Conception

Melinda was a beautiful, 37 year-old woman who was pregnant with her second baby. After divorcing her first partner, she decided to try IVF with her new partner as she was getting older. Unfortunately, she died in childbirth as a complication of a medical condition called preeclampsia.

So what is preeclampsia, you may ask?

Preeclampsia is a condition seen in pregnant women and it shows the following characteristics:

• High blood pressure
• Presence of proteins in the urine
• Swelling of the legs and hand due to accumulation of fluid in the body.

Preeclampsia is usually seen at after the 20^th week of pregnancy, although it can occur before that.

Some women may also complain of other symptoms like severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, a dramatic weight gain due to increase in body fluid, belly pain and dizziness.

What are the causes of preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia develops only as a complication of pregnancy. Some studies attribute it to issues with the way the placenta implants to the mother’s womb. There has been no certified reason. However, risk factors include:

Age. If you are quite young (less than 18 years) or older than 35, you have a higher chance of getting it.

Obesity. The risk of preeclampsia is higher if you’re overweight or obese.

Multiple pregnancy. Women carrying more than one baby (twins or more) are at a higher risk of developing preeclampsia.

Interval between pregnancies. If you have less than two years’ interval between your children, or there are are more than 10 years between them, you might be at higher risk.

History of certain conditions. Women with a previous history of diabetes, chronic hypertension are also at higher risk.

New paternity. Like Melinda, each pregnancy with a new partner increases the risk.

First pregnancy. The risk is highest during your first pregnancy.

Race. Black women have been shown to be at higher risk of developing preeclampsia.

History of preeclampsia. If anyone in your family has had pre-eclempsia, there is a chance it might occur again.

Complications

Some complications of preeclampsia include:

• Fetal growth restriction. Preeclampsia may affect the arteries carrying blood to the placenta. This would lead to a reduction in nutrients reaching the baby and thus, stunted growth of the baby.
• Preterm birth. Severe preeclampsia is a medical emergency and can lead to preterm. Prematurity can lead to breathing and other problems for your baby.
• Eclampsia. In severe cases, the woman might progress to eclampsia, which is characterised by seizures
• Organ damage. Preeclampsia may result in damage to organs like the kidneys, liver, lung, heart, or eyes. It can also cause a stroke or other brain injury. The extent of the damage depends on how severe the preeclampsia.

The earlier it occurs in pregnancy, the greater the risks for mother and child.

Prevention

There is no clear-cut way that has been proven to treat this condition. However, some studies have reported an association between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of preeclampsia.

Before you become pregnant, it is quite important to be in your best state of health. Also, using your Body Mass Index (BMI), try to attain your optimal weight and make sure other conditions, such as diabetes, are well-managed. Last but not the least, please visit your antenatal clinic as regularly as possible.

Losing Baby Weight Fast: Eight Strategies That Are Guaranteed To Work

Nkem stared long and hard at herself in the mirror; and she didn’t like what she saw.

It had been two weeks since she delivered her baby. She expected that by now, she’d have shed most of the weight gained during pregnancy.

After all, she had seen celebrities do it.

Sadly, her current body was far from its pre-pregnancy state. She now had fat in her tummy, arranged in rolls that weren’t there before. Her clothes still did not fit and putting on jeans has become a deep struggle.

Although she loved her baby and enjoyed the entire pregnancy process, Nkem was not pleased with the weight gain and had hoped to shed it as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, this was proving very difficult.         

Just like Nkem, many women struggle with shedding excess weight after childbirth. Most give up along the way, thinking it is an impossible feat.

If you’re in these shoes, you need not worry.

Losing baby weight is achievable and we are here to help you with the right way to go about it.          

What Is Baby Weight?  

Weight gain during pregnancy is normal.

Your body stores extra fat to prepare for childbirth and breastfeeding. Storing too much causes excess weight gain, called “baby weight”.

Here’s How To Lose Baby Weight

 A combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise is the best way.

The extent of weight loss achievable varies from woman to woman. The amount of weight gained during pregnancy also plays a role.

However, regardless of your body type, we have compiled some tips to help you lose the extra pounds, especially around your tummy!

1. Calorie Counting

Counting calories is a great way to lose weight. Experts recommend that your calorie budget should be designed so that you lose no more than 1 pound (approximately 1/2kg) per week.

This can be achieved by subtracting 500 calories from your daily calorie requirement, creating a weekly deficit of 3,500 calories. This equates to 1pound.

As a nursing mother, you do not need to subtract from your daily requirement. Producing breast milk requires about 450-500 extra calories. Therefore, taking the same number of calories as you did before getting pregnant would still help you lose weight.

2. Food Logging

A food log is a diary where you record down everything you eat. It is an efficient way to keep track of calories. You can do this with a physical diary where you write down everything you eat.

Calorie counting apps can also be used to keep track of your calorie intake. Some of these apps give you the caloric content of foods.

This helps you know the right portions to eat for your budget.

3. A Healthy Diet Is Key

A healthy diet does not translate to boring food, neither does it mean eating fruits and vegetables only.

Your aim is a well-balanced diet that provides the right nutrients in the right quantity, at the same time, helping you lose general body weight and tummy fat.

Some modifications you could make to your diet include;

• Cutting back on carbs (White bread, pasta and chips)
• Including more protein (Lean beef, Seafood, Eggs and Beans)
• Eating more vegetables (Tomatoes, Bitter leaves, Water leaves, Cabbage, Cucumbers and Carrots)
• Consuming only healthy fats (Olive, Coconut and Avocado oils)
• Eating high-fibre foods (Oats, Abacha [African salad], Avocados and Whole-wheat bread)
• Taking more fruits (Apples, Berries and Oranges)

4. Avoid Junk Food

Junk food is not your friend when trying to lose to baby weight, especially around your tummy.

It does very little for your body.

Sugary drinks, alcohol and foods containing refined sugars are high in calories and low in nutrients. In addition, processed, fried and salty foods like chips, cookies and baked goods do not help you.

Try replacing them with fresh, whole foods and watch the inches disappear from your waist!

Other Means of Losing Baby Weight Include:

5. Getting More Sleep

Lack of sleep may affect your weight loss negatively. The recommended amount of sleep is 8 hours a day. Although it may prove difficult with your newborn, try to get as much sleep as you can.

6. Exercise

Exercise is a great way to burn extra calories. Go easy if you are a new mum, you can even try taking a walk with your baby. Yoga is also a good way to help you relax; some poses like the camel pose could help reduce tummy fat.

Pelvic exercises like kegel exercises are also encouraged. You could also include cardio exercises, e.g. jogging, running, and cycling as time passes.

7. Ask For Help

Your partner, family and friends are there for you. They could help prepare healthy meals or take care of your baby. This allows you rest, catch up on some lost sleep and exercise.

Also, if you need professional help, your doctor, family nurse, or a psychologist could offer support.

What You Should Avoid

8. Starvation

Depriving yourself of food is going to harm you and your baby. Food is not your enemy, your body needs it to stay alive.

Losing excess baby weight is necessary, but starvation is not the way to go about it. Sticking to a healthy diet and exercise plan is a better approach guaranteed to get you desired results.

9. Crash Dieting

The best weight loss plans are the long-term ones. While crash dieting may give you fast results, these are only temporary.

You would most likely end up gaining all the weight you lost, or even more! Same thing goes for skipping meals.

Comparison Is Wrong

Do not compare yourself to other mothers.

Everybody’s weight loss journey is different, some may take longer than others. Therefore, you should focus on yourself and your baby. You would lose the weight in due time.

How Long Does It Take To Lose Baby Weight?

For most women, the extra weight gain during pregnancy is lost within 6-12 months after childbirth.

However, it is essential to note that many factors come into play in this process. If you follow the strategies listed above, you’re guaranteed to lose all that baby weight within this time frame.

How Much Weight Can I Lose After Childbirth?

In the first week after delivery, most new moms can lose up to 6kg of the weight gained during pregnancy. This weight loss includes the ‘removed’ weight of the baby, placenta and amniotic fluid.

In addition, it is necessary to note that the extra fat that comes during pregnancy wouldn’t just disappear on its own. Following the strategies listed above would help you on this weight loss journey.

Losing Baby Weight And Breast Feeding

Producing breast milk uses up calories. When these calories are gotten from the fat stored in your body, you lose baby weight faster. Additionally, regular suckling by your baby leads to the production of oxytocin. 

This hormone causes uterine contraction and helps it shrink back to its pre-pregnancy state. This would, in turn, reduce your tummy size.

It is crucial that you do not lose too much weight too fast. This would not be good for you and your baby. The quantity and quality of your breast milk could suffer. Aim to lose weight gradually. This would give you enough energy and keep your milk supply high.

In Summary

Achieving a healthy weight after pregnancy is important, but it should be done the right way. Being realistic would help you avoid unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Furthermore, keep in mind that despite what many women’s magazines and celebrity stories portray, weight loss after childbirth is not automatic. It would take time, and you may not go back to your pre-baby weight straight away.

Although the amount of weight you lose after giving birth may vary, it is important that you return to a healthy weight range.

The best way to achieve this is through a healthy diet and exercise.