Struggling with the saggy tummy post pregnancy try these out. They worked out well for me.
“Patience is waiting, not passively, but keep going when the going is hard and slow-that is patience.”
No change happens over night , try out these with patience and note the change.
Something you can do to help firm up loose and saggy belly.
- Exercise (Crunches and planks)
- Eat healthy fats and proteins
- Drink plenty of water
- Massage with oils
- Try skin-firming products (Belly wrap)
- Breast Feeding
- Walking
The postpartum recovery won’t be just few days. Fully recovering from pregnancy and childbirth can take months. While many women mostly feel recovered by 6 to 8 weeks. The uterus return to the pelvis in around six weeks after birth, and it goes back to its original size ( similar to a closed first). Generally what happens is that after the baby is born, the stomach muscle gradually comes back together.
Exercise
Moderate exercise after 6 to 10 days (depends upon person to person) are good to bring the body back to normal. Crunches are the best to do after delivery to bring down the extra tummy. Crunches can be done probably after one month after the vaginal birth, and only after complete recovery of stich for the C section. The crunch is one of the most popular abdominal exercises. When performed properly, it engages all the abdominal muscles allows both building six pack abs, and tightening the belly. It is the best and the low cost exercise that can be performed at home.
An approved crunch begins with you lying down, knee bent, and hands positioned beneath your lower back for support. Do not hollow your stomach or press your back against the floor. Just lift the head and shoulders, hold briefly and relax back down. Don’t overdo crunches , as it may give a negative result. Start with 5 or 10 crunches and gradually increase to 50, 60 or as your stamina permits. Its all about your body, so don’t overstress the body.
Plank also know as front hold over, or abdominal bridge. Strength exercise that involves maintain a position similar to push up for the maximum possible time. The forearm plank which is held in a push up like position, with the body’s weight borne on the foreams, elbows, and toes. This help a lot in firming the body and tightening the muscles.
Healthy Food
Healthy food can be a large variety of food , eat foods that have proteins such as milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, fish and beans. Eat fruits, and vegetables, limit junk food. Eating lot of ghee is advised as it help in reducing the joint pain. Leafy green veggies like spinach, broccoli are filled with vitamin A which is good for both mom and baby. They are also a good non diary source of calcium and contain vitamin C and iron.
Drink Water
Drink plenty of liquids, drinking plenty of water along with feed . Every time you breast feed your child along with that you can drink water . It help to dehydrate your body , though not proven it helps in reducing the intake of excess food that keep the body fat high. Drinking a glass or two of warm water adviced early in the morning will help in cleaning your system.
Massage
Give a gentle oil massage around the saggy tummy in circular motion for about 15 to 20 minutes . after the massage just cover the massaged area with a hot towel for 10 min. Bio oil is used to massage the tummy area for removing the stretch marks that are common after delivery. Do it regularly before shower and after the shower tie a belly belt or the belly wrap.
Belly Wrap
Belly wrap, though its not going to burn all the belly fat but definitely it will help in reducing the tummy from coming out. It gives support to the womb, speeds up the healing process, helps to tone the abdominal muscles. These belly wraps also called abdominal binders provide correct body positioning and provide support. These belly wraps will be most effective when worn immediately after delivery, for 6 to 10 weeks although some women prefer to wear It for longer period. In case of C section it is advised to use the binder when the surgery stitch is healed.
Breast Feeding
Breast feeding help to reduce the belly fat. Researches have shown that breastfeeding can support your postpartum weight loss. However, in the first 3 months of breast feeding, you may experience no weight loss or even some weight gain. When you breast feed, you use the fat cells stored in the body during pregnancy along with calories from your diet to fuel the milk production and feed the baby.
Walking can do wonders in reducing the tummy fat as well as reducing the excess weight. Start with small distance at the begining.
I have done all the above , not all at one time but starting one at a time and then gradually moving to the others. As there is a saying….
” Successful mothers are not the ones that have never struggled they are the ones that never give up despite the struggles. “
Keep going and enjoy the journey of motherhood.