…Is this a healthy way of thinking? Let’s face it, after 40 weeks of feeling gigantic, we are all anxious to get back into our skinny jeans and ditch the elastic waste bands. The reality, however, is that following pregnancy our bodies take months to recover. The famous saying to make all of us in the postpartum state feel better is, “It took nine months to put it on; it will take nine months to get it off!” Well, this saying is frustrating to many of us, but there is some truth behind the madness.

Here are some medical facts: It takes one month for the body’s blood volume (which nearly doubles during pregnancy) to return to normal. Secondly, three months following pregnancy the body will have shed approximately 10 liters of fluid! At three months, most women are feeling up to, and are physically ready for, exercise! So, in reality, three to four months have flown by, your body chemistry has regulated, you are hopefully sleeping a little longer…and you’re ready for the gym! Now give yourself at least one week for every two pounds that you have left to shed. After you do the math, some of us might fall into the dreaded nine month deadline for weight loss, and some of us may have lots of time to spare. This is a healthy and realistic timeline to follow!

So, after you have done your part, there are some postpartum attributes that might stick around. Now ask yourself, “Do I want to have any more children?” If the answer is “no,” then plastic surgery might be your answer. Some physical characteristics that women despise following pregnancy are: stretch marks, extra skin folds of the abdomen, and sagging of the breasts. None of the previously mentioned changes can be fixed by crunches or miracle creams! This is when it is OK to consider cosmetic procedures such as breast lift surgery, breast augmentation, a tummy tuck, or a laser procedure to help fade stretch marks. If surgery is not for you, don’t be discouraged by what your body has endured!

Bringing a child into this world is an amazing thing – many women see the permanent changes to their body as badges of honor!