How important is it to lose weight post-delivery?

Top Stories

How important is it to lose weight post-delivery?

Join the debate

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Fri 21 Jul 2017, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Fri 28 Jul 2017, 10:45 AM

A lot of changes occur in women once they give birth - whether it's their first time or not. The body, which has been nurturing another human life within, is depleted. And that's just the beginning. A new mother feels constantly exhausted. Babies are demanding, and their needs have to be met around the clock. If you add to this the pressure to look amazing, you can imagine the stress it can create.
Yet, we are bombarded with images of celeb mums returning to a size zero weeks after giving birth (with a lot of help, no doubt), and that permeates into every layer of our society. A neighbour might have shed her baby weight in two weeks, or a sister-in-law may be bragging about how she never gained a lot to begin with. At some point, it becomes an unhealthy obsession superseding the well-being of the mother who just needs all the support she can get.
I know it's important to stay fit, but I also feel like mums should not be judged for carrying around a few pounds when they've just gone through the travails of pregnancy and childbirth. They may have more important things to do than hit the gym - those precious newborn days aren't going to last very long. As an expat mum, I know those early days are doubly hard, since close family members may not live nearby to lend a helping hand.
Let's also remember that every woman's body is different. It's easier for some to lose weight than others. Personally, I found that breastfeeding helped me lose weight after both my babies. I gained quite a bit after I stopped. But even though I didn't look like the 'perfect' mum, I felt happy with who I was, and what I meant to my children. 'Getting your body back', as people say, has never been my priority.  I'm content with my newer body which has already endured so much in birthing my little ones.
I understand if losing weight is important for some mums to be happy, but it shouldn't become the standard expected of each of us. When I see a mother with her little baby, I see the love between the two of them, not her makeup, and certainly not her waist size.
- Tarana Khan Siddiqi is a mum of two boys, blogging about her parenting adventures at www.sandinmytoes.tk. You can find her on social media @sandinmytoestk

(From L to R) Tarana Khan Siddiqi and Cheryl Parsons
The amount of pressure to lose weight after a birth has always frustrated me. As a yoga instructor, I have often had students come and ask me how quickly they can get back to their yoga practice, or how long it will take their belly to snap back to normal. After two (almost 5kg) babies, I've experienced first-hand how a body can change, and how shifting the baby weight can become an obsession - to the point that you feel worn out and unhappy in your own skin.
I say this because that is how I felt after my first child - an overwhelming sense that I should be slimmer, fitter and more able to cope with the huge transition of motherhood, all within months of giving birth. But the truth is: that should never be a priority. As a new mum, you've got so much on your plate that the last thing you want to have to worry about is a number on the scales. Being healthy and happy within is far more important than losing all those jiggly bits.
Since having my second child, I've been far more appreciative of my body and the mammoth journey it has been through. My yoga practice has taught me acceptance, and the ability to relax and just give myself a break. Life as a mum is far too busy to be crash dieting, and knocking ourselves out with punishing workouts. My daughter is now 5 and my son is 2, and while my weight has come down gradually, I'm still heavier than I used to be before I had my kids. I'm not sure if I'll ever wake up to 20K Instagram followers adoring my washboard stomach, but I'm totally okay with that!
While I no longer have time for leisurely yoga sessions, I still enjoy the practice and find that is possible to fit in smaller sessions here and there. For example, I'll roll out my mat while the kids are in the garden and do a quick 10 minutes of sun salutations, or a mini workout to get my heart rate up. To me, being mentally strong is more important than shedding the pounds. Be patient with yourself, new mums. You're doing an amazing job.
- Cheryl Parsons is a yoga instructor, blogger, and mum of two. You can follow her parenting journey at www. thepeacelily.com, or @thepeacelily on Facebook/Instagram


More news from