Post-partum bellies

[tinymumma]

I knew I wouldn't go back to my pre-pregnancy size as soon as he was born, not that I really want to. I was 43kgs and looked sick (I didn't see that until I put on baby weight). Now I'm 5 days post-partum and my belly has gone down by about half but is still definitely there. How long did it take before you no longer looked pregnant? I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever not look pregnant as I stretched so much. It's still early days but would love to hear how long it roughly takes
to all you beautiful mummies

 

[Literati_Love]

I am 6 weeks pp and my belly still sticks out a tiny bit and there is a bit of loose skin but I do NOT look pregnant and people tell me it doesn't look like I had a baby. At 5 days pp I was still quite large. It think by about... 3 weeks pp it was down pretty small and I was getting lots of compliments although I still get it was big. Also, the loose skin looks better and better very soon. At first it was looking quite bad as I shrank so quickly but already now my stomach looks pretty decent!

 

[tinymumma]

Thanks I bet it's nice to hear the "you don't even look like you've had a baby" comments

 

[MommyJogger]

It was at least 3 months for me last time. It can take a while, especially for smaller women, because you notice the belly bulge a lot more if it's not in proportion to the size of the rest of your frame, iyswim.

 

[EarthMama]

It was at least 3 months for me last time. It can take a while, especially for smaller women, because you notice the belly bulge a lot more if it's not in proportion to the size of the rest of your frame, iyswim.

I'm struggling with this now. 5 weeks pp and still look pregnant! I eat a pristine diet and walk 4 miles a day pretty much every day, since 3 weeks pp. Thought it would be down by now.

 

[krissie328]

It took me about 7 weeks.

 

[JessesGirl29]

You know? It's like the muscles have been completely split so it can take a month or two for the initial 'I'm still pregnant' look to go down but I found that if I ate something that made me bloated ect that it hung right back out. Such a strange feeling. At six months post partum with eating well, breastfeeding and trying to stay active I would say I'm back to where I was visually except my hips look wider and it feels much more.....doughy?

I do consider myself pretty dang lucky though.

I care less than I thought I would, my body made a baby and I'm so thankful for that. My life focus has shifted where looks are way less important. I rocked the bikini after birth with my Mum tum and was proud.

 

[melfy77]

About 5-7 days both times. And then I did some sit-ups to get this belly back to the way it was

 

[LoveCakes]

About 2 weeks. I still have a bit more belly than I had before but I look 'normal' again. I have about 9lb to lose to get back to pre pregnancy weight.

 

[Larkspur]

Well, y'all sound like you bounce back pretty fast! Maybe I'm just old.

I was back in my jeans by three weeks both times and no longer looked pregnant, but the tummy has probably changed somewhat forever! A bit softer and rounder, and that's okay with me.

I am happy with the nine-months-on, nine-months-off mantra and don't do anything for the first six months PP that could compromise breastfeeding. Very gentle exercise and no diet restrictions at all (healthy, but unlimited in portion, with regular treats).

By nine months PP last time I was 10 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight, about a size 4US. I'm not in a rush to get back there, I know it will happen in time.

 

[Maxy1]

I also believe in 9 months on-9 months off. I tend to not look pregnant after a cpl weeks but still VERY diff than pre pregnancy. With DS I had tonnes of health problems for about 14 months pp so really couldn't concentrate on exercise or diet as it was just a struggle to get through each day. But certainly when I started moving round AFTER that it was about 9 months and I was smaller in the tum than pre prego but wider hips - which translates to shopping - yay!!!:happy dance:

This time round I have not had those health problems and blessed with a baby who sttn, so I have been following a better diet and exercise plan and I am getting back to 'normal' slowly. We are 4 months in and as far as I am concerned I have five months to get there yet

 

[tinymumma]

I've heard of the 9 months on, 9 months off thing. That's what I've had in my brain. Just interesting to see everyone's changes. I reckon I could fit into my pre pregnancy jeans but I'm still at home all day, so pjs are definitely my dress of choice, lol.
I don't mind if I never go back fully, it's still far better than I was. Plus, OH loves my new found curves and I would have to say, I would feel so strange without them! Besides, I don't think Mums should strive to have the body of models. Mums should be a little squishy and comforting. Exercise, yes but at the end of the day, does it really matter? We created and gave birth to a tiny human, who really cares if we have a bit of squishy around our tums, bums and thighs?

 

[sue_88]

I was pre-preg weight, and wearing pre-preg jeans by 5 days PP.

The tummy though is wrecked for life, battered muscles, jelly like, doughy, stretch marked!! But it grew a baby so I'm sure in time I won't mind!

I'm now about 4kgs under pre preg weight, and still losing to get to 68kg, then il be happy!

 

[Popples1]

Definitely a few weeks - maybe 6-8? I look pretty much back to normal now when I'm stood up but when I sit down my belly flops out a bit, it doesn't 'hold itself' in like I used to. I guess I need to build the muscles back up but who has time to do sit ups?! I'm still carrying about 5/6lb extra too but part of me thinks why bother when I want another one in a year or two anyway..!

 

[tinymumma]

I'm right there with you, Popples. Who even has time to exercise when you have a newborn, let alone find the energy. I struggle just doing my daily kegals

 

[purplecupcake]

I was back to prepregnancy weight and size before I left the hospital, but I never got very big to begin with. My stomach felt soft like dough for a week though and is still squishier than before.

 

[tryfor2]

It's still very, very early days at 5 days pp. Your uterus is still stretched out and things are falling back into place. You're likely still retaining some fluid etc. As you can see from the responses, it really varies. It sounds like you aren't putting too much pressure on yourself which is good. Stressing about our appearances is the last thing we need right now! I know it can feel like your belly will never flatten, but it will. I'm sure you'll see a dramatic difference even just two weeks from now. I looked 7 months pg when I left the hospital and by two weeks pp it was gone (loose skin is a different story!). Our bodies are amazingly resilient. Sounds like you have a great attitude though, especially for someone who was probably underweight prepregnancy.

 

[ParisJeTadore]

Honestly, my tummy didn't go back to normal for about three months. I think after two it looked better but not entirely like before so I assumed I had a new mommy tummy! Thankfully, it went down even more and I was left with a stomach that resembled what I had before being pregnant.

I did wear a compression band starting a couple weeks pp that I believe did wonders! I wore it 24/7 for two months which may seem excessive but I am certain it really helped. Bought it from a maternity store so no need for anything that's super $$$