How to get back in shape after giving birth?

A pregnancy doesn't last nine months, we can't repeat that enough. Once the baby arrives, the body is far from done with its work! It will still be highly solicited: breastfeeding for those who choose it, recovering from childbirth and its minor - or major - aches, adapting to the new rhythm… This is one of the times when you need to - even more! - take care of yourself. Why is it put to the test and how can it be boosted? Breathe, we'll guide you.

 

Postpartum, fatigue and a slowed-down body (spoiler: this isn't our best life)

Between lack of sleep, hormones playing havoc, and anxiety sometimes rising in the throat, the body is anything but at rest during the postpartum period. Many factors are responsible for all this chaos.

Hormones plummeting (but less fun than a parachute jump)

By giving birth, you've said goodbye to progesterone and estrogen (which were produced in the placenta throughout pregnancy), hormones that have a calming, soothing effect. This sudden drop, which occurs within two days of childbirth, is often the trigger for the "baby blues" period.

Deficiencies

Between the baby who dipped into your reserves for nine months, the possible breastfeeding that requires extra energy (as well as vitamins and minerals), and meals that aren't your priority… your body ends up deficient. Especially in iron, very often: if women often tend to anemia because of their periods, it's even truer during pregnancy (a period when needs are even greater) and after. In the weeks following childbirth, bleeding (called lochia) occurs. It's normal but also contributes to the deficiency, and thus to fatigue.

Pumping breast milk

The process of breastfeeding sometimes adds to the list of challenges. It's not just a matter of time and energy, but also a personal decision that unfortunately intertwines with societal pressures. It's essential to remember that breastfeeding is not a universal obligation: each woman chooses the path that suits her best, and this in no way questions her ability to be a super mom!

To make the breastfeeding experience smoother and less constraining, arming yourself with a portable electric breast pump can be a clever solution. Silent and virtually invisible once properly placed, it offers the freedom to pump milk absolutely anywhere, discreetly. A real boost.

Lack of sleep

Short and interrupted nights, a new rhythm to find with your baby, a whole new routine to (re)create, your head spinning with all the new tasks… You feel overwhelmed, with no time to rest and get your body back in working order. It's normal for it to eventually wear out.

 

Create small routines, to breathe and regain strength (physical or mental!)

 Do you want to regain your strength as quickly as possible and get your energy back? We understand completely! But you spent nine months nurturing your little one, sometimes much longer preparing for your pregnancy, so you'll need a little more patience to regain complete well-being.

This involves simple and obvious things that you'll really need to integrate into your daily life (which has gone haywire, we know!): making time for sleep (this can involve micro-naps at the same time as your baby, for example), doing your best (but not more!), and having a balanced diet.

There's no secret: a lack of nutrients automatically leads to fatigue and slowed body function. So yes, it's tempting to save time with meals eaten on the edge of the coffee table or to comfort yourself with comfort food. Treating yourself, of course, is a yes! But you need to ensure you get a good dose of antioxidants, calcium, vitamin B, and Omega 3.

 

 Nutrition, the number one foundation for getting your body back in shape after childbirth

Proteins and collagen: the winning duo for energy

Because they help maintain muscle mass and provide a boost of energy, proteins will be your allies! And among them, collagen is the preferred one. Rich in amino acids (which rhyme: glycine, proline, and glutamine), it largely constitutes our bones, skin, and connective tissues; it is therefore an ideal fuel postpartum.

In food, the famous bone broth is the most abundant source! Packed with good nutrients, it's the comforting dish for new mothers. However, if that doesn't appeal to you too much, you can find your dose of collagen by supplementing with a dietary supplement.

 Plenty of calcium

It's no longer a secret: to grow, your baby draws everything it needs… from you! And even more so during the last trimester. To strengthen its bones and skeleton, it will demand calcium, even more so during your last trimester of pregnancy, during which it is growing rapidly. The body can store calcium (in the bones) but is unable to produce it. Only food can therefore provide enough to meet the (growing) needs.

To stock up, eat dairy products, and alternate: goat, sheep, and cow, each bringing its bed of nutritional benefits. And to find other sources, fill your meal trays with sardines, green leafy vegetables, snack on oilseeds (almonds, walnuts…), drink plant-based beverages (big up almond milk, spelt, oat…). To satisfy your calcium needs (1000 to 1200 mg/day), it is recommended to consume the equivalent of three dairy products per day, and daily if you can, mineral waters rich in calcium.

 Magnesium and vitamin B6: the mood booster combo

 The drop in estrogen and progesterone after childbirth sometimes causes mood fluctuations (rather downwards, let's be honest).

To "repair" our rollercoaster (of hormones) plummeting, we rely on magnesium and vitamin B6, which fight stress and fatigue and balance hormones and therefore, mood. Legumes, nuts, bananas, and chocolate (the ideal snack?) answer the call for magnesium. As for vitamin B6, it is present in fish and meats, mushrooms, sesame, prunes… To your menus!

Supplementation to get the necessary dose of vitamins

 Because having a rich and varied diet is not always possible (we are well aware that it is almost impossible to have time to prepare perfect meals every day during this period) nor sometimes even sufficient, supplementing with 100% adapted food supplements is essential.

We designed Moral Boost, our food supplement against stress and fatigue, for this purpose: to help new mothers whose bodies are exhausted. A cocktail (but non-alcoholic, we know you prefer mojitos) of natural plants and vitamins, it will support your physical and emotional state, reducing fatigue and stress and hopefully boosting your mood! It is compatible with breastfeeding and will make a perfect combo with our Pregnancy vitamins, which you can continue to take simultaneously.

 

And don't forget… after Postpartum, comes Good Times (citation by Boome, you're welcome).