How to Lose Belly After Delivery

Losing weight after giving birth is at the forefront of many new mothers' minds. You want your pre-baby body back as quickly as possible. While you'll undoubtedly lose several pounds after the first few days, it's important to remember that you are still healing. Soon after delivery is not the time to try hard to lose weight. Still, there are definitely things that you can do to place yourself on the right track to lose your belly after delivery. Just don't forget to take care of both yourself and your baby.

Instructions

• 1

  Wait until your doctor gives you the OK to exercise. Whether you've had a vaginal delivery or cesarean section, your body needs time to heal. If you feel up to it, you might be able to do some light walking a few days after giving birth, but wait until your doctor says that it's OK to do any type of strenuous exercise. Pay attention to your body. If it starts to hurt, you're doing too much. Start slow and work your way up.

• 2

  Use a stomach compression band. A stomach compression band wraps your stomach tightly. It can help you to expel blood and compress your stomach muscles to help them regain their original shape. It also helps you to support your core, which is important for holding your baby.

• 3

  Eat healthy foods to keep up your strength. You need energy, and you should look to healthy foods to regain your strength. Try to avoid foods that are high in salt, as this could cause you to regain water, bloating your belly.

• 4

  Make sure that you eat enough if you are breast-feeding. Nursing mothers need an additional 500 calories per day to feed their baby. If you limit your calories so that you are not getting these extra calories, your body will not release the extra weight in your stomach and everywhere else. Your body's first priority is to nourish the baby. If your body thinks that it will not get enough nutrition to feed the baby, it will hold onto its fat stores.

• 5

  Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. Though it's counterintuitive, staying hydrated actually helps you to lose water weight. Some of your extra weight and belly is probably due to water weight; by staying hydrated, you'll be able to get rid of it.