Tips to Flattening Your Belly after Having a Baby

Congratulations you finally had your baby! You’ve been waiting for what seems like forever!
Now you’re ready to lose the extra baby weight and looking forward to having your pre-pregnant belly back. 

However, exhaustion, emotions, and the need to snuggle with your new bundle of joy seem to keep getting in the way. Nobody tells you just how tired you’re going to be, do they? 

Well, I’m convinced coffee was invented by a new Mommy! How could it not be!!

First, it’s important that you understand your body needs time to repair itself. It has been through a lot. After all, you just grew a little human in there for 9 months, the expectations of that stretched out skin magically tightening up isn’t reality.

So what is a realistic goal?

Learn How To Flatten Your Tummy Without Tons of Exercise

After giving yourself a few weeks to adjust to this new way of life, you can begin taking the steps necessary towards flattening your belly. And you can do this without spending your time on the floor doing hundreds of crunches or running endless miles just to lose the weight. Yup, you can flatten your stomach without any of that. Besides, after what your abdominal muscles have just been through, don’t be surprised if you can’t do a single crunch.

Here’s how you can do so:

Did you know that 80% of your ab’s start in the kitchen?

That’s right, so getting down on the ground and attempting ab exercises won’t do the trick -   what you are putting in your mouth is going to. And if you’re breastfeeding, this is going to be beneficial to your baby as well.

Eating Clean

I know it doesn’t sound delicious, does it? And while this might be the most difficult part, changing your diet is the key. Not only will it benefit your waistline but also the health of your baby. Choosing plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains for a clean diet will be optimal for helping your body repair, your baby thrives, and for you to begin feeling better about yourself.

Clean eating has been on the rise and you can find a ton of delicious meals without very much searching. 

For example, 

Overnight oats are amazing for breakfast and can be done when you have the chance so it’s waiting in the fridge for you no matter what time you’re having breakfast. 

Postpartum Belly Bands

Okay, so maternity belts won’t help you to lose weight but what they do is equally as important. Wearing a postpartum belt after birth and wearing it for at least 3 weeks after it will help to shrink your uterus down and give you the extra support for your lower back and align your abdomen. Of course, when you start wearing it also would depend on whether you had a natural birth or a cesarean. You can check with your doctor or gynecologist when would be the most appropriate time for you to start wearing a postpartum belt before you start putting it on. 

This will aid in repairing diastasis recti, which is the separation of your abdominal muscles and the reason for not being able to even tighten your abs. 

Do You Have Diastasis Recti?

But first, you should know that there’s a 75% chance of having diastasis recti.  

Here’s how you can check for it:

Lie flat on your back with your knees bent shoulder-width apart.  Now place two fingers above your belly button and gently press down. Place your other hand behind your head and begin lifting it off the ground about an inch, while making sure your shoulders remain on the ground. You’ll feel a gap.

How To Reduce the Gap?

Strengthening your abdominal wall with an easy exercise called Kegels. You’ve probably been doing these. If you haven’t, this exercise is done by engaging the muscle that would stop the flow of urine. Simply tighten this muscle and hold it for a few seconds. Do this for 10 times, multiple times throughout the day.

Kegels are perfect for tightening your deep core and ultimately reducing the gap in your abdominals. The ability to do these no matter where you are makes them perfect, and most importantly, they are super effective. 

Before you know it you’ll begin to feel tighter and slimmer. This new confidence will help to motivate you to start taking walks, which will lead to runs or the gym and you’ll be back to your old self in no time!