Every new mother knows how challenging it could be to regain her prepartum shape after pregnancy. Some of these mothers may just go about losing the weight that added naturally without making any concerted efforts to attain a (much) trimmer figure. On the other hand, some will go the extra mile as they hope to shed a significant amount of their pregnancy weight. Nevertheless, it’s not every new mom who wishes to get back to the shape she had before pregnancy that ends up being successful. Moreover, some may wait longer while others have a significant pregnancy weight loss in the quickest possible time.

It is in light of the foregoing that questions about how much weight a new mom can lose after giving birth arise. As the answer to this (question) is not that straightforward, we shall be taking two approaches towards addressing it. First, we will look at the composition of pregnancy weight and then dwell on the different stages that make up the postpartum period. The latter shall be in respect to the possible weight loss outcomes attainable with every passing month, leading to the new mom possibly reclaiming her prepartum bodyweight.

So, how does pregnancy weight come about?

It’s quite apparent that the weight of the fetus – which may even vary based on the number of fetuses in the uterus – is the first element that comes to mind. Just for the mention; a baby (that is, the fetus) weighs around 7.5 pounds on average. But apart from weight added by the fetus, other components that cause an expectant mom's weight gain include:

Amniotic fluid

Amniotic fluid is present in the uterus, and it is there to render some protective responsibilities to the fetus. This fluid is also beneficial for the movement and musculoskeletal development of the fetus. It adds around 1.8 pounds to the weight of a pregnant woman.

Placenta

Placenta serves as a channel through which nutrients and oxygen are supplied to the fetus, and it adds about 1.4 pounds to pregnancy weight.

The fetus along with the amniotic fluid and placenta make up a third of the weight gained due to pregnancy.

Increased volumes of body fluids and blood

There is a rise in the volumes of body fluids and blood during pregnancy. About 4 pounds get added to the bodyweight of a pregnant woman due to a rise in blood while about 2 pounds of weight is gained due to increased body fluid volume.

Fat

The fat accumulated during pregnancy is essential in providing the mother and fetus a good supply of energy – albeit in reserve. The weight gained as a result of accumulated fat is 7.4 pounds.

All these coupled with the minerals, proteins, and other nutrients that may be deposited in different parts – breasts, uterus, etc – of a pregnant woman will bring about notable weight gain that could amount to 26.5 – 30.9 pounds on average. It may interest you to know that accumulated fat accounts for around 33 – 42% of the total weight gained during pregnancy.

Now to the main discourse – how much weight is lost after birth?

Having given some sort of preamble, let’s now see how much weight you can lose after giving birth – in stages.

Immediately after giving birth

Immediately after giving birth, the weights gained by the mom as a result of carrying the baby in the uterus, as well as that weight from the amniotic fluid and placenta are lost. This means that a new mom will lose about 11 pounds immediately after delivering her baby.

2 – 3 weeks postpartum

Around 2 – 3 weeks postpartum, a nursing mom is expected to shed about 5 pounds of weight as the volumes of body fluids and blood gradually drop. It’s important to state here that this stage is not a period to aid in getting involved in some moderate or high-intensity exercises.

6 weeks postpartum

At 6 weeks postpartum, the uterus must have returned to its pre-pregnancy state, and so is the blood volume, meaning there has been a significant shedding of pregnancy must have occurred. More often than not, the pregnancy weight retained from 6 weeks onwards is most probably the one added as a result of accumulated fat. The average weight retention is reported to be between 6.6 – 15.4 pounds at this stage. Breastfeeding may, however, lower the pregnancy weight retention rate. It is estimated that 500 calories are used up while breastfeeding. At this rate, a breastfeeding mom can get to burn 3500 calories in one week, and this basically equates to 1 pound.

3 months postpartum

Though you could have had more pregnancy weight lost if you exclusively breastfeed your baby, 3 months postpartum registers as a good time to incorporate some moderate intensity exercises into your routine. This may explain why some new moms can return to their pre-pregnancy shape between 3 – 6 months postpartum. Nevertheless, you should be cautious if you have had a C-section – when delivering your baby – before increasing the intensity of your exercises. You should speak with your doctor or gynecologist to this effect.

You should also note that a sizeable number of new moms – around one-fifth so to say – have a pregnancy weight retention of 10 pounds after 12 months postpartum. This is one of the reasons you may need to take extra caution about gaining weight more than necessary while pregnant. Also, you will have to be mindful of the things you eat while pregnant.

Junk/processed foods are certainly not for you so, you should keep them as far away as possible. Be intentional about eating healthily, going for proteins, veggies, fruits, and whole grains. More importantly, you should not even think about skipping meals – this could be detrimental to your well-being and that of your baby.

Also learn to de-stress, and get enough sleep. Consider leaving by these observances; be realistic and positive about your weight loss objectives, and you should lose as much weight as possible, getting that trim shape you desire thereof.

References

Baker JL, Gamborg M, Heitmann BL, et al. (2008). Breastfeeding reduces postpartum weight retention. Am J Clin Nutr. 88(6): 1543 – 1551.

Gunderson EP, Abrams B, and Selvin S (2001). Does the pattern of postpartum weight change differ according to pregravid body size? Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 25: 853–862.

McKinley MC, Allen-Walker V, McGirr C, Rooney C, and Woodside JV. (2018). Weight loss after pregnancy: Challenges and opportunities. Nutrition Research Reviews 31(2): 225 – 238.

NHS (2010). Weight management before, during, and after pregnancy. Quick Reference Guide.

Schmitt NM, Nicholson WK & Schmitt J (2007) The association of pregnancy and the development of obesity – results of a systematic review and meta-analysis on the natural history of postpartum weight retention. Int J Obes (Lond) 31: 1642–1651.