What to do if your belly is still big after giving birth? 9 natural ways to reduce your belly

The baby has been born, but my belly is still the same size as before for a long time. Many mothers have encountered this problem. No matter whether it is a natural birth or a caesarean section, the belly will still feel like there was a baby for several months after delivery. During the breastfeeding period, you must supplement enough nutrition for the baby, and it will be more difficult to regain your figure. Let’s take a look at how to eat healthily during breastfeeding and naturally lose belly fat.

Belly after giving birth

When a woman is pregnant, her relatives and friends will use various foods to help her nourish the fetus. In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, the appetite gradually increases, resulting in a lot of extra weight gain during pregnancy. Even after giving birth, it is difficult to regain the figure.

Most women will try their best to lose weight after giving birth to get rid of their bloated abdomen, but please don’t forget that after 9 months of growth, in addition to the increase in fat, the uterus has also been enlarged. It will take some time to restore the belly to a flat state. However, breastfeeding after giving birth requires sufficient nutrition, so it is best not to diet to lose weight, so as not to have no milk for the baby. The following are some natural ways to lose belly fat for mothers to refer to. Remember to give yourself more time and don’t rush it.

9 natural ways to reduce your belly fat

1. Breastfeeding

We all know that breast milk has many benefits for babies, but it actually has great benefits for the mother as well. One of them is that it can help restore the body after childbirth! The baby's sucking action can promote oxytocin in the mother's body, which in turn causes uterine contractions, allowing the uterus to slowly return to its normal size. And every time the baby sucks 1cc of breast milk, it can consume about 1 calorie for the mother, so if the baby drinks 100cc of breast milk, the mother is equivalent to consuming 100 calories. Let you burn calories even if you sit still!

2. Avoid "empty calorie" foods

Empty calorie foods refer to foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients, also known as junk food. Candies, biscuits, chocolates, cakes, French fries, drinks, etc. are almost all made up of refined sugar and artificial additives. These will only accumulate into fat in the body, which is a major cause of obesity. Therefore, if you want to quickly regain your figure after childbirth, you should eat less empty calorie foods and take in enough B vitamins to increase metabolism and increase the rate of energy consumption. You can take in whole grains such as brown rice, corn, purple rice, whole oats, or fresh lettuce and fruit.

3. Drink green tea

Green tea contains catechins, which can promote metabolism, help burn fat, and prevent the absorption of some oils. Drinking it after exercise can greatly increase the effect of slimming the lower abdomen. But we must remind everyone that no matter what food you eat, you should drink it in moderation. It is recommended to drink 1 to 2 cups a day, and remember to drink extra water. Try not to drink it after 4 pm to avoid the caffeine in green tea affecting sleep quality.

4. Massage

Massage can effectively eliminate abdominal fat. You can do local massage on the part you want to eliminate, and then apply essential oils or lotions on your belly, and then massage in a clockwise circle for about 10 to 20 minutes each time. This action can heat up the abdomen, promote metabolism and blood circulation, and then burn fat. If you can cross it with other exercises, the effect will be better!

5. Warm water

Drinking a cup of warm water when you wake up in the morning can help expel toxins from the body, and it will also increase body temperature, thereby increasing the metabolic rate and burning calories. So when you are thirsty, try to drink warm water. If you feel greasy, you can add a few slices of lemon, which can also help dissolve fat tissue.

6. Eat more cabbage (or other green vegetables)

The "cabbage" weight loss method was very popular many years ago. It has been proven that vegetables can reduce the accumulation of abdominal fat after childbirth and improve the absorption of nutrients. At the same time, they contain dietary fiber, which can help with bowel movements. Cabbage in particular is a low-calorie vegetable and is rich in a variety of essential vitamins, such as riboflavin (vitamin B2), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), thiamine (vitamin B1), etc.

7. Spices: ginger, chili, pepper

After the confinement period, people are less restricted in their diet. In the warm winter, you may add some spicy spices to your dishes, such as pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, and chili peppers. These can not only increase appetite and warm the body, but also increase metabolism, inhibit fat accumulation, and reduce excessive calorie intake, thereby achieving the effect of weight loss. However, be careful not to add too much salt when cooking with spices to avoid edema.

8. Avoid stress

Stress releases a stress hormone (cortisol), which can cause you to feel tired, irritable, and cause weight gain or stagnation. High pressure makes you crave sweets and high-fat foods, so you must avoid stress. You should find ways to relieve stress, such as listening to music, drawing, singing, etc., or you can catch up on sleep when your baby is sleeping. Extra sleep can eliminate stress hormones in the body.

9. Exercise your lower abdomen

After childbirth, you still need some recovery period. You cannot go to the gym to exercise immediately, whether it is a natural birth or a caesarean section, but you can take a simple walk. After the confinement period, you must ask a doctor to evaluate your physical condition before starting to gradually resume exercise. Generally speaking, it takes 1.5 to 2 months for a natural birth and 2 months to half a year for a caesarean section. However, if you feel any discomfort during exercise, you must stop immediately and consult a doctor.