink naturally, you can still go a step further to boost the process.
Change your diet, have a workout routine, increase your collagen levels and talk to a doctor if the issue persists.
Iesha is a loving mother of 2 beautiful children. She’s an active parent who enjoys indoor and outdoor adventures with her family. Her mission is to share practical and realistic parenting advice to help the parenting community becoming stronger.
