By the time your baby is born and you have successfully settled into your new daily routine, you might be feeling emotionally and physically weak. Pregnancy and childbirth cause extreme changes to a woman’s body. Getting your old body back may seem like a far off dream.
In fact, the postpartum body problems you might be dealing with can make you downright depressed. Every new mother wants to get her prepregnancy body back as soon as possible. Dealing with postpartum body problems is not an easy task, but with a little care and time, you can get rid of the problems. But remember, you need to have patience. No problem will go away in a few days, especially when your baby’s needs are a priority over yours.
Stomach Flab
Soon after delivery, you lose most of your baby weight, but the bulging stomach is a big problem. As it takes about 6 to 8 weeks before the uterus is back to its prepregnancy size, you will have to live with a bulging stomach for some time before trying anything to get rid of it. Also, as the area around your belly has the most stretched-out skin and muscle, getting it back into shape will take time. Any kind of exercise that targets the transverse muscles will help tighten the loose skin around your belly. Regular cardiovascular exercises will also help reduce overall body fat. You can also try body-shaping underwear made of breathable, nonbinding fabric.
Sagging Breasts
Just like a flabby stomach, sagging breasts is another postpartum problem that new mothers experience. During pregnancy and nursing, the hormonal changes in the body cause breast tissue to expand and the surrounding skin stretches, making the breasts look bigger and full. Over time, the skin tissue shrinks, but the skin loses elasticity and therefore it sags. Exercises that help tone the pectoral muscles around the breasts will help give your sagging breasts a lifted appearance.
Regularly massaging with warm oil in an upward direction can also help. At the same time, do not forget to wear a supportive bra. Be sure to find the right fit and wear a sports bra while exercising.
Vaginal Discharge
Vaginal discharge made mostly of blood and what is left of the uterine tissue is another problem that one may have to deal with after delivery. This type of vaginal discharge is called lochia and can last for several weeks. It is how your body eliminates blood and tissue from your uterus. When experiencing postpartum bleeding, you need to take extra precautions by using heavy-duty pads and changing them several times a day. Do not use tampons, as they can cause an infection at this stage. Also, avoid any kind of strenuous activities, which can cause more bleeding. Give your body time to heal and the vaginal discharge will go away.
Skin Discoloration
Soon after delivery, a woman’s “pregnancy glow” fades away. Your skin may actually look dull and lifeless. In fact, some women experience dark skin patches on the forehead, cheeks and upper lips. This happens due to hormonal changes in the body that cause the skin to become too dry.
It is, however, a temporary issue and goes away completely within a few weeks. To help the process along, apply some warm coconut or olive oil on the affected skin and massage gently before going to bed. You can also apply fresh aloe vera gel on the affected area a few times a day. No matter how you wish to deal with skin discoloration, you must use sunscreen diligently to maintain results. Also, avoid going out in the sun during peak hours.
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