After the arrival of your bundle of joy the only thing that needs to be taken care of is the post-pregnancy pounds. Let’s discover more on the topic, but first take into account the story of former Miss World and famous Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai. Four years back the beauty queen had received a lot of flak for her post-delivery weight gain. Fashion experts criticized her left, right and center for dressing in heavy Anarakalis to hide the generous curves and the flab that she had acquired after giving birth to her daughter Aradhya. Kudos to her since, not only did she managethe bashing with grace but has also turned the tables on her critics by getting back to a svelte figurein no time. She is on her way to making a scintillating comeback and we are sure she will hit the bull’s eye.What we want to emphasize through Mommy Aishwarya’s story is that getting back in shape after a baby is certainly feasible. And every mother, irrespective of whether she is a celebrity or a home maker, has to face post-pregnancy figure issues. But if you are patient, and well-informed, you will sail through the tough times happily. You will, in fact, enjoy your motherhood to the fullest and can also work on your figure with a positive frame of mind. Well, patience comes naturally to a mother but as far as information and awareness goes, you need help. This article will tell you everything in detail.
Causes of weight gain during pregnancy
When a fetus starts taking shape in your womb, it affects your hormones and metabolism. Your body behaves in a different way than it used to as there is another life growing inside you. Your uterus expands gradually and the breasts also start preparing for milk secretion. This leads to increase in weight as the tissues enlarge and expand. Secondly, the food cravings you experience from the second trimester also lead to weight gain as you tend to eat more. With the increased progesterone levels, your body retains the fluid more which in turn also leads to weight gain. Well, during pregnancy, weight gain is extremely natural and in some cases necessary too. Every would-be-mother experiences this but it differs from one individual to another. Apart from the hormone, it also depends on your body type since some women tend to gain more than others.
Maintaining weight during pregnancy
As has been mentioned above, accumulating flab is just natural but how much you gain is something that is in your hands. If you exercise and eat properly during your pregnancy, your weight will not shoot up beyond a reasonable limit. Many women are under the impression that they have to eat for two which leads to overeating in most of the cases. Always keep in mind that for the first trimester, you do not need any extra calories. It is only in the second trimester that you need 340 extra calories per day while in the third trimester your body requires 450 extra calories each day. Of course, this means you have to eat extra but you can maintain your weight if you follow a diet chart. Eat plenty of fruits and increase your milkand protein intake but keep a check on the fat content. Avoid junk food as much as you can. Go for regular walks and exercise moderately.
Losing the flab after child birth
It is altogether a different scenario for you after your little bundle of joy has arrived into the world. The baby bump is gone but the post-pregnancy weakness takes time to disappear and it is all the more if you have had a caesarian delivery. But you are so busy tending to your newborn that you hardly get time to complain. Losing weight is quite easy as lots of calories get burnt as you carry your baby around and play with him but this alone is not enough. You need to incorporate exercise, meditation, yoga, etc. in your life to get back your normal figure. Here is how to go about it:
Try out yoga postures
Certain yoga positions are known to help strengthen the uterus and restore itto its normal shape. There are also asanas such as SuptaBadakonasan and Apanasana to help you get rid of tummy fat, the sore body spot for lots of mothers, as most of the fat accumulates in this very area. The Kegel exercises are also helpful and very important as they help to improve your sex life. The vagina muscles become loose after child birth and this exercise restores the strength of the muscles.
Brisk walking and strength training
Walking is not just an exercise but also a great stress-buster. Mornings and evenings are the perfect time to slip into your sports shoes and enjoy the rising or setting sun as the case maybe. Go for brisk walking as it not only increases stamina but also helps you shed weight faster. If you want you can also take your baby with you as it will let you spend time with your newborn and you can be free from worries. Pushing the pram as you go about the stroll is as good as strength training which is very helpful for new mothers. You can hit the gym as well but it is advised that you do so after 4-5 months. Start with light weights and always do the training under the guidance of an instructor.
Ayurvedic tips
Ayurveda contains a storehouse of valuable tips to help the mothers get back into shape. According to this ancient method of treatment, new mothers should abstain from spicy and oily food. It also asks them to drink lukewarm water instead of normal water as it cleanses the body of toxins and also prevents constipation. Certain ayurvedic medicines such as Shatavarikalp and Dhatrirasayan are advised as they aid milk production and provide the much-needed stamina. Massage is also a must as it strengthens the muscles and relaxes the body.Last but not the least, be cheerful as a happy mind keeps you positive and motivated. Both are necessary if you are to make the most of all the advices that promise to bring the coveted figurethat you aspire to get.