Dropping That Baby Weight

Gaining too much baby weight is an issue for many pregnant women, and if you don’t lose those pounds, they could pose a problem during your next pregnancy.

Researchers looked at nearly 8,000 women who had children 2 years apart and found that those who didn’t get back to their pre-pregnancy weight before they conceived again had more complications during the second pregnancy, from an increased risk for C-sections to gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.

To drop the baby weight, diet and exercise can be a winning combination. Though motherhood can leave you exhausted, exercise will actually give you more stamina as well as help you regain your pre-pregnancy shape. One tool to use for motivation is a pedometer. A study tracked women who used it to increase daily steps by 500 per week in stages, first to 5,000 steps per day and then on to 10,000 steps per day. At the end of 12 weeks, they lost weight, lowered their BMI and took inches off their waist and hips.