Post Baby Body (Second Baby)

From everything I have heard, getting your shape back is harder the second time as you have been stretched twice, rather than once. Personally, I am pregnant with my second, but after the first, I dropped 7lbs below my prepregnancy weight to look similar to what I had before.

Additionally, work on the crunches, the lower abdomen is muscles and they need to be retoned.

Good luck. I am due on Christmas and will worry about my body shape come 6 months after that.

I just wanted to add that it sounds like you're doing great but to also cut yourself a little slack. I too lost all my 'weight' right away after both my kids but after my second it took a solid year before my tone and *shape* came back. I walked and did some light weight training at home at first and then after my 2nd daughter was weaned I kicked it into high gear ;)

The 'lower abs' thing is a myth, by the way. The rectus (vertical) abdominals are one long muscle reaching from the pectorals to the groin. I taught aerobics and am a massage therapist, so I know a couple things about the human body ;) Just be sure that whatever exercises you do makes you feel the exercise in your entire abdominal area. And don't forget to strengthen your lower back to give support to your abs and overall posture! A great option is Pilates or The Firm, which are both what I did :) The Firm STILL kicks my butt, but I love it and like my exercise videos to be something to work towards rather than mastering it on the first go. Just find something you like and give yourself more time. Just the simple fact of being a few years older than the last time plays a role in how anyone's body responds to childbirth and exercise. A generally healthy lifestyle goes a long way!

Good Luck!

L.,

It is hard to get your body back after a second child. I have 2 kids and my son is 2. I went crazy trying to find a way to get my body back. I found something that works: Weight Watchers. I'm not a life time member and they have helped me keep my weight down. I also have a Wii Fit that helps me exercise and have fun with my kids at the same time. They love to run with me on the Wii.
I saw that you are Nursing and that is GREAT. I couldn't nurse my children for a few reasons, but I recommend it to anyone who can. Nursing is supposed to shrink your uterus back to its original size, but if you want extra help do some crunches. I started out doing 5-10 cruches (NOT Sit-Ups) and then worked my way up to doing 60 on the front, then 30 each side. It takes time to get back, but if you work at, you'll have to keep working at it to keep it the way you want, but you'll feel great.
I do have a corset and they do help. I have back problems that sometimes prevents me from wearing a regular bra, so I wear my corset. If you wish to try one, the best place to go is the Hollywood store. That's where I got mine.
Well I hope this helps and God Bless you in your adventure.

Its awesome that you've made being active a priority right away. I waited until my second one was 2 and suddenly realized I was in horrible shape. I think some regular exercise would have helped me handle those first 2 years better. That said, be patient with your body. I've read that it takes 9 months to bring the baby into this world and another 9 to recover from it. Keep eating right and getting regular exercise and add in those crunches and all will be well.

Hi L.,

Regular crunches won't work your lower abs, you need to do a reverse crunch. Bicycle exercise will help you obliques. Pilates is also great because it works your core muscles.

Check this link for advice on the reverse crunch:
http://www.ehow.com/video_16237_reverse-crunch.html

And this one for the Top 10 Ab Exercises:
http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_7.htm

Good luck to you!

I impressed that you are back to your prepreganancy weight after only five months! After my first child, it took me more than two years and I still had a few pounds to go when I got pregnant with the second. But it was clear that even if I lost those last five pounds, my body was not going to be the same as before. I thought that most of the damage to my body was supposed to be done from the first pregnancy, but now I have discovered that my body is even more out of whack after baby number two. I've got this huge amount of loose, flabby skin around my tummy that I didn't have the first time and that will surely take me years of hard work to get off. The weight is coming off, but I have resigned myself to the fact that without a tummy tuck, I will never look the same. I'm saving my pennies! But to answer your question, I think it is normal for your body to have a harder time bouncing back after baby number two - that is certainly the case for me.

I hear ya! I was about ready to get a corset myself. My youngest is 6 months and I was really angry that I was down to my pre pregnancy size except for my belly. I have found that being really concious of my posture and holding myself up and my stomach in has helped strengthen my abs again. I had been doing lots of crunches but that was only minimally helping. The ab muscles that run horizontal around your waist are the ones that need to be strengthened and the only good way to really do that is to hold them in when you are up and about and to lie on the floor with your knees bent and pull your belly button to the floor. Do this and hold for 15-20 seconds and after a while of doing this you will notice an improvement. Another fun one is the sideways plank where you put your feet together and support yourself on your elbow so that your whole body is facing to the side. It is hard to hold at first but as your inner abs get stronger it gets easier.

Hope that helps!

I had a very similar experience too. I had heard that the second baby was harder to bounce back from and they were right! I exercised before, during and after both pregnancies and have always tried to eat well, but I've had a much harder time bouncing back the second time (my daughter is 3 years, my son is 7 months). My belly still doesn't look like it did before (though the rest of my body seems to be about the same). I just like to remind myself that my new belly shape came about because of the two beautiful little miracles I have! :-)