8 Healthy Ways To Lose Weight After A C-Section

Remember: You're still healing. Your body needs time to heal after pregnancy (which is why the idea of "snapping back" is totally toxic). But that's especially true for women who have had C-sections.

After a C-section, your body can take up to 12 weeks to fully recuperate (this is a bit different from the 6 to 8 weeks in standard deliveries), says Dr. Garavelas. A C-section is a major surgery, after all. In that time, your stitches will heal, your uterus will return to its regular size, and your body will release any extra fluid retained during pregnancy, she says. So yeah, it's important to give it time.

Still, it can be uncomfortable (and annoying) waiting for your body to get back to its baseline. Here are a few things you can do to lose some extra baby weight in a healthy way.

? 1. First and foremost, be patient.

Again with the "snap back" thing—C-section recovery takes time. According to, Dr. Garavelas, total recovery will take about six to eight weeks and, until then, you shouldn't overdo it. So, prioritize your health, eat smart meals, and hydrate.

The most important thing to remember is that you cannot spot reduce and target only your midsection when it comes to weight loss—C-section or not. You’ll need to focus on your entire body, which will take time but is totally possible.

? 2. Breastfeed—but don't restrict your calories.

Typically, moms will notice that if they are feeling their body properly with a generally healthy diet and enough calories, some of the weight gained during pregnancy will naturally come off without any restrictions. That's thanks, in large part, to breastfeeding, which can burn about 300 to 500 calories per day, producing and releasing milk to nourish your baby.

? 3. Don’t cut anything out and eat smart.

This is not a time to deprive yourself and restrict foods unnecessarily, so try to consider ways to add nutrition into your day, rather than removing nutrition. That means focusing on nutrient-dense foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—and skipping any fad diets.

Plus, by adding more nutrient-dense foods to your diet, you’ll end up snacking less on things that are full of calories but lacking in nutrients, have fewer cravings, and manage your blood sugar levels—all important things for any weight-loss goals.

? 4. Try your best to get enough sleep.

You probably just rolled your heavy, tired eyes reading this, but sleep makes a difference. Lack of sleep will not only affect breast-milk production, but your metabolism, food choices, and hunger pangs, according to Dr. Garavelas. If you’re not sleeping enough, you’ll be tempted to reach for unhealthy and low-nutrient snacks for a quick boost of energy, especially since cooking takes time and energy—two things new moms don't have a lot of.

? 5. Don't forget to drink enough water.

Hydration is critical to your milk production, but also to resisting cravings. Sometimes cravings are really signs that you need to drink because you’re getting dehydrated. Postpartum bodies require much more fluid—a few extra glasses per day—than others since so much of it goes to the baby. And while you’re at it, avoid higher calorie beverages like juices that often have a lot of calories and little fiber.

? 6. Stay away from post pregnancy belts and girdles.

It’s important to do everything you can to allow your core muscles to work on their own, which means skipping any post-pregnancy belts or girdles. You want your core muscles to heal and strengthen through exercise—post-pregnancy belts or corsets will only weaken them more, since your core will end up relying on something else to keep them in place.

? 7. Focus on stability exercises.

Moves like squats or planks—a.k.a. exercises that focus more on stability than rotation or extension—allow new moms who’ve had C-sections to rebuild and strengthen their cores and pelvic floors. Even though you didn’t deliver your baby vaginally, your pelvic floor will have still experienced trauma. Focus on exercises that bring your entire body, not just your stomach, to the healthiest state. These moves are also ideal for diastasis recti—when your abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy—since they strengthen the muscles and tissue in the midsection without too much movement.

? 8. Keep your core protected at all times.

While diastases can be a pain when it comes to the stomach "pooch," it can also lead to other health issues down the road, like back pain, urinary stress incontinence, and pelvic floor dysfunction. That means being mindful about your core, even when you're not exercising (keep a neutral spine and your shoulders relaxed). Eliminate crunches from your workout routine, along with any moves that make you push your abs forward (keep your hand on your stomach when working your core and watch yourself in the mirror).