How to Develop a Positive Body Image After Childbirth

Pregnancy changes your body in many ways, even after you've given birth. Although you lose the weight of the baby, amniotic fluid and the placenta right after birth, it can take time for you to lose the extra fat your body gained while pregnant. Your stomach might be bigger than it was before pregnancy, too. As long as your doctor says your weight and the rest of you is healthy, you have nothing to worry about. Give yourself time to recover from giving birth, physically and emotionally.

Instructions

    • 1

      Turn off the television and stop looking at gossip and fashion magazines. The last thing you need to boost your body image is to read about how the latest celebrity mom lost her baby weight and got her pre-baby body back in just two weeks. If you have friends who have also given birth recently, don't compare yourself to them, either. Remember that your body is your own and that what happens to someone else won't necessarily happen to you. If other women try share their miraculous post-baby weight loss with you, politely ask them not to.

    • 2

      Avoid the scale, if possible. It's tempting to weigh yourself every day, to see if you've lost weight. Focusing on your weight, however, can easily become an unhealthy obsession.

    • 3

      Enjoy some quiet time alone after childbirth. Ask your mother, partner or other relative to watch your baby from time to time so that you can rest and recover. Nine months of pregnancy and then labor are physically draining. You need to give your body time to recover and to repair itself.

    • 4

      Start exercising as soon as you get the all-clear from your doctor. Walking is a great exercise post-childbirth, as it's not very strenuous and you can bring the baby along, either in a stroller or a sling. Exercise helps reduce your stress levels and improves your outlook, too.

    • 5

      Find supportive people to help boost your self-image. You can join a group for new moms, for example. Having a doctor who is supportive is crucial, too, especially if body image was an issue for you before getting pregnant. If your OB/GYN criticizes your weight or the way your body looks, find another doctor who understands what you're going through.

    • 6

      Buy a piece of new clothing that fits and looks great on you. You can purchase a new pair of shoes if your feet became swollen during your pregnancy or buy a skirt or pair of pants that flatter you. Look for stretchy material, so that you can keep wearing it as your weight goes down.

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