J. asks from Grosse Ile, MI on June 15, 2007
Weight Loss After a C-section
I just had a c-section on Friday, June 8th-I came home weighing more than when I went in. I am still huge. I gained 50 pounds with this pregnancy. With my first pregnancy I gained 48 lbs-delivered vaginally and came home 27 lbs lighter. What can I do to start taking off some of the pounds? I am nursing. After the c-section what kinds of exercise is safe and effective at getting my stomach and the rest of me back to normal?
So What Happened?™
Thanks for your replies. I have lost twenty pounds of "water weight" in the last two and a half weeks. I am also watching what I eat and following a nursing safe weight loss diet.
More Answers
R.W. answers from Jackson on June 16, 2007
it's probably water weight. they pump you so full of fluids before/during and after a c-section that you end up weighing just as much if not more thanyou did before delivery.
It will come off in a week or two.
Good job on Nursing
T.R. answers from Kalamazoo on June 16, 2007
I had my 2nd c sec in April and recovered so much faster than my 1st. With my 1st I gained 60 lbs and felt like a whale. Don't do any exercise until you go to your next follow up because you run the risk of tearing your incision. I was very impatient to get the weight off also, but relax and just enjoy your baby and get some rest 6 weeks goes by fast. I am sure they told you that you can walk but don't push yourself maybe just go for strolls just to get up and moving to make your self feel better. Good luck it will come in time congratulations and enjoy your new bundle of joy!!
K.P. answers from Detroit on June 18, 2007
I had a c-section w/ my twins. I lost the majority of the baby bump right away but I was swollen everywhere else. That went away in about 2 weeks. (water weight im sure)
As for exersise...don't push it. I was a crazy lady getting the house ready for babies to come home and did not stop bleeding for 6.5 weeks. Then I thought I was good and started to work out...started bleeding again. Just take your time:)
M.C. answers from Detroit on June 16, 2007
Hi J.,
I had a c-section on Tuesday the 5th and yeah, I was huge! It was due to the fluids that were pumped in, I thought it would never go away, but I drank lots of water and ate fruit with high water content, like melons and grapes. After about a week I looked like a totally different person, the water weight gradually went away. As for the tummy exercises, try not to worry about it for a while, you don't want to start exercising too soon, but I read that if you sit straight up and suck in you belly button towards your back it will help get your belly back in to shape. Crunches will actually make you prego belly worse. Check out babyfit.com, they have tons of exercise tips for after pregnancy.
L.N. answers from Benton Harbor on June 15, 2007
In the hospital you are being pumped full of IV fluids for days. All this builds up especially with a c-sec. b/c you can't move around as much as you did with a vag. delivery. Also, the surgery causes your 'guts' to slow way down for a few days so your are not eliminating as much waste. I had a c sec. in December, after a vag birth 2 years earlier, and I actually healed faster from the c-sec. once I was home, than from the vag. They actually do not cut through your stomach muscles any more (the did long ago) but your body just went through major trauma, not to mention 9 months of pregnancy. You'll get back to normal, but do not do any exercises until your 6 wk follow up w/ your doc. Just take the time to recover and enjoy that baby!
J.S. answers from Kalamazoo on June 15, 2007
well i had a csection with my son , i had gained 65 lbs i think and going home i was like ok i gave birth to a 9lb 4 oz baby why in the world do i still look huge i dont even think that i weighed anyless when i went home but i do believe that it is alot harder to lose the weight after having a c section because they cut through all your muscles. and it takes longer to recover from then a vaginal birth... my son is 2 years old now and i am just now losing the weight i have 30 lbs to go before i am back down to my original weight. so i think now u just need to relax and recover and enjoy the new baby... congrats with the new little one and good luck with the weight loss if you find anything that really works let me know... :)
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