Your body goes through A LOT when having a baby, and it might not look the same afterwards. Some moms aren’t too concerned about these changes. However, others are desperate to get their pre-pregnancy body back. If you fall into the latter category, fear not! While you may not be able to completely eradicate those stretch marks, it’s possible to reverse many of the changes that come with pregnancy if you want to. Here are just a few tips to help you feel better postpartum.
Step up your skincare regime
Let’s start by focusing on your skin. As a result of the hormones and interrupted sleep, many new moms experience skin changes. You may notice that your skin gets very oily and this may even develop into postpartum acne. Alternatively, your skin may get very dry and you may even experience eczema.
Doing your skincare product research and applying these products daily may help to combat these skin problems. Exfoliate and use spot creams to fight acne, while using moisturiser to combat dry skin. More heavy duty skincare products may be available on prescription if you’re experiencing serious acne or eczema – talk to your doctor about this medication.
Reintroduce some gentle exercise
When it comes to losing that baby fat, exercise is essential. But don’t go too hard, too fast. If you’ve only just given birth to your little one, you’ll need to let any birth injuries heal. Low-impact exercises like walking may be the best option – take the opportunity to go on local hikes with your baby in their stroller or in a sling.
As the weeks go by, you may be able to try other exercises like core exercises to strengthen your stomach and swimming. Try also looking into postnatal exercise classes like postnatal yoga – such classes allow you to enjoy a low-impact workout with other moms, and you can often bring your baby with you and exercise with them
Nourish yourself with iron-rich foods
Adopting a healthy diet could have many benefits to your appearance. It could help you to lose weight and it could help to combat any skin problems you’re experiencing. One of the foods that you may want to particularly focus on is iron-rich foods. Due to blood loss during childbirth, many new moms develop an iron deficiency. Iron is also key for giving us energy and boosting our immune system, which is key when you’re an exhausted new mom.
What are some iron-rich foods? Leafy greens like spinach and kale are an excellent source of iron. Meat, fish and eggs also contain a lot of iron. Try to avoid processed foods and stick to raw foods as these will have more iron in them and more essential nutrients – as well as less added sugar and refined carbs.
Consider a mommy makeover procedure
Cosmetic procedures are not for everyone. However, if you’ve got the money and aren’t afraid to go under the knife, you can always consider a mommy makeover. These are surgical procedures aimed at undoing the negative effects of pregnancy and can be tailored to the individual.
This could include surgery to get rid of excess fat, remove excess skin or even lift the breasts. It’s an instant and effective way to get your pre-pregnancy body back. Just make sure to look into the risks and recovery time. Other non-surgical procedures may also be possible to explore such as RF treatment and CoolSculpting.
Be realistic
While it’s possible to lose the baby fat and restore your skin to its previous healthy condition, there is only so much you can do to fully undo the effects of pregnancy. If you had a c-section, you can likely expect scarring for the rest of your life, even if the scarring will fade. Stretch marks are also hard to get rid of – you can reduce them with retinol cream and laser therapy, plus they may fade over time on their own, but there may still be slight traces of them left.
Reframing the way you view some of these changes in your appearance could be necessary to help you regain confidence in your body. Instead of seeing them as undesirable changes, celebrate them as battle scars. They are evidence of the struggles you went through to have your bundle of joy. And remember you are not alone – 4 out of 5 moms develop stretch marks, and 3 out of 4 women gain weight. These changes in your appearance are to be expected if you have a child.
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