Mums who breastfeed will get back to pre-pregnancy weight more quickly because producing milk uses fat stores and burns up lots of energy. I breastfed my twins and was back to my pre-pregnancy weight within 2 months.
It is important to lose weight slowly. Wait six weeks after your baby is born before you think about dieting or exercising. Your body needs extra energy and nutrients to meet the requirements of breastfeeding, so you need to eat healthy food and have a well-balanced diet. New mums need at least around 1,200 calories a day. Doctors advise waiting until after your postnatal check-up (usually six weeks after delivery) to start exercising. You can begin walking and doing pelvic floor exercises almost straightaway.
You can speak to a Dietician and Exercise Physiologist if you want specific advice on losing weight.
The CABOOLTURE mums & little ones website (www.mumsandlittleones.com), includes information about safe weight gain and loss, nutrition, breastfeeding, and physical activity. For more information, telephone or SMS Clancy Wall on 0402 791 315 or email clancy.wall@uq.edu.au.
CABOOLTURE mums & little ones
happy healthy families
Merendi Leverett-Bowler
Mother of Two and Exercise Physiologist
As published in CabooltureNews 02/01/2008