Feeling Pressured to Lose the “Baby Weight?” Here’s What to Do Instead

The number varies by woman, but gaining weight during pregnancy is unavoidable. It’s said that women gain anywhere from 15lbs to 40lbs during pregnancy, based on their body type and lifestyle. It’s a fact of life, and part of a beautiful, natural process.

So why do women feel so much pressure to lose the “baby weight” quickly after giving birth, and what can you do instead of feeling bad about pregnancy weight gain? You just made a miracle. You should feel proud, confident, and self-assured. Don’t let the pressure to lose baby weight get you down.

Why Do Women Feel So Much Pressure to Lose Baby Weight?

Women feel pressure to lose baby weight for several reasons. Some of them are internal, and some are external. Often, women become focused on how their bodies looked before they were pregnant. It can be hard to keep in mind all the changes that happened throughout your pregnancy to prepare for the baby.

Negative self-talk plays a considerable role in the pressure women place on themselves to lose the baby weight.

Alternately, external factors play a role too. In today’s digital world, we’re bombarded with social media posts boasting “post-baby bodies” and feel pressure to conform to what other women look like. A photo of a woman one month post-partum with toned abs and no extra body fat or stretch marks can cause feelings of failure or shame in new moms. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Celebrities Speak Out About Post-Partum Bodies

The reality is that most women don’t look like supermodels after giving birth, and not only is that okay, but it’s completely natural. Recently there’s been an online movement of women and celebrities sharing pictures of realistic post-partum bodies.

Celebrities Chrissy Teigen, Tia Mowry, and Hilary Duff have gone public with their real post-baby bodies. Proving that famous people gain baby weight too.

How to Beat the Post-Baby Body Blues

You don’t have to be consumed by the pressure and unrealistic expectations of a filtered world. Try this instead:

1. Embrace the natural changes of your body and recognize you went through a significant transformation to give birth to your little one.
2. Set a realistic weight loss goal. Experts say this can take up to one year, so don’t get discouraged.
3. Focus on keeping you and the baby healthy, ensuring you’re still consuming enough calories. You’ll need the sustenance to power through those sleepless nights and crazy days.
4. Don’t start vigorous exercise before your doctor clears you. Then develop a routine to reintegrate it into your life slowly.
5. Stop checking “astonishing post-baby bodies” on social media. Trust us.
6. Share your experience and feelings with other new moms. Chances are, they’re experiencing the same feelings you are.

You Don’t Have to Do it Alone: Take Action

You don’t have to succumb to the feelings of hopelessness when it comes to losing the post-partum baby weight. While it’s essential to accept the fact that your body recently underwent significant changes, remember that your body will not stay this way forever.

Once cleared for exercise by your doctor, consider joining a work out class for new moms or a baby-and-me gym routine. Joining courses like these can foster a sense of community, self-love, and bonding. You got this!