My 2 Weeks Postpartum Belly Picture
Pre-pregnancy Weight: 123 lbs
Weight at Delivery: 143 lbs (20 lb total weight gain)
Current Weight: 125.6
Now let’s go over how my week went and what to expect…
Energy Level: My energy levels were great this week!
My son has been sleeping well during the night (though my pediatrician says that I shouldn’t expect a stable daily routine). I typically wake up and feed him around 2 AM, and also I pump at that time.
To combat this, I try to take a nap when he is napping.
This week, I slept during both his morning and afternoon nap.
My Emotions: Emotionally, this was a better week for me, which I think is related to better sleep.
Sleep deprivation can be detrimental to your physical, emotional, and mental health.
Also, baby blues are prevalent in the postpartum period. Please do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
Postpartum Symptoms: The only symptom that I am still experiencing is pelvic pressure whenever I increase my intra-abdominal pressure. But these symptoms are getting better.
Thankfully, my vaginal bleeding and uterine cramping have subsided.
I also haven’t had any urinary incontinence; maybe my kegel exercises have helped.
Lastly, I have a larger appetite than I am used to. When breastfeeding, you should get about 400-500 extra calories per day.
Physical Changes: My belly has dramatically reduced in size- almost back to my pre-pregnancy shape.
Thankfully, I don’t have any stretch marks, which is likely due to me maintaining a healthy weight throughout pregnancy.
However, my shoulders are starting to round, which I think is due to the increase in my breast size.
My breasts are much larger than before and feel heavy all the time. As such, I am doing posture exercises daily.
Nevertheless, I continue to be grateful for what my postpartum body can do.
Diet: My diet has remained stable from last week to this week.
I continue to eat a balanced diet that includes oatmeal for breakfast (which may be great for breastfeeding) with many seeds and berries.
My lunch is usually some type of legume, whole grain, and plant-based protein, and my dinner is similar.
Lastly, I have several snacks throughout the day.
Check out my healthy diet for postpartum women here.
Diet Modifications: Being an exclusively breastfeeding mom, I make sure to include items that may increase breast milk production. These include:
- Oats
- Almonds
- Avocados
- Chia/hemp/flax seeds
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Water
Workouts: I have continued to follow The Postpartum Fitness Prescription and have focused on strengthening my core muscles as well as the pelvic floor.
I also started doing gentle bodyweight exercises with low volume.
Before working out I make sure to:
- massage my breasts to start the flow of milk using this awesome device that applies both vibration and heat
- empty my breasts using this hands free manual pump while breastfeeding my baby on the opposite breast, or this portable hands free wireless pump when I want to multitask before my workout 🙂
- wear a supportive nursing bra like this one
- put on these breast shells to collect any milk that happens to leak during my workout.
My postpartum recovery is going better than expected. I think I am ready to get back to lifting weights!
If you want to see examples of the types of workouts I am doing during my postpartum journey, check out my Postpartum Fitness Prescription video course.
*Be sure to speak with your health care provider before doing any physical activity or lifting at this stage of your postpartum journey.*
Other related questions
How long does it take to lose the postpartum belly?
On average, it could take up to 6 weeks to lose your postpartum belly as the uterus takes time to contract down to its pre-pregnancy size.
Remember, your uterus took approximately 40 weeks to grow to the size of a watermelon, and it has only been 2 weeks!
Here is what my postpartum belly looks like at 2 weeks:
How much weight do you lose 2 weeks postpartum?
After the initial weight loss from the delivery, you can expect to lose approximately 1 lb per week.
However, every woman will lose weight at a different rate depending on:
- Genetics
- Gestational or pregnancy weight gain
- Current diet
- Physical activity levels
- Other hormonal changes
Never compare yourself to anyone else, as everyone is going through a unique journey!
Where is my uterus 2 weeks postpartum?
At 2 weeks postpartum, your uterus is below the level of your belly button.
However, it is still enlarged compared to its pre-pregnancy size.
Studies show that a uterus weighs approximately 1000 grams immediately after delivery and drops to 500 grams by week one.
It then returns to its original size of ~50 grams after six weeks.
How do I get rid of my post-pregnancy belly?
The only way to get rid of your postpartum belly is to decrease your body fat percentage through your diet.
Unfortunately, there are no specific exercises to help you lose fat from your belly.
With that said, it is essential to train your abdominal muscles postpartum anyway, as most women have poor core strength after pregnancy.
Also, some women may develop a lot of loose skin in the abdomen, making it difficult to improve the appearance of their belly.
Tips for flat tummy after pregnancy
To maximize your chances of losing belly fat:
- Consume a well-balanced diet,
- Drink plenty of water
- Increase your physical activity levels
- Try to get more sleep
- Determine if you have diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
- Have patience (it can take time for the extra fluid in your body to resorb)
As far as a postpartum belly wrap, it may improve your comfort, but it won’t help you lose fat.
Check out my post on How to Get Rid of Baby Weight to learn more.
When should new moms begin exercising?
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), some women can begin exercising a few days after delivery.
You will likely be able to return to exercise sooner than six weeks if you:
- Had an uncomplicated pregnancy
- Had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery
- Were active throughout your pregnancy
In general, most women can start training their core and pelvic floor muscles with gentle exercises within a few days.
I cover exercising before 6 weeks postpartum in more detail here.
How long does it take for my uterus to shrink after a c-section?
It takes approximately 6 weeks for your uterus to shrink to its normal size, regardless of whether or not you had a vaginal delivery or a c-section.
Final words on Postpartum Week 2
We made it through the second week!
How are you adjusting to your new responsibilities?
Comment below and let me know!
Be sure to follow along with my postpartum belly week by week progress!
My Previous Baby Bump Updates
- My Week 1 Postpartum Belly Update (First Week Pictures)
- My 40 Week Pregnant Belly Bump Update
- My 39 Week Pregnant Belly Bump Update
Get Four Free Workouts To Help Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor & Heal Your Mommy Tummy!
Brittany Robles, MD, MPH, CPT
Brittany Robles is a full-time OBGYN physician, a NASM certified trainer, and a prenatal and postnatal fitness specialist. She holds a Master of Public Health degree in maternal health with a special interest in exercise and nutrition. She is also the co-author of The White Coat Trainer. Learn more about her here.
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