Weight Loss After a C-Section

Thousands of births occur in the United States on a daily basis. Of those, many are cesarean births. This type of birth, because it requires major abdominal surgery, means that a mother may have a more difficult time losing weight than a mother who delivers vaginally. However, weight loss still can be achieved after a cesarean delivery.

Swim

Swim to thin. Many exercise regimens, such as yoga or Pilates, require bending or twisting that are not advisable in the first few weeks and months after a cesarean delivery. Swimming, by contrast, is an exercise that relies mainly on buoyancy and limb movement rather than bending or twisting. This makes it an ideal exercise for someone who needs to be careful not to stress the abdominal region. Those who wish to swim after a cesarean still should clear the exercise with their doctors, however, since the incision must be healed to a certain point, and chemicals in pools may irritate or cause infection.

Breastfeed

Breastfeed the baby. Breastfeeding aids in weight loss after pregnancy for both cesarean and vaginal deliveries. This is because breastfeeding requires the mother's body to use maternal fat stores in the process of milk production. Breastfeeding does not guarantee that a mother will lose a particularly large amount of weight, but the weight that is lost can be lost entirely without a change in diet or exercise. This can be beneficial to a mother who has just had a cesarean, since exercising after surgery can be difficult, and trying to minimize caloric intake after a major surgery can slow recovery due to the fact that the body may not receive enough vitamins, nutrients, and minerals to heal quickly.

Eat

Eat. Although this may seem counterproductive at first, eating after a cesarean actually can increase the amount of weight that a mother can lose provided that the diet is well-balanced and properly portioned. This is because the body requires vitamins, nutrients and minerals to heal and to support the new baby (if the mother is breastfeeding). Conversely, when a mother who has had a cesarean delivery does not eat properly, she can encounter problems such as anemia, which can cause fainting, dizziness and fatigue that can make it hard to exercise and get back in shape. Diet management thus is a good way for cesarean mothers to lose weight after delivery; dieting is not.