Just How Soon After Having A Baby Is It Realistic To Try And Fit Into Those Pre-Pregnancy Jeans?

That depends, say the experts, on a number of things including how high your body mass index was before getting pregnant.

"Women with higher pre-pregnancy BMIs (BMI > 27) are at greater risk of higher weight retention at one year postpartum," says a Canadian government health agency.

According to Health Canada, the majority of women studied weighed 1 to 2 kg more than their pre-pregnancy weight one year after the birth of their baby. Another 20 to 30 percent of women weighed 4 to 5 kg more than their pre-pregnancy weight.

Let's face it, reducing your BMI after pregnancy isn't easy?

If you are struggling to reduce your BMI after pregnancy, you are not alone. Try to keep in mind that it took almost a year for your baby to grown and your body to stretch, so be kind to yourself and remember ? the weight gain brought you a beautiful bundle of joy. Here are some tips for feeling great after pregnancy:

  • Breastfeed your baby as long as possible ? it's good for the baby and helps you lose weight
  • Eat nutritious foods
  • Make time for exercise
  • Try to rest as much as possible
  • Don't forget to enjoy your beautiful baby!
If your BMI after pregnancy is too high for your liking, try to take solace in the fact that women with healthy or even high pre-pregnancy body mass index tend to have babies with higher birth weights?and this is a good thing.

On the other hand, women with a low pre-pregnancy BMI (< 20) are encouraged to gain more weight during pregnancy because they tend to have lower weight babies. Here's the guideline for Healthy Weight Gain During Pregnancy Based on Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index:

BMI Chart Ideal Weight Gain

< 20 28 - 40 pounds

20 to 25 25 - 35 pounds

25 to 30 15 - 25 pounds

> 30 (obese) 15 pounds

Please note that this guideline does not apply to multiple birth pregnancies and the BMI chart refers to pre-pregnancy levels only. BMI during pregnancy is not relevant. Always consult your physician.

Here is a reference to the BMI Chart. If your looking for more information on your Body Mass Index please visit my site at My Body Mass Index (http://www.mybodymassindex.com).

Feel free to reprint this article on your own site or in your newsletter but please leave the resource box intact with a live link to my site.

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Pregnant Running: Expectant Runners Share Stories and Advice

When I became pregnant I planned to run throughout my... Read More

Sex & Pregnancy...Do They Mix?

As a pregnant woman, you may experience sex drives much... Read More

The Truth About Labor and Childbirth

Labor and childbirth was an amazing, positive experience for me,... Read More

When Your Nipples Need Band-Aids - A Breastfeeding Problem

In the olden days, mothers were told to toughen their... Read More

10 Pregnancy Risk Factors that Every Pregnant Woman Should be Aware of

Many factors affect the development of a fetus into a... Read More

Avoiding Episiotomy During Childbirth

I coached as my wife was delivering our third child.... Read More

Exercise During Pregnancy

One of the best things you can do for yourself... Read More

Pregnancy, Diabetes, and Your Feet

There are so many changes the body undergoes during pregnancy... Read More

After Birth Weight Control

After having given birth; weight becomes a lasting issue for... Read More

How Do I Date My Pregnancy?

Accurate dating of pregnancy is one of the most important... Read More

Obesity And Pregnancy

If you are overweight when you become pregnant, your physician... Read More

Keeping Cool When Pregnant

Chill Out: how to keep your cool this summerWhen the... Read More

What is an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Ectopic is another way of saying "out of place". An... Read More

Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk: Why Women Do It

Exclusively pumping breast milk is best thought of as an... Read More

Pregnancy And Celiac Disease

If you have celiac disease and are well controlled because... Read More

Labor and Delivery

This is it - the finish line. You and your... Read More

Abortions After Fetal Viability

Abortion is without a doubt one of the hottest and... Read More

Coping With an Unplanned Pregnancy

Your period is late and you start to think maybe... Read More

Dietary Precautions During Pregnancy

When you are pregnant, you should be sure to wash... Read More

Womens Health - Pregnancy Nutrition is for All Women of Child Bearing Age

During pregnancy your nutrition needs are going to increase. Even... Read More

You Might Be Pregnant If

Your breasts are now twice their normal size.One of the... Read More

Exercising After Pregnancy

Generally most women can begin a formal exercise program within... Read More

Extent of Pregnancy Prejudice

Extent of pregnancy prejudice in Britain's workplacesEach year around 30,000... Read More

Expressing Breast Milk: Pumping for Your Preemie

The shock and stress of having a baby born prematurely... Read More

Baby Essentials - A Guide For First Time Mums

Are you a first time expectant mum wandering around the... Read More

Homebirth Midwifery

What is Homebirth Midwifery? Homebirth Midwifery is prenatal care that... Read More

Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk

It is commonly recognized that breast milk is the best... Read More

How Fast Will I Lose The Weight I Gained During Pregnancy?

Remember as with any weight loss and exercise program, moderation... Read More

Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Choosing The Right Foods

So you need to gain weight but don't want to... Read More

Preparing for a Vaginal Birth after Cesarean

WHY LACK OF SUPPORT?Several years ago, ACOG, American College of... Read More

The Dos and Donts of Pregnancy

With so many people giving their opinion on what to... Read More

Folic Acid - An Overview of Its Importanace Before and During Pregnancy

FOLIC ACID ? AN OVERVIEWFolic Acid, also know as Vitamin... Read More

How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy

Weight control is a prevalent concern for many women after... Read More