Weight loss is not usually the first thing on your mind after you have given birth to twins. But it will be in the near future and sometimes those numbers on the scale are downright scary !
Most women will gain anywhere from 40-80 lbs during their twin pregnancy , and unfortunately – not all of it magically disappears once the babies arrive. It’s very natural to be missing your pre-pregnancy shape after all those months of carrying 2 babies, BUT it’s important to take it easy and have realistic expectations. If you are reading books about a single pregnancy that tell you it will take you 4-6 weeks to zip up your favorite jeans again – don’t count on it. Remember that it took you 8-9 months to gain the weight so be realistic in how long it may take you to lose it.
Weight loss is not usually the first thing on your mind after you have given birth to twins. But it will be in the near future and sometimes those numbers on the scale are downright scary ! Most women will gain anywhere from 40-80 lbs during their twin pregnancy , and unfortunately – not all of it magically disappears once the babies arrive. It’s very natural to be missing your pre-pregnancy shape after all those months of carrying 2 babies, BUT it’s important to take it easy and have realistic expectations. If you are reading books about a single pregnancy that tell you it will take you 4-6 weeks to zip up your favorite jeans again – don’t count on it. Remember that it took you 8-9 months to gain the weight so be realistic in how long it may take you to lose it.
How quickly you are able to lose weight depends on a lot of things and is very individual , not all women gain or lose weight the same way. It will depend on how much weight you gained during the pregnancy, the way that you eat after the births, how active you are or are able to be, and how your metabolism reacts to the births and breastfeeding ( if you are). If it has always been difficult for you to lose weight in the past, it may continue to be difficult now but – you can look forward to losing the weight of the babies, their placentas, and the amniotic fluid immediately after giving birth ! You will also experience a reduction in fluids and blood volume over the next few weeks – having that extra water weight you’ve been carrying around feels fantastic ! I was so excited to see my ankles and feet return to their normal size!
Exercise after pregnancy is SO important to losing those post baby pounds.
Breastfeeding !
This is one of the fastest ways you’ll see weight loss as well as significant shrinking of your uterus after giving birth. If you choose to breastfeed your multiples chances are that a lot of the pregnancy weight will disappear faster. Your body will be using any calories that you are eating to help produce the milk for your babies. It is also true that your body will tend to hang on to some of your fat stores in order to produce milk as well, so you won’t be able to lose ALL that weight by breastfeeding alone. I lost more than 60lbs in the first 6 weeks nursing two babies – you could literally see me shrinking.
