How long does it take for a mother to recover from pregnancy?

Exercise and healthy eating are key but take it easy (you do not have to parade for Victoria's Secret).

Five weeks after having his fourth child at age 36, Heidi Klum was parading in underwear for Victoria's Secret. Pilar Rubio left the hospital with her second child wearing skinny jeans. And yes, the ambassador of size 0, Victoria Beckham, has gone through 4 pregnancies.

The norm in the celebrity world is that the weight gained during the 9 months of gestation disappears as if by magic. Magic? Insurance? Nothing has to do with the postpartum recovery of Victoria's Secret angel with that of a real mother.

Why do models and actresses recover so quickly?

The answer is very simple: because your work depends on it. Models and actresses are demanded certain sizes and not recovering their appearance may mean losing contracts with brands or not parade in weeks of fashion.

Their postpartum preparation begins in the second in which the pregnancy test comes out positive. If you imagine that Gisele Bündchen or Beyoncé follow the advice of grandmother of "to eat by two", you are very mistaken.

The word "craving" does not exist in their vocabulary and they practice sport every day of each quarter: kung-fu, yoga, walks, cardio ... (and a personal trainer, of course). And, of course, we imagine that your family and friends should be forbidden to bring boxes of chocolates to the hospital.

Alessandra Ambrosio lost 20 kilos dieting and practicing exercise three hours each day (while her mother, sister or nanny looked after her daughter). Clearly, a celebrity pregnancy is light years away from you.

How is the recovery of a "real" woman?

And by "real" we mean you, your sister, your co-worker and your best friend. People who have eaten a chocolate palm during pregnancy, who have taken the time just for the daily walks and that after giving birth do not have time to sleep 8 hours or drink 2 liters of water (much less for 3 hours of exercise).

Everybody, every pregnancy, and every recovery is unique and different from each other. We all have this neighbor who almost did not take a weight and who in a few weeks had returned to her pre-pregnancy size.

However, our body usually takes more than 5 weeks to recover. The team of midwives of the Espronceda Health Center and founders of the Nacemos community, explains that "internal organs take between 4 and 6 months to return to their place. Pelvic floor and weight loss can lead to a recovery of one year or more. "

Laura Pineda, personal trainer specializing in pregnancies of Estudio LIFE, clarifies that the physical recovery and the loss of weight depend on many factors, but "mainly, of the genetics. You can not generalize: complexion, eating and exercising during pregnancy are key factors. "

Health goes first (buckle your favorite jeans, then).

Both medical staff and personal trainers agree that health comes first. The diet should be balanced and rich in calcium, especially if you choose to breastfeed.

Elsa Pataky's trainer, Fernando Sartorius always recommends women who wish to have children who develop muscle before they become pregnant as recovery will be much quicker and easier. However, it is necessary to have medical permission and respect the quarantine (or even more time of rest in the case of a cesarean section).

The first thing to assess before you start practicing sports is the pelvic floor condition (which can be assessed by a specialist physiotherapist) and work on strengthening this set of muscles that support the bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum.

Laura Pineda considers it essential to start by reinforcing the muscle groups that have suffered most (abdomen and legs) and then gradually increasing intensity to regain shape or lose weight if desired.

Tell me how you are and I'll tell you how you'll recover

Based on the fact that genetics is key in the development of pregnancy and postpartum, we can always take care and advice to have a better recovery at all levels.

Feeding.

The myth of "eating for two" is just that: a myth. In fact, the fetus is almost imperceptible during the first trimester so obviously, it does not need the same amount of food as the mother.

You may feel more hungry than usual (and nothing happens) but it is essential to eat healthily: many vitamins, folic acid (in the form of supplements) and potassium. Of course (and luckily), you do not have to climb the catwalk so you can have a chocolate, ice cream or a piece of pizza (from time to time).

Laura Pineda comments that it is advisable not to increase more than 10 kilos during pregnancy. However, the last word is always the gynecologist who will follow up.

Exercise

If the future mother is an athlete, there will be no problem in continuing to exercise. This should be smoother during the first trimester when the fetus is implanting in the uterus, regaining intensity during the second trimester and being very specific during the last few months. Daily walks are a must and yoga, one of the most popular activities among pregnant women.  Take a break.

Health

Kegel exercises (contractions of the vaginal muscles) or the use of Chinese balls help strengthen the pelvic floor and prevent subsequent difficulties such as urinary incontinence. Another of mom is-to-be's major concerns are stretch marks. The key to avoiding its appearance is to be constant in the application of either specific creams or the multitasking and miraculous cream Nivea (from the blue boat).

Yes, there is life after the baby

In your first few weeks as a mother, you may feel overwhelmed and the maximum beauty you get is to make yourself a top-knot to spend the day. You can not imagine scheduling menus or have an exercise routine.

Once you have set the pace for your new life, you can begin to introduce simple exercises with a Fitball, with weights (1 or 2 kg) and functional training (working with the weight of your own body). A healthy diet is always recommended (whether you are a mother or not).

The midwife team at Centro Salud Espronceda warns that "moms are giving a lot of importance to the physical plane. There is great social pressure for recovery to go as quickly as possible."

You know? It is not compulsory to return to the weight or size you had before having your baby: all you do need is to be healthy and, above all, happy.