Many new moms assume that after baby’s birth, their baby bump will, well, disappear right away! Why shouldn’t it? The answers may surprise you. Here’s why you’ll have a “bump” for a time after the baby is born.
What is “baby weight”?
The growing baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid account for approximately one-third of pregnancy weight growth [1]. The remaining two-thirds are made up of internal growth.
A major percentage of that weight is made up of fats and fluids in the breasts, which naturally expand and swell to produce milk while breastfeeding. But there's also your uterus, which has enlarged 25 times its original size in order to accommodate and nurture the baby. The uterus will take some time to return to normal, which is known as uterine involution. Even if it returns to its normal size, it will not be as little as it was before you became pregnant. A woman's uterus after giving birth is 1.5 to 2 times larger than a woman's uterus after not being pregnant.
When will my “bump” disappear?
If the uterus weighs roughly 2 pounds, it will be half that amount by the end of the first week following birth. Involution is followed by lochia discharge and, in most cases, abdominal pain. By the time the baby is six weeks old, the uterus should weigh less than two ounces, and the lochia discharge should have stopped. Around this time—six to eight weeks following delivery—your belly will no longer appear pregnant.
What about general weight loss?
New mothers who eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables and limit their intake of junk food, desserts, and fried meals will lose weight in a natural and healthy manner. Pregnancy strains your muscles, making it more difficult to reach your weight loss and fitness goals than previously. However, eating and exercise are the most effective weight loss prescriptions for anyone—male or female, parent or non-parent.
Can hormonal changes during pregnancy and nursing impact belly size?
This is quite rare. Insulin sensitivity typically returns to normal three days following delivery. Thyroid function returns to normal in around four weeks [2]. If you don't overeat and get enough exercise, your baby bump should go away.
Photo: shutterstock
