How To Change Your Body After Having a Baby
Bringing a new life into the world is a remarkable and life-changing experience for so many reasons. After childbirth, many new mothers will often find themselves wondering how to reclaim their pre-pregnancy bodies when things start to settle down.
While it's essential to remember that everybody is unique, and the journey back to your old self may take time, here are some practical tips on how you can make changes to your body after having a baby to help make you feel more like yourself again.
1. Give Yourself Time
You’ve just had a baby, and that will take priority! There’s no need to rush into anything, as you have plenty of other things that will need to come first, including recovery from the birth. Be patient with yourself. The changes you went through during pregnancy and childbirth won’t disappear overnight, and some will have likely stay with you as part of your new body. So, with this in mind, it’s crucial to set realistic expectations and embrace the gradual process without putting any pressure on yourself.
2. Prioritize Nutrition
Eating a balanced and nutritious diet is essential for postpartum recovery and helping your body regain its strength. Make sure you treat yourself to a diet that’s rich in whole foods, and nutrients. Fruit, vegetables, protein sources, and wholegrains make the perfect combination to ensure that you get everything you need—though if you’re feeling exhausted or have other unusual symptoms, it’s worth checking that you’re not deficient in any particular vitamins or minerals. Make sure that you stay hydrated, and consider getting in touch with a registered dietitian for some guidance on post-pregnancy nutrition.
3. Strengthen Your Core
Pregnancy can have a dramatic effect on your core, weakening the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor. A great way to help with this is to start core-strengthening exercises, such as pelvic tilts, planks, and kegel exercises, too. A strong core not only helps with the aesthetics you want, but also provides essential support for your back and posture. If you need help with this, you can always talk to specialists such as Beyond Basics Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Midtown, for example, so they can guide you and provide you with the right support.
If you find that you’re not able to achieve the look you want from exercise and diet alone, you can always opt for an extra little help. Take a look at a mommy makeover in Tulsa for more information.
4. Incorporate Exercise
Exercise is essential for everyone and can be a very valuable tool for your postpartum recovery. That said, it’s essential to start slowly and also speak with your healthcare provider or doctor before beginning any exercise routine.
Walking and gentle stretching are excellent ways to start and can do them anywhere. Over time, you can gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts and modify them to suit you.
If you’re wondering what will be safe and effective, then there’s a lot of postpartum exercise classes and programs, which are tailored specifically to the needs of new moms! Not only that, but they’re a great place to make friends, too and become part of a supportive network of moms who are all there for the same reasons.