Losing Weight After Pregnancy

During pregnancy, fat deposits may increase by more than a third of the total amount a woman had before she became pregnant. If the weight gain was normal, most women lose this extra weight in the birth process and in the weeks and months after birth. Breastfeeding helps to deplete the fat deposited during pregnancy. A woman who breastfeeds expends at least 500 more calories than one who doesn’t. The woman who nurses her baby also has increased needs for specific nutrients, and should not be on a weight loss diet.