Does metabolism slow down after pregnancy? – Get the details!
Does your metabolism slow down after pregnancy? Most women know that their body experiences hormonal spikes that affect body processes, including nutrient delivery, fat storage, and energy processing. Metabolism usually increases as well, which is why most pregnant women always feel hungry almost all the time.
After giving birth, these hormones drop dramatically and would continue to do so for 4 to 5 months after delivery. Different women have various reactions to the decrease in the hormone. Some enter a state of depression or postpartum depression while others easily adapt to their hormonal changes. Mood swings are related to the decrease in thyroid hormones, which also regulate the body’s metabolism.
Reduced thyroid hormones affect how the body regulates energy from food. Since it takes several months before normal hormone production returns, resting calorie burn will most likely decrease during this time. Symptoms of depression, initiated by decreased thyroid hormones, also have a large effect on weight gain. Your body also loses stored nutrients after childbirth, which slows metabolism and prevents mothers from losing weight.
lose weight after pregnancy
With the hormonal changes, loss of nutrients, and other physical changes that occur after pregnancy, trying to lose weight immediately after pregnancy is not recommended. At least not in the form of going on an extreme diet! The most important thing is to get enough nutrition and gain more healthy calories needed to breastfeed. On a lighter note, breastfeeding can help you lose a bit of weight. You can start with light exercise and increase it as you go. Take the junk food out of your snacks and all these little steps will help you lose weight. However, as mentioned above, women respond to changes differently, so keep an eye on your body’s reaction to such changes.
If you don’t want to gain any more weight, it’s best to see a dietitian for a postpartum weight loss program. Reduce your intake of empty calories, but don’t cut out healthy calories, as it will only slow your metabolism further. As much as possible, increase your daily activity. Start by taking your baby for a walk in the morning, gently dancing to music, or walking to the park. You may always be worried and wonder if your metabolism slows down after pregnancy. Whether you do or not, the main concern is keeping you and your baby healthy before, during and after delivery.