By: Karolina Starczak

Jun 29, 2009

New moms can now let out a collective sigh of relief. There’s no rush to leave the couch because losing that extra baby weight right away could be bad for you and baby. According to new research from the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), losing weight too quickly after pregnancy may lead to problems with breastfeeding. After all, extra weight means extra calories to ensure that mom produces sufficient milk to nourish the newborn –and has the energy to adjust to the new demanding role of mom.

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So what’s a “normal” period of time to lose the extra weight? Everyone is different, but on average it takes women about three to six months to lose the weight they gained during pregnancy. Studies show that strenuous exercise in the first weeks does not help new moms lose weight faster. The body needs time to adjust and recuperate after working so hard carrying a baby for 9 months.

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The best approach is to take weight loss slow and focus on returning to smaller, but healthy portions. And as far as exercise is concerned, listen to your body, try going for a walk pushing the baby’s stroller, or pop in a yoga DVD while the baby takes a nap (great for a little stress relief). So what are your thoughts on dropping baby weight? How did you drop those extra pounds?