Pregnancy is one of the most joyful stages in a woman’s life—the happiness of bringing a new life into the world is incomparable. However, this period also leaves significant changes in a woman’s body, including stretch marks, loss of firmness, weight gain, and sagging.
Today at Soulya, we’ll talk about the most common physical changes women experience and how to regain your figure after pregnancy. Keep reading!
🌸Physical Changes During and After Pregnancy
Pregnancy and postpartum bring significant physical transformations to a mother’s body. The most common include:
Weight Gain
During pregnancy, the uterus expands to accommodate the growing baby. By the 20th week, it reaches the navel, and by the 36th week, it extends to the lower rib cage. As a result, the abdomen gradually grows into a round shape.
Besides the uterus’s growth and the baby’s weight, the mother’s body increases blood volume, retains fluids, and stores fat to prepare for breastfeeding.
Women typically gain between 24 and 35 pounds, but some may gain even more. After childbirth, many women lose most of this weight, but factors like stress, dietary changes, lack of sleep, and insufficient exercise can make weight loss difficult or even lead to further weight gain.
Losing post-pregnancy weight requires a holistic approach, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and controlling late-night cravings.
Stretch Marks
During pregnancy, rapid skin expansion occurs, causing blood vessels beneath the skin to dilate and stretch, breaking collagen and elastin fibers. This leads to small scars known as stretch marks.
Hormonal changes also affect collagen levels, making stretch marks more likely. Initially, they appear reddish or purple, but over time, they fade into white or silvery lines. While they don’t cause pain or itching, they can be aesthetically concerning.
Preventing stretch marks involves keeping the skin hydrated and drinking at least two liters of water daily. Additionally, managing weight gain is crucial—while some gain is inevitable, excessive weight gain makes it harder to restore skin smoothness.
Breast Sagging
During pregnancy, breasts enlarge due to hormonal changes, weight gain, and preparation for breastfeeding. In postpartum and lactation, they may swell further due to milk production.
However, as breastfeeding decreases or stops, the breasts return to their original size, but stretched skin and ligaments may not regain their initial firmness, leading to sagging.
Applying moisturizer from the base of the breasts to the neck can help maintain skin elasticity. Additionally, wearing a well-fitted bra provides necessary support without excessive compression.
Hyperpigmentation
Hormonal changes can cause irregular melanin production, leading to dark spots on the face, particularly on the cheeks, lips, and forehead.
To prevent hyperpigmentation, use sunscreen and wear a hat or cap when exposed to sunlight. Most dark spots gradually fade after childbirth, but using creams with active ingredients like niacinamide can help even out skin tone.
💆Can You Get Your Pre-Pregnancy Body Back?
Yes! Fortunately, many postpartum treatments can help, ranging from firming creams and gels to spa and surgical procedures.
One of the most effective spa treatments is radiofrequency, which uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves to generate heat applied with a handheld device. Radiofrequency helps tighten sagging skin, reduce cellulite, even skin tone, and rejuvenate the skin. It can be applied to the face, abdomen, arms, legs, or neck.
Another popular treatment is the Hollywood Peel, ideal for evening out skin tone, treating acne, and minimizing scars.
A Mommy Makeover combines multiple procedures in a single operation to help restore the body after pregnancy. The most common procedures include:
- Breast Lift (Mastopexy): This surgery repairs damaged ligaments, lifts the breasts, removes excess skin, and tightens breast tissue, resulting in firmer, youthful-looking breasts.
- Breast Implants: Breast augmentation can complement a mastopexy to add volume.
- Liposuction: Stubborn fat deposits in the abdomen, hips, thighs, arms, or back are common postpartum. Liposuction or mini-lipo removes unwanted fat that diet and exercise alone cannot eliminate.
- Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty): This surgery removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen, recommended for women experiencing loose abdominal skin and stretched muscles.
💖Trust Soulya to Help You Get Your Body Back
At Soulya, we understand how important it is to feel confident in your body after pregnancy. That’s why we offer spa treatments like radiofrequency, buccal fat removal, Hydrafacial, and Hollywood Peel, as well as surgical procedures like Mommy Makeover, 360 liposuction, breast reduction, and arm lift (brachioplasty).
Our team of highly experienced professionals uses cutting-edge technology to ensure safe procedures and natural results.
Get in touch with our specialists to schedule a consultation—we’re happy to assist you!
