#MondayMotivation: Most Women Face These Difficulties While Losing Post-Pregnancy Weight

Having a baby is one of the most thrilling and exciting life experiences, but the difficulty faced by mothers can be challenging. Getting back to shape is no joke because of the potential long-term consequences of postpartum weight retention and subsequent obesity. It is essential to take care of yourself and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some of the symptoms caused:

• Vaginal discharge
• Breast problems
• Excessive bleeding after delivery
• Hair loss
• Stretch marks
• Depression
• Chronic health condition

Also Read: #MondayMotivation: 5 Things No One Tells You About Labour And Childbirth

These can be the significant causes of post-birth symptoms. Here are the reasons why losing weight after pregnancy can be challenging:

Sleep Deprivation

Due to the lack of sleep, the brain doesn’t work efficiently. Therefore there is a change in the body hormones, and that very change can be daunting for the mother, especially if breastfeeding. Both stress and sleep can affect our body dramatically, so it’s necessary to have a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

Anxiety

New moms must handle the newborn baby, and that’s why they don’t give much attention to their health. The feeling of exhaustion and stress can increase your stress hormones that slow down your fat metabolism. Hence, taking extra stress and constant worrying over the baby’s health can have some serious repercussions on the mother’s health too.

Pregnancy effects

There is an increase in weight gain when a woman gets pregnant and more body fat is added. It isn’t very easy for a new mother to take out time to exercise and sleep. Having a new baby is like having a whole new responsibility on you. In the race of taking care of your child makes it difficult to think about your health. Right from feeding to cleaning and to putting the baby to sleep, it is mostly the mother who ends up suffering due to exhaustion.

Also Read: #MondayMotivation: New Mommy Sucheta Pal Talks About How She Sailed Through Her 3rd Trimester

PCOS struggles

According to various studies, between 5 and 10 per cent of women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This condition is characterised by a hormonal imbalance that makes weight loss more difficult and causes menstrual irregularity.

How your body changes after pregnancy

You might get ready mentally to exercise but not physically. It’s important not to overdo exercises. Labour and birth can cause physical problems including back pain, which can be made worse by vigorous exercise. Your joints and ligaments are affected by pregnancy hormones for up to 6 months after the birth which can put you at greater risk of injury.

During the pregnancy, your abdominal muscles may get separated, but they go back to normal after birth. To strengthen the muscles you will need to do exercises. The bladder, uterus and bowel are supported by the muscles and ligaments that can be weakened after pregnancy, especially if you have pushed for a long time. Hence exercising too vigorously can cause injury and increase your chance of prolapse.

Also Read: #MondayMotivation: Be Careful, These Activites Can Risk Pregnancy

Words of Wisdom By Sucheta

When a new mom starts her recovery via exercise ( after receiving doctors permission and under professional guidance), then she knows how it is done as a mom and as a woman. Usually, when you give birth to a child, you feel more exhausted and tired. The recovery can take at least 6 weeks to heal completely. Mental health plays another role in getting your body back to shape and can be achieved by exercising. We know women require that mental resilience which all women will swear by, is a must in motherhood.

Kudos to all those mothers out there who have been facing the difficulty with a smile.

(With inputs from Sucheta’s Instagram)

Read more articles on Weight Management