Need help...post pregnancy

[jaydensmom]

Hey everyone,

Well I am getting ready to deliver my baby on Tuesday by induction....before I got pregnant I worked out 6 days a week and was on a strict diet. I was 5'6 and 115 lbs. During this pregnancy I gained 45-50 lbs! Yuck!
My question is, What program should I start out with to get myself back into shape? As far as eating and training? I really need to get my body back to where it was before.

Elishia

[mommykuce]

Since you started out on the low side as far as weight, the pregnancy weight gain isn't as bad as you think. First, you need to listen to your doc as far as when you can get back to training and how hard. Especially if you wind up having a c-section (hopefully not) it will take even longer.

I used a post natal pilates tape. Here is the site you can get it from:
http://www.pilatesforpregnancy.com/

I loved it especially since it involves your baby also. Great for bonding. It also helps to develop your core strength and work all the muscles that are stretched out, but also takes into consideration that you just had a baby. As far as diet, your calorie and food intake is going to depend on whether or not you are breastfeeding. If you are, you need to make sure you are getting enough calories and proper calories. Eating every 2-3 hours will help your metabolism and also keep your sugars level, and help with the energy you are going to need. In the hospital ask about specifics as to what you need to consume if breastfeeding, and also you can ask your doc. And don't compare your body to pre-pregnancy. Your body is shaped different after being pregnant, and your hormones are not going to be any where near "normal" till at least 1 year later.

Good luck and best wishes for a safe labor and a healthy baby!

[TigerAngelLeigh]

Originally Posted by jaydensmom

Hey everyone,

Well I am getting ready to deliver my baby on Tuesday by induction....before I got pregnant I worked out 6 days a week and was on a strict diet. I was 5'6 and 115 lbs. During this pregnancy I gained 45-50 lbs! Yuck!

This attitude worries me. Your reaction to the way pregnancy changes your body shouldn't be 'yuck'. Of course you're going to gain weight - if you didn't neither you nor your baby would be healthy. In addition, you don't know how easy its going to be to drop the extra weight afterwards: all women are different. You may lose all the weight quickly without trying (my mother lost all her excess weight in a few weeks without restricting her diet and without exercising), you may not, but what does it matter? Your primary concern should be bonding with your new baby - not worrying about whether you can squeeze into your jeans. Just try to eat healthily and exercise gently, following the advice of your doctor/midwife. Take your time and concentrate on more important things at first, i.e. your baby.

[mommykuce]

Tiger-
What you said does have merit to it, but unfortunately not all women are comfortable with their weight gain and watching their bodies change, especially if they were in shape or had concerns before. I was a mess during my pregnancy, even though I only gained 28lbs and had a big baby. I fought wearing maternity clothes for as long as possible. When my belly got bigger, I thought "oh my god I'm getting fat" even though I knew it was because I had a baby in there, it still was very hard. If jaydensmom wrote how she only gained like 15lbs and was still worried, then I would wonder if she was more concerned with her figure than providing nutrition to her unborn child. And with so many hormonal changes after you give birth, it is very realistic to be depressed and hate your body, that is why post pardum depression is so common. Yes, as you said, all women are different- one of my friends gained over 50lbs when pregnant and lost it all without really doing much- and she doesn't know how her body will react after birth. And she should try and concentrate on bonding with her baby, but a lot of times other factors set in that one has no control over.