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Taking six or more months to lose pregnancy weight is healthy and normal
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Heidi Klum in New York, June 2009. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
New mothers should take six months to a year to gradually lose their pregnancy weight, according to a recent report from the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQEHC).
Rather than trying to imitate celebrities who appear to be back in their pre-pregnancy bodies just weeks after giving birth, new mothers should drop the extra pounds slowly for the benefit of both themselves and the baby.
Eating sensibly is more effective than strenuous exercise regimes, the IQEHC said. The Institute also warns that overdoing early weight loss attempts could have a negative impact on breastfeeding.
The advice from IQEHC, a German organization, has also been drafted by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
The IQEHC said celebrities who are back at their normal weight within weeks of giving birth are not necessarily a good example for other mothers.
Nicole Kidman was back in her skinny jeans weeks after her daughter's birth last year, and model Heidi Klum was back on the catwalk shortly after giving birth. Unlike most new mothers, these women usually have a collection of nannies and housekeepers on call, leaving them extra time to work on their figures.
The institute said gaining weight in pregnancy is normal and necessary to support the unborn baby. Taking that weight off again should take some time.
“Having a new baby is a major change in lifestyle,” the IQEHC guidelines state.
“After childbirth, weight loss is complicated by the extra stresses the mother is facing, and her need to provide nutrition for her baby if she is breastfeeding. Women are exposed to many unrealistic images of female body size, and body size around pregnancy or after birth is no exception. That makes it difficult for many women to be satisfied with their figures, and it can damage their self-image and enjoyment of their body. You do not have to be movie star thin to be happy, healthy and have a healthy baby.”
The Institute's website, www.informedhealthonline.org, provides the public with easy-to-understand information about current medical developments and research on significant health issues. You can read more about their advice on weight gain in pregnancy here.
NICE guidance on weight management for mothers after childbirth is expected to be published next year.
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