I just got back from a playgroup. There was a mom who just had twins 6 months ago and has another child who is 2. She had tried to do an intense exercise and diet program to get back into shape. Here is a woman who has three kids within 2 years, the twins are boys, she is not sleeping through the night. I was looking at her thinking, “You showered!” “Your shoes match!” “You aren’t wearing sweats!” So I will repeat what I, the plastic surgeon and mother of three said to her:
Give yourself a break.
I know it is tough. We see magazine articles of “how famous so and so actress lost her baby weight in three months!” And there will be some lovely article about broiled chicken and fish and salad and yoga. Or better yet, “I lost the weight just chasing after my kids.” Oh how lovely. Here in the Bay Area there are many uber athletic thin women. Some women I know look smaller when they are 9 months pregnant than the average American woman is non pregnant.
Give yourself a break.
There are those genetically blessed women who “pop” right back into form quickly. Yes, it isn’t all genes. Keeping in shape while you are pregnant, not gaining more than the baby weight, not using pregnancy as carte blanche to try all the flavors of Ben and Jerrys … these all are important.
But at six months out with a new baby, particularly if you have other children, and are breastfeeding/ working/ making dinners/ laundry/ cleaning up/ making lunches/ bathtimes/ buying diapers/ afterschool activities/ playgroups/ clean the house again…
There is a time and place for everything. Sometime not so far away, your baby won’t be a baby. He will be sleeping through the night. YOU will be sleeping through the night. I see the majority of my mommy makeover patients 2-3 years after their last child. I think that timing is good. It gives you time…. time to enjoy being a mother. Time to breastfeed. Time to give your body a chance to get back to normal. Then you can work out. Diet. Exercise hard. See where you can get to on your own.
So give yourself a break. Your baby won’t be a baby for long. Savor every moment while you can.