For nine months, the skin of your belly will stretch to make room for the baby to grow serenely. However, once the birth is over, the belly does not deflate immediately! The epidermal and dermal tissues as well as the weight gain do not disappear overnight, and this is completely normal. To help the body recover gradually from the feat it has just accomplished, you must give it time!
To guide you in this process, we give you our tips for firming up the belly after pregnancy..
Summary
- How the skin stretches during pregnancy and why?
- What tips to firm up the belly after pregnancy?
- How to reduce recent stretch marks?
How does the skin stretch during pregnancy and why?
Pregnancy is a key stage in a woman's life: her body will perform the feat of carrying life for nine months and giving birth to a healthy child. As you can imagine, all these physical efforts are not harmless for the skin! During the first months, the breasts will grow and then the hips will widen. Around the fourth month of pregnancy, the pounds start to settle and it shows! Your belly, thighs, buttocks, hips and breasts are clearly larger than usual.
This weight gain is normal, you are creating life and you need reserves for after the birth! Yes, during pregnancy, the mother-to-be's body is also preparing for breastfeeding. Fat is therefore stored more quickly than usual!
To stretch and make room for the baby, the skin will be put to the test! Elastin and collagen, which are responsible for stretching the skin and keeping it toned and supple, are going to be working non-stop to prevent the tissues from cracking. Because if they do, hello stretch marks!
All these body changes (weight gain and tissue stretching) will lead to a loss of tone and firmness on the stomach. The abdominal strap will also take a hit... In short, the skin of the belly ends up being distended and flabby and the abdominal muscles disappear. The uncool thing? You won't realize it until a few days after the delivery and this can sometimes be hard to accept.
How long does it take for the skin on the stomach to firm up?
It is often said that it takes nine months to do and nine months to undo... And it is true! You must give your body and your belly time to recover from this adventure. Your organs will gradually return to their place and when your perineal rehabilitation is finished, you can start to play sports again!
As they say, you have to give it time! Going on a drastic diet or depriving yourself of food will not guarantee that you will regain a firm stomach more quickly. On the contrary, losing weight too quickly could further weaken your tissues and stretch your skin!
What are the tips to firm up your belly after pregnancy?
Don't worry, we have everything you need to help you firm up your belly after pregnancy. Lifestyle, body care, massages, healthy and balanced diet, resumption of sports and good hydration, everything is detailed below!
Regain a firm belly thanks to a healthy and balanced diet
We keep saying it: a good diet is the key to everything! To regain a firm belly after pregnancy, you absolutely must not deprive yourself. Instead, focus on foods that will help your skin regain its tone and elasticity:
- proteins, rather white meats, eggs and fish
- foods rich in vitamins, to improve the quality and resistance of the skin
- Foods rich in antioxidants, such as vegetable oils, fruits and vegetables (yellow and orange) and oilseeds (nuts, almonds, etc.)
- starchy foods and legumes to get rid of visceral fat (belly fat).
Of course, don't forget to drink plenty of water to promote drainage and elimination! You should know that constipation can also continue after pregnancy. To avoid it, a diet rich in fiber is highly recommended!
Getting back into sports to firm up your belly after pregnancy
Nothing better to firm up your belly than to start working out again! Beforehand, you will obviously have to do perineal rehabilitation to be 100% serene at the gym. Cardio, swimming, exercises focused on the abdominal belt, pilates or even cycling, it doesn't matter which sport you want to do! The goal is to burn calories and try to lose belly fat. Session after session, you'll get your abs back and your muscles back!
Physical activity will also help you limit water and fat retention, promote blood circulation and eliminate cellulite. In short, your stomach will be muscular, toned, sheathed and firmed up!
Be careful, if you have given birth by caesarean section, the wait to resume sport could be longer.
Massage your belly to firm it up
Another step in your fitness routine: massages! Whether it's a massage at home to get a flat stomach or a draining massage in an institute, massages help the tissues to tighten, promote digestion, blood circulation, transit and therefore elimination. They are also perfect for helping the firming and toning ingredients to penetrate the skin. On top of that, a little moment of relaxation just for yourself, it's well deserved, right?
Tone your skin with firming treatments
For a toning massage or just to moisturize your skin every day, firming creams or oils are perfect for a firmer stomach! Our Organic Post-Pregnancy Firming Milk from Téane Laboratories tones and restores the skin's elasticity.
The natural active ingredients in the milk are regenerating, toning, remodeling and refreshing! Voted number 1 in firming care, it reinforces collagen synthesis and moisturizes tissues in depth. The skin of the stomach regains its firmness and tone.
76% of those who tested it found their skin smoother and 70% found their skin firmer! It is the ideal product to massage your belly but also your thighs and hips at home.
Getting a flat, firm and toned stomach can take time after pregnancy. So don't be discouraged, your efforts will eventually pay off! Eat healthily and enjoy yourself, exercise, massage your belly daily and above all, be thankful: it has carried life!
How can you reduce recent stretch marks?
Stretch marks are visible marks on the skin that affect more than 1 in 2 women during and after pregnancy. They appear on the stomach, hips, chest, upper thighs or buttocks. They are the consequence of an intense and rapid tension of the skin as well as a hormonal upheaval that has degraded the quality of the skin. Even if they are not painful, they are not very appreciated by a large majority of women.
At the time of their formation, stretch marks are red/purple. Then, they will become white/pearly because they will have healed. You must act with effective solutions as soon as they are still red/purple. Once they have healed, you will unfortunately no longer be able to act on them!
The Organic SOS Stretch Mark Balm from Téane Laboratories is the solution to attenuate and repair recent stretch marks. Formulated from patented plant extracts, it offers you a reduction of up to 80% of the stretch mark. Applied daily in a circular massage twice a day for 2 months, this balm is ideal for regaining a beautiful skin!
