Tips to help shrink the uterus faster - anyone got any?

KamKol · Apr 6th, 2010, 14:39 PM

Mum was chatting to me today about how to contract my ab muscles to help get my stomach back into shape after baby is born. She also told me to use hot water bottles to ease the pain...

Mum is a bit of a "old wives tales" fan so don't really know how much truth there is in what she has advised.

Will be having RLT but just wondering if anyone else has any tips? Don't want to deal with a hanging belly for too long after baby is born!

LankyDoodle · Apr 6th, 2010, 14:42 PM

The RLT will do wonders.

Would be interested to see if there ARE any others though.

555ann555 · Apr 6th, 2010, 14:49 PM

We'd been given exercised from the OB physio at the antenatal classes, but they are the same exercises you do in pilates to draw in and hold your core muscles. The idea is to bring the stomach muscles back together again that parted to make room for the baby. (If you do a sit up just now you should see a sort of cone shape pop out in the top end of your stomach, that is where there is a gap in the muscles just now!)

She said to be very careful about doing anything other than that exercise for your core as there is a slight risk of strengthening the musles before they draw back together again and then you'd never get the tone back properly...

You can probably find a better example, but the first 2 minutes of this video kind of show what she was talking about:

Laughing Girl · Apr 6th, 2010, 15:07 PM

Physiological 3rd stage of labour helps kick off the uterine retraction back to its normal size. Breast feeding continues the process.

JASMAK · Apr 6th, 2010, 15:38 PM

Breastfeeding helps contract the uterus. Your uterus should be about the size of a lime about 6 weeks after. The shape of your abs is another story and is entirely based on how much weight you gained, the size of your baby, how big your tummy was stretched, and the elasticity of your skin. About 6 months after I gave birth to a 9lbs 10oz baby boy (gained 90lbs) I was back to my prepregnancy size 12....with a little extra loose skin that never went away no matter what.

belladonna · Apr 6th, 2010, 17:19 PM

My nan has told me that she used a pillow under her tummy whilst laying on her front. My mum and cousins have both tried this after having their babies and it has seemed to work quickly for them.
I believe that in some countries they bind their waists, but I dont know if this works.

sambam · Apr 6th, 2010, 17:35 PM

I remember lying in my bed the day my daughter was born BFing her thinking - OMG why am i still getting contractions

... BF really does work. The health visitors were surprised at how everything felt after just a few days ! x

punch · Apr 6th, 2010, 18:11 PM

i don't know what RLT is... what is that?

with my first, my uterus went back to size pretty fast because of breast feeding. while i was nursing, i'd get cramps and contractions helping it go back to size.

in terms of muscles, i guess we just work out, eh?

madasa · Apr 6th, 2010, 19:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laughing Girl

Physiological 3rd stage of labour helps kick off the uterine retraction back to its normal size. Breast feeding continues the process.

Another excellent reason for fizzy third stage! I've made a note of that.... Thank you

aw1990 · Apr 7th, 2010, 02:35 AM

I dont know about uterus, but i lost most of my baby weight from DD, although it took me a year to get back in my size 10jeans, but my skin never went back

my stomach is horrid!!

Apr 6th, 2010, 14:39 PM	#1
KamKol Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: UK Posts: 2,279	Tips to help shrink the uterus faster - anyone got any? Mum was chatting to me today about how to contract my ab muscles to help get my stomach back into shape after baby is born. She also told me to use hot water bottles to ease the pain... Mum is a bit of a "old wives tales" fan so don't really know how much truth there is in what she has advised. Will be having RLT but just wondering if anyone else has any tips? Don't want to deal with a hanging belly for too long after baby is born!

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Apr 6th, 2010, 14:42 PM	#2
LankyDoodle Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,079	The RLT will do wonders. Would be interested to see if there ARE any others though.

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Apr 6th, 2010, 14:49 PM	#3
555ann555 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Lanarkshire Posts: 1,751	We'd been given exercised from the OB physio at the antenatal classes, but they are the same exercises you do in pilates to draw in and hold your core muscles. The idea is to bring the stomach muscles back together again that parted to make room for the baby. (If you do a sit up just now you should see a sort of cone shape pop out in the top end of your stomach, that is where there is a gap in the muscles just now!) She said to be very careful about doing anything other than that exercise for your core as there is a slight risk of strengthening the musles before they draw back together again and then you'd never get the tone back properly... You can probably find a better example, but the first 2 minutes of this video kind of show what she was talking about:

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2010, 15:07 PM	#4
Laughing Girl Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North London Posts: 1,258	Physiological 3rd stage of labour helps kick off the uterine retraction back to its normal size. Breast feeding continues the process.

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Apr 6th, 2010, 15:38 PM	#5
JASMAK Other BnB Elite Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 13,371	Breastfeeding helps contract the uterus. Your uterus should be about the size of a lime about 6 weeks after. The shape of your abs is another story and is entirely based on how much weight you gained, the size of your baby, how big your tummy was stretched, and the elasticity of your skin. About 6 months after I gave birth to a 9lbs 10oz baby boy (gained 90lbs) I was back to my prepregnancy size 12....with a little extra loose skin that never went away no matter what.

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2010, 17:19 PM	#6
belladonna Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hertfordshire, UK Posts: 972	My nan has told me that she used a pillow under her tummy whilst laying on her front. My mum and cousins have both tried this after having their babies and it has seemed to work quickly for them. I believe that in some countries they bind their waists, but I dont know if this works.

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2010, 17:35 PM	#7
sambam Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,247	I remember lying in my bed the day my daughter was born BFing her thinking - OMG why am i still getting contractions ... BF really does work. The health visitors were surprised at how everything felt after just a few days ! x

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2010, 18:11 PM	#8
punch Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 289	i don't know what RLT is... what is that? with my first, my uterus went back to size pretty fast because of breast feeding. while i was nursing, i'd get cramps and contractions helping it go back to size. in terms of muscles, i guess we just work out, eh?

Status: Offline

Apr 7th, 2010, 02:35 AM	#10
aw1990 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Glasgow Posts: 386	I dont know about uterus, but i lost most of my baby weight from DD, although it took me a year to get back in my size 10jeans, but my skin never went back my stomach is horrid!!

Status: Offline

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