Will I lose weight if I breastfeed? When should I wear a belly band? Doctors explain 9 Q&As about postpartum weight loss

Now, Zhu Jizhang, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of United Hospital Yangming Branch, will answer questions for all postpartum mothers!

Q1Is the critical period for postpartum weight loss 6 months? When is the best time to start losing weight?

During pregnancy, it is recommended to gain 1 kg per month on average. Gaining about 10 kg during the entire pregnancy is ideal. If you gain 20 kg, it would be a bit too much. If you care a lot about your weight, you should not gain too much weight during pregnancy, so that it won't be so difficult to lose weight afterwards.

Many people say that the critical period for postpartum weight loss is 6 months. This is of course because the later you start exercising, the harder it will be to remove the fat once it is fixed. I even suggest starting exercise after one month (this is an exception if you had any problems during childbirth, in which case you need to consult your obstetrician and gynecologist)!

Q2 My belly feels loose after giving birth. When can I wear a belly band or slimming clothes?

There is no clear medical regulation on when you cannot wear bras. You can wear them after giving birth if you want. For mothers who have had a caesarean section, doctors will recommend that they wear a belly band to stabilize the wound. Mothers who have given birth naturally can wear it at any time, but please do not wear it for 24 hours, otherwise it will make your body very uncomfortable. I suggest that if you want to lose weight, you should combine it with exercise to achieve better results.

Q3For people who had a caesarean section, how long should they wait before they can exercise again after giving birth?

Regardless of whether you had a caesarean section or a natural birth, you can usually exercise after the confinement period! Unless you have a problem with your wound, it is recommended that you assess your recovery condition or consult your obstetrician and gynecologist before exercising. So what kind of exercise is better? It is recommended to start with gentle exercises or exercises that you are familiar with in the early stages. For example, if you have been swimming before pregnancy, go swimming; if you have done yoga, go do it; walking is also a good exercise because it can increase your cardiopulmonary function.

The walking mentioned here refers to "brisk walking". You should walk until your heart beats faster and you sweat, and you have to walk for at least 30 minutes to burn off the calories. You must develop a habit of "regularity" and "persistence" in exercise. This applies to any exercise. As long as you can develop and adhere to these two good habits, you will be close to successful weight loss.

Q4Will breastfeeding really make me thinner?

Breastfeeding will make you thinner, that’s for sure! Because breastfeeding consumes calories, if it is combined with a "smart diet", weight will naturally decrease. But many people told me, "I get hungry easily when breastfeeding, and I have to eat nutritious food, so how can I lose weight?" I want to tell you that eating nutritious food does not equal high calories. There are many ways to cook food. For example, a fish can be fried, stir-fried, deep-fried, or steamed. Of course, steaming fish can get the most nutrition and the lowest calorie intake!

Q5 I eat a lot of nutritious food during the confinement period. How can I lose weight?

During the confinement period, you must not gain any more weight, otherwise it will be difficult to lose weight afterwards. During the confinement period, we need to learn how to eat “smartly”. If we also breastfeed, we will definitely lose weight! When our family members help us to nourish our bodies, we should never overdo it. We can ask them to prepare "fish soup" to replace "pork feet stewed with peanuts" and "sesame oil chicken". This way, we will definitely get enough nutrition and the calories are very low!

Q6What is the “smart diet” to follow to lose weight after childbirth? How to eat?

In fact, no matter how you lose weight, you must follow the "smart diet". Eat smartly and move lightly, and you can lose weight. It is usually recommended to reduce starch intake, such as replacing it with whole grains, or eating half a bowl of rice instead. Eat less red meat and replace it with chicken and fish. This way you will get higher protein and lower calories. If you still choose to eat fried chicken, roast duck, or dishes with a lot of condiments, it will be a waste of time for you to lose weight.

【Smart diet KEY POINT】

● The more delicate and delicious the food is, the higher the calories it contains, such as small cakes, bread, egg tarts, etc.

● The way food is cooked determines its calories and nutrition. You actually understand these principles, but whether you can follow them depends on your willpower.

● White rice can be replaced by whole grains or corn, eat less red meat and eat white meat instead, and eat more vegetables.

Q7I am breastfeeding, so I shouldn’t lose weight?

Losing weight does not mean dieting! If you want to lose weight successfully, the principle you need to follow is "eat smartly + move easily". Losing weight does not mean you have to eat nothing, so even if you are breastfeeding, you can still lose weight, because as long as you follow the "smart diet", you will eat more nutritious food with lower calories, and it will not affect the amount of milk, which is more helpful for breastfeeding mothers.

Q8 Can edema, constipation, and cellulite be improved through exercise?

During pregnancy, because there is a baby in the belly, the amount of fluid in the body increases greatly and the circulatory function becomes worse, which can easily cause edema, constipation, orange peel, stretch marks and other problems. These problems can actually be improved through exercise after childbirth, but the results will not be seen overnight. It takes persistent exercise to gradually improve these problems.

Q9 When breastfeeding, you should avoid eating spicy food or cold food?

Can I eat spicy food or ice cream while breastfeeding? In fact, there is no prohibition from the perspective of Western medicine, and there are no taboos in this regard in advanced countries such as Europe and the United States. However, ice cream is prone to bacteria during the manufacturing process. Usually, food must be boiled to reduce bacteria, but ice cream does not require this heating process, so it is easier for bacteria and microorganisms to grow. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers still need to pay special attention when eating it. In addition, spicy foods are high in calories, so mothers who want to lose weight should try to eat less of these foods!

This article is from Orange Culture "Meat Floss Auntie OUT! Waist, abdomen, hips and legs firming and slimming exercises: 40 fat-burning movements X4 sets of full-body firming exercises, effective fat reduction to develop solid lines! 》