I'm 4 weeks post-partum, but have some extra pounds still. More troubling than the pounds themselves is inability to fit into any of my pre-pregnancy pants or jeans (and not by a little - by A LOT), even though I'm breastfeeding (which is supposed to help).
How long did it take you before your clothes fit again? Did you just go and buy new pants or did you stick it out with maternity wear until you could fit into pre-pregnancy wardrobe?
Me = 31, DH = 33, together since 2000, married since 2005.
I have always been skinny. I was 110 lbs before I got pregnant. I gained 45 and was up to 155 lbs. It took me quite a few months to get back to my pre-pregnancy size, but it did happen! I didn't think I would lose all that weight. Around 2 weeks pp I went to goodwill and picked up a pair of jeans. I unfortunately bought clothes in every size I dropped down to (over several months) because I was convinced I would keep the weight on. I didn't buy much, just a few shirts that worked for me and a few pairs of jeans. I guess I'm prepared for whatever happens with the next one!
Alicia (24) Levi (24)High-School Sweethearts
Went off BCP 12/2009 Born 3/18.
TTA until July or August
With my first, I lost all the weight by about 4-5 months and was able to fit into my jeans around 6 months. I was BFing a LOT (like around the clock for the first 2-3 months), on a restrictive diet for a good month or two (no sugar, limited dairy, etc), and working out a bit.
With my second, I still hadn't lost all the weight by 12 months (when I got pregnant again), but I think I fit into almost my smallest jeans by about 9 months? I was on a semi-restrictive diet for a long time (no dairy or eggs, but I had substitutes), she wasn't as big of a nurser, and most importantly, I did not work out at all.
Anyway, they say 9 months to put it on, 9 to take it off. But also remember that for some women, their hips grow during pregnancy and never completely shrink back. That wasn't my experience, but it is for some women. Hang in there, you really did JUST have a baby!
Susan - 30 married to Chris - 32
Catherine Anne born via c-section June 30, 2008
Rebecca Marie born naturally April 18, 2010
John McNary born naturally January 9, 2012
With DS I went from 112 lbs to 137 lbs. I lost most of the weight within the first month, but it took about 3 months for me to fit back into my pre-pg pants. People made fun of me, but I decided to buy a few regular pants in a size or two up to get me through those few months. It was hard having to buy a bigger size (since I've always been skinny), but it was totally worth the money to feel good about fitting into something :) Even though the new sizes I bought were a bit big as I was losing the weight, they did the job well enough... and now that I'm pg again they have helped as pre-maternity clothes pants, too :)
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DH Me, and
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. ~Romans 12:12~
Calladona: Anyway, they say 9 months to put it on, 9 to take it off. But also remember that for some women, their hips grow during pregnancy and never completely shrink back. That wasn't my experience, but it is for some women. Hang in there, you really did JUST have a baby!
I think this is really good advice!
I gained 65 in pregnancy. Ugh. I lost 40 of it in the first 4 weeks (BFing 12-14 times a day). I lost a bit more, but hit a plateau with 15 left to lose. I joined weight watchers almost 2 months ago to drop the last pounds. I've lost 10 of those, so I'm up 5 still at 4.5 months pp. I do have to say though, that I still don't really fit into my old pants. I think my weight is re-distributed. About half of my old pants button, but they don't look so hot.
I wore my maternity pants until I just couldn't do it anymore- just over 3 months pp. I went out and bought 2 pairs of pants at Goodwill. They are falling off me now! I think this has been way better for my mental state than continuing to wear maternity clothing. I should have done it sooner, but I was shocked at about 6 weeks pp when I went to buy a pair of shorts and I was up more than 4 sizes. I couldn't buy the shorts in that size, so I just kept wearing maternity things. I felt dumpy and frumpy in the stretched out maternity things. It would have been much better to buy a size that fit and then watch myself shrink out of them. I'm actually going to go buy some tops this week that fit better, to- I'm planning to keep BFing through to a year and my boobs are giant. Many of my cute tops are too short with these monsters!
Me (32), DH (33), 6/2010 6wks, Carl 6/19/11
You definitely have to give yourself time to lose that weight. I am very active, and have been for a long time, and active through my pregnancies... with my daughter I gained 30lbs, and breastfed until she was 18 months, and that last 5lbs clung to me until I stopped nursing. Your muscles take awhile to go back too, so even if you lose the weight it might take a while to get your tone back. Don't rush it...if you feel self-conscious try a post-partum band. That might make you feel a little slimmer and they are supposed to help your muscles go back faster...
It took me almost a year to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I think it took me about 6 or 7 months before I could fit into pre-pregnancy clothes. Like a PP, I went out and bought a couple of pants/shorts that were a size or 2 bigger than what I would normally wear. I got sick of wearing maternity clothes, and just wanted something "normal" to wear.
I did get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but things definitely didn't look the same! I had more pudge around my waist and midsection. (Now that I'm pregnant again, it's all changed all over again!)
PS My poor sister was very ill-informed about the postpartum body and packed her pre-pregnancy, size 4 jeans to wear home from the hospital! I think that it only took her about 6-8 weeks to get back into her jeans though. (We are nothing alike in that respect!!!)
Me-29 (+7)DH-36
Feb 2009 Katherine Ann born Feb. 20, 2010 Josephine May born Feb. 4, 2012
Chart (PP and 2nd pregnancy)
DDog "Gerry" 11 yo Cocker Spaniel living with hypothyroidism & epilepsyDDog "Mission" *Forever in our hearts* 1999-2011
With my first I think I was back in my pre-preg clothes after about 6-8 weeks...But I did keep a small 'muffin top' for quite a few months after. I did not exercise or diet or do anything specific other than BF-ing my DD until about 23mo. I did find my hips didn't 'shrink' back totally, so I have a bit more form than I did before but nothing horrible.
We'll see with this one how it goes. :)
I second the buying a couple pairs of jeans at the Goodwill to use as transition pants until you can wear your regular clothes again.
DS was born in the end of may so I remember only being a few weeks PP and wanting to wear my summer clothes. I tried a pair of Capri pants and they weren't even close to fitting and I felt very frustrated. So I didn't try anything prepregnancy for a few more weeks when one day I just tried a pair of pants and they fit. That was 6 weeks PP and those were my biggest jeans I had. By 10 weeks I fit everything and had lost my pregnancy pounds (35 lbs). For me it's the breastfeeding, I don't restrict my diet but I do take DS for long walks almost daily (1-2 hours). I keep saying I am going to be in for a shock once I finish breastfeeding! My body doesn't look the same as it did before baby but I love it, it's somehow more womanly if that makes sense?! Hang in there, as a PP said you really just had a baby, your body has been through a lot and one day you will be out of those annoying maternity clothes and into your old ones!
With my DS I did buy 2 pairs of work pants one size bigger - I HAD too.... and was so glad I did - but I didnt allow myself to buy anything else! I still wore my maternity tops since most of them had an empire waist and could easily be worn when not pregnant. Around 5 months PP I was back in all my pre-preg stuff but still had about 10 lbs to loose (I was nursing)
With DD pretty much the same story - I remember we had my DD baptized and when I saw the pics I thought "Oh I look skinny" So I decided to try on a pair of pre-preg pants and they fit! I still had 8 lbs to loose though.
By 7 months with DD I was back to my pre-preg weight and all my old clothes fit. I will say though I look good when fully dressed but naked? ugh..... I really need to tone up!!!!
Hang in there - it will come off!!!
me: 36 DH: 46
Sept 2008 - IVF/ICSI
March 2011 - au natural
I should say I was "lucky" I still had "fat pants" from a big 20 lb weight loss in the year before I got pregnant. I did go out and buy another pair or two of bigger pants and it was SUCH a good thing to have. I've used my sizing up and sizing down wardrobe every time I get pregnant and PP and it's really nice not to have to jump right into maternity wear or hang in maternity wear forever after the baby.
I'm glad you asked this question, as I've been wondering the same thing! I gained 35 lbs while pregnant, and lost 25 within the first 6 weeks, but the last 10 lbs have been hanging on for dear life I thought that bfing would melt the weight off, but I've read mixed things; some say that bfing helps you lose the weight, and some say that while bfing your body holds on to a bit of extra weight. I'm not really dieting or exercising though, so maybe I would have a different experience if I was. I agree with PPs that buying bigger clothes is a good idea. I'm still wearing maternity clothes at 6 months post-partum, and I hate it! I can kind of fit one pair of my pre-pregnancy jeans, but unless I wear them with a loose top, it's not pretty You're still super early on, and it sounds like everyone has had a different experience, so don't be to hard on yourself if the weight doesn't come off fast.
I only gained about 22 lbs during my pregnancy and it was gone fairly quickly (within a month), though I started out overweight. By 6-8 months PP I was about 30 lbs BELOW my pre-pregnancy weight due to exclusive pumping (I didn't exercise and ate anything I wanted...so it was all due to the pumping). But once I slowed/stopped pumping ~9-10 months PP the weight came back. It's all gone now, but that was due to good old fashioned hard work and eating better. I agree with PP that your hips may never go back to the size they were before. Good luck!!
Kate (32) DH (34) 7/4/2007DD 9-12-08DDog (4); kitty 7/5/11 BFP March 11, 2012HCG 220 (~15 dpo)Progesterone 15.4HCG 745 (~18 dpo)4/11/12 saw a little jelly bean on u/s measuring 8w2d with 158 !5/7/12 first trimester screening moving all around, anterior placenta, 1535/9/12 12 weeks, 159
I was in my pre-pregnancy clothes by 4 weeks. HOWEVER, I'm obese, and didn't gain much weight with my pregnancies. I think I gained between 15 and 20lbs for each one. With this one, at 15 weeks, I was down four pounds (but, clearly, can afford to do so.) I also haven't really changed body shape all that much (including shoe size.)
It has taken me longer every time, despite exclusively breastfeeding ds#1 and ds#3 (I had to wean ds#2 early to go back to fertility treatments.)
After ds#1, I went home in regular pants. Not jeans, because they were uncomfortable on my c-section scar; but comfy around the house pants that I wore before I was pregnant. But I could fit in the jeans if I wanted to.
After ds#2, it took a little longer...a few months, if I am remembering correctly. I recall that I had to go shopping and buy pants in bigger sizes and being surprised that I had to do that, as I didn't with my first son.
After ds#3, ha. Over 6 months, I know that. And even then, it was like my weight was distributed differently even though it read the same on the scale. My butt expanded and my thighs were different, even though my waist was small again.
I expect it to take even longer this time. I am 11 years older than when I had ds#1, afterall.
As for toning up..ha. My belly was nice and flat again after ds#1 and ds#2. It never recovered after my third. Flabby, stretched out skin. As a PP said, I looked just fine in my clothes but naked? Hate my tummy now. I'd love a tummy tuck someday..and a boob job. My boobs get progressively smaller every time I'm finished nursing a baby. I've never had huge boobs, but before ds#1 they were decent and proportionate to my size. Every time I wean a baby, they deflate smaller and smaller. They're going to go concave this time, I swear. So...my body has never been the same since having kiddos. Its okay. They're worth it!
June 13, 2011: BFP on 12dpo! 40 months in the making. chart: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/16c283
3 amazing sons, Natalie Grace arrived 2/12/2012 at 2:18 AM. 6 lb 13 oz!
Pre-preg I was 112. I gained about 42lbs. Idk what I weighed immediately pp I didn't get a chance to weigh myself until my 2 week pp check-up. Honestly I wouldn't look too much at the numbers. It's all how you feel and finding clothes that fit for the time being. I wore my maternity jeans as long as I could as they were cuter then my regular jeans lol!
Morgan (23) Kyle (23)
BFP 5/9/10 Mother's Day with a at 4wk4d
BFP 6/14/10 EDD 2/24/11 2 days after hubby's birthday
Briggs Jameson 2/15/2011 6lbs 11oz 20 1/2inches 3:47am
I'm also curious how this will go! I was 124 before (I'm 5'2", so average build - size 4/6 pants). I gained 41 lbs - was 165 day before he was born. 2 weeks later, I'm down 20 lbs. I'm BF'ing. I am not all that athletic, so I don't envision myself working out a great deal, but I'd like to start walking him around more now that I'm not so zapped. I definitely get light-headed when I don't eat good full meals, but I do eat relatively well - whole grain, low fat, etc. My big craving has been Simply Apple apple juice - sugary, I'm sure, but it helps with the whole "going" process and makes me feel less woozy.
I did mostly fit into a pair of my looser pre-pg jeans today, but with a big muffin top, lol, so I left them unbuttoned and wore a belly band.
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TTC for 3 months
First BFN on January 19, 2011!
Baby #1- started at 132, got up to 165 (33 lb gain), had 9lbs to go at 6 week checkup, back to 132 by 4 months
Baby #2- started at 120, got up to 152 (32 lb gain), had 12 lbs to go at 6 week checkup, still have 4 lbs to go at 4 months
But my "normal" jeans from weighing 132 fit me again when my 2nd baby was 1 week old. (they are super low-waisted so that helped!) My smaller jeans fit around 8 or 10 weeks pp, but I still can't wear a tight shirt with them.
It seems everyone is saying their hips are bigger after having children despite being the same weight... I found the opposite. I used to carry weight in my thighs and butt and have a small waist, but now it all goes straight to the flabby tire that is my waist!
I second that permanent muffin-top! I hear sit-ups help, but I have only done 4 since becoming a mom.. but of course as a PP said the babies are waaay worth it!
Joelle Natalia, born 6/15/2009 8lbs 15oz @41 weeks 5 days
My little baby, I will love you always! M/C found @ 13 w. Baby measured 7w6d. D&C 8/20/10
Melanie Rose, born 7/18/2011 8lbs 9oz @41 weeks 2 days
I started at 130, went to 162. Lost 16 of that immediately (was 146 when I got home), then went down to 139 around 2 weeks pp. My appetite skyrocketed and I gained back to 145 and there I sat until about 2m pp. I started losing it slowly at that point and at 6.5m pp I am now at 136ish. I don't do anything in particular to lose, and I am still eating more than normal, also still BFing. Just recently I started losing more (like a pound a week) and I think its because my son is eating solids now and my AF returned.
I fit into all but my smallest jeans at 2m pp. I still have to wear my belly band with some of my dress pants. I think my hips expanded a bit. Also, I think SOME women lose the weight fast with BFing and some hold on to a few pounds (like me!) until the BFing is done.
With my first it took forever. I only was able to BF for a couple of months but even with exercise and eating healthy it took almost a year!
With my second, I am not sure what the difference was but It was about a month later I was wearing my pre pregnancy jeans again.
I have always liked the 9 months on 9 months off philosophy!
Maria-35 DH-42, 2 Sweet Boys and 6 Teeny Angels make that 7 Teeny Angels Waiting in Heaven .