I just had a baby four days ago... I went out today and people asked me how come I still look pregnant?

Question

Does everyone else seem to lose their stomach right away after having a baby? I had a 9lb 8oz baby natural and its only been four days! I had at least five people ask me that today. I still look like four to five months pregnant... but I assumed that was just normal. It takes a while to lose your stomach? Am I wrong?

Answer 1

Hon, U R normal. Most everyone leaves the hospital STILL looking about 6 months preg! LOL! There are a select few who are able to go home in their 'size 2's" . Those are the people I hate. Grrr!



It will take your Uterus 6 weeks to go back to it's normal size (the size of your fist). It will go back quicker if you are Brestfeeding...HORAY!

Then there is the issue of the pregnancy weight. A lot of it is water-weight, which your body will shed over the next little while. You may find yourself sweating more at night. The additional fat stores will come off over time. Once again, faster if you are Brestfeeding.

I am giving no 'exact time frames' because we are all different hon. And it will just take time.

Be glad you have a happy healthy baby. And did I mention I recommend breastfeeding? ;o)

Answer 2

Women should know that leaving the hospital after having a baby, you will look approx 5-6 months pregnant still. This is very normal. It took nine months to stretch all those muscles out, and usually longer because it is harder to tone then stretch muscle tissue. Just ensure yourself a healthy diet, and around the six week mark if your DR. says its OK, you can start some light exercises. Enjoy your baby...that is the most important thing, and congrats on such a big baby naturally!

Answer 3

You are normal and everyone else is young and stupid. If you are nursing, the baby weight will probably stay until awhile after you finish nursing.



You are going to be sleep deprived for at least 1/2 year also so that will make it difficult to lose weight during that time. Just stay away from pizza, junk food, fast food, ice cream, sweets, cokes, sweetend drinks and eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies to keep your body nourished and healthy. The only person you should care about loving the way your body looks right now is your baby. Forget the rest, like I said, they are young and stupid.

Answer 4

No, you are right...it does take time to lose the belly from a pregnancy...and especially since it has only been 4 days!!!! People can be SO RUDE sometimes, I would come up with a really good comeback so that next time people are rude and say such ignorant things you can have something ready in response...like "Well I just had a baby a few weeks ago, what is your excuse???" That will shut them up and stop them in their tracks, then just smile and walk away!!!

Answer 5

Heidi Klum can pose in her undies just a few weeks after baby, but most of the rest of us still look pregnant for a while after having the baby. I weighed myself after going home with each baby, and I weighed less than I did before by the same amount as the baby's weight! That means I had those twenty extra pounds to lose each time!

Answer 6

Throw something at them and blame Post-partum depression.

Something wet and sloppy, or sharp, or heavy.

Relax, sweetie. Everyone if different, you will lose the weight, like you said it's only been 4 days. You have other things to worry about right now.

Tell those idiots to try carrying a watermellon around for 9 months, push it out an opening the size of a lemon and see how they feel being told they are fat.

Answer 7

It takes you 9 months to get to where you were, they cannot expect you to be skinny in any less than 9 months. Even if you lose all the weight, expect pants to fit different for 3-4 months.



Congrats on the new baby, and when those people make comments, let it roll off your back, they know nothing!

Answer 8

You're suppose to still look pregnant for a while! It took your body 9 months to "look" pregnant and so it will take at least that long for EVERYTHING to go back where it should. Exercise, drink lots of water ( even flavored) and eat right and you'll be back in shape in no time. If you breastfeed you'll loose the weight faster too! Lighten up on yourself girl! Enjoy your body like it is now. We spend most of our lives "not pregnant" so you should savor the look you have right now for a little while.

Answer 9

Definitely takes awhile to lose your stomach. It took 9 months for it to get outta shape, not gonna just spring back to what it was. How rude of those people anyway! Your uterus isn't prebaby size yet either. Everything will slowly get back to normal and when you start to feel up to it, you can help get it back the way it was. The sooner the better. But take care of yourself and your baby and forget other people's rude remarks.

Answer 10

Not all people are LUCKY enough to AUTOMATICALLY loose their "pregnant look". I exercise and eat healthy everyday (I ride my bike two miles every day too and from work, total of four miles) and I have actually GAINED 15 lbs from the time I had my daughter 17 months ago.



It is normal! Tell them to buzz off (and then blame it on lack of sleep with a new baby).





:-)

Answer 11

Um ,did you say I just had a baby!

Yes it does take a while to loose baby weight, it isn't like on tv where angelina just had a baby and in three months she looks great again, they have mass trainers and a lot of chefs making them delicious food with no fat. We regular foke have to actually work at loosing the baby fat...........take it from me, my daughter is 16 and I still have her 10 lbs that I never lost and my son is 12 and there is another 10 lbs that i never lost.......

you need to take it easy for the first couple of months..........then start working out...........just be careful..............and tell anyone who asks the question to take a long walk off a short peer!

Answer 12

very normal your skin and every thing on the inside has

to go back to what it was so many months ago but it will

go back but I'm not sure it will look the same depending

on how much weight and how many stretch marks you

gained and got if any after my second child my stomach

went back to normal after about a month and my baby wasn't as big as yours but if your stomach is still hard you might need to

see your ob because it should be soft but I'll tell you

what helps make it go back faster it's what the ob told me to do

you need to message your uterus through your belly button daily it might hurt but its necessary for your organs to go back to normal

my hubby had to help me do it if you dint feel your uterus then something could be wrong

Answer 13

No. It does take a while to lose that baby tummy. Remember, it took you 9 months to get that big! It takes a while to go back down. Besides, some people should keep their opinions to themselves. Congratulations on your natural delivery!

Answer 14

First, if those people who said those terrible things are your friends, dump them. How rude to say those things to you. And yes, it does take some time for your stomach/uterus to go down. An old wives tale is to wear those supportive underwear to encourage everything to go back down. Another thing is to nurse as much as you can. You become a milk factory and it helps your uterus compress and you burn a lot of calories.

Answer 15

it's normal. i had an 8lb 2oz baby, and i still looked like i was 4months pregnant for several months afterward. don't worry about what people say. just try to exercise(after your tummy muscles are healed some) and eat healthy, and the tummy will eventually go down. so you have nothing to worry about. wish you the best.

Answer 16

It takes awhile to lose the extra fluid and for your organs to reposition themselves back into place. Your uterus is still bigger than usual. Eventually over the next couple months, everything will go back. What a big baby!

Congratulations!!!!!!

Answer 17

You know alot of people mistake your looking pregnant as a bunch of fat (and it could be) but the reason y you are still swollen is partially due to your uterus not being back to its original size....its normal. I think it takes about six weeks for it to return to a close pre-preg state...

Answer 18

I am so sorry you are around such rude people! Do not listen to them! You are completely normal. Next time say,"No, I just had one though, what's your excuse?" It took 40 weeks to gain the weight, give your self some time. Do not stress about inconsiderate peoples.





Oh, and congratulations on your little one:)

Answer 19

Because it's been four days.....



why are you going out in public after four days anyway. Don't you know how to milk this situation? Make people wait on you hand and foot.



Your tummy will go down in time.

Answer 20

Don't worry, you'll get closer to your prepregnancy size and shape everyday. It takes some time and a little work, but enjoy your baby, take care of yourself now while you are recovering. Congrats!! P.S. Don' t you feel alot smaller then you have in months? :o)

Answer 21

It does take some time. 9 lbs. 8oz. is alot. You have to give some time for your muscles to get it's elasticity back. sit-ups help but not right now you will cause yourself to hemmorage.

Answer 22

No you are not wrong. People can be very ignorant. It takes months before your stomach goes down.

Answer 23

Don't worry about what others think. It takes months. A sensible diet and exercise are the key.

Answer 24

You are right and those other people are ignorant, both about pregnancy and birth and about good manners.



According to one site:

Launching into one's normal exercise ... and may take a year or more to shrink back ...

dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/.../BookDisplay/0,,11_9780751373608,00.html

Answer 25

mine went down right after I had my first daughter I give you all the props in the world 9lbs.and 8 oz. and natural wow good for you !!!

Answer 26

WELL, I AM NOT A WOMAN BUT AM A FATHER SO I REALLY HOPE THIS INFO HELPS A BIT...YOUR SKIN WAS STRETCHED FOR 9 MOS. AND IT WAS DOING THAT SLOWLY.SO GIVE IT TIME TILL YOUR SKIN RETURNS TO NORMAL.ALSO EXERCISE WILL HELP ALOT TRY TO CONCENTRATE ON YOUR STOMACH.HOPE THIS HELP A BIT.AND DONT GET DISCOURAGED YOU WILL BE GETTING GREAT RESPONSES SOON

Answer 27

It was only four days ago DUH! maybe the people who said you still look pregnant didn't know that you had the baby yet. Like I said, it was ONLY four days ago. Congrats on the baby.

Answer 28

It took me awile to stop looking pregnant. I had a c-section so my tummy muscles are all jello after!

Answer 29

No, you are not wrong and if it keeps up start asking them why they still look stupid after leaving high school!?

Answer 30

It took you nine months to build up that fat reserve it isn't just going to disappear over night.

Answer 31

just remember, it took you nine months to grow the belly. it won't go away overnight! just focus on eating healthfully and taking care of your baby.

Answer 32

Because you look fat after every ones have a baby.Well most.

Answer 33

omg thats so mean!! it takes a while sweet heart!!