Читать книгу An Unfit Mother: How to get your Health, Shape and Sanity back after Childbirth - Kate Cook - Страница 33

* Good news! You may lose 4 to 7kg (9 to 15lb) on the very first day after birth (a mix of baby, placenta and amniotic fluid). The rest is stored fat so that you have enough extra calories for breastfeeding—isn’t nature thoughtful?

* Good news! Breastfeeding your baby gobbles up 500—600 extra calories a day.

* Good news! Two hormones called leptin and serotonin work together to put your body in weight-loss mode—no one is quite sure how leptin works exactly but what is certain is that leptin levels stay high throughout pregnancy and that leptin is released by fat tissue and signals the brain to limit fat intake. Leptin levels drop at birth, allowing you to recalibrate your body’s ‘set point’—your metabolism is working in overdrive to burn more calories than usual to give you extra energy. The serotonin works to control your energy balance and helps keep your appetite in check. So get cracking now with healthy eating—you have the gods on your side.

* Good news! Your tummy may look pretty saggy now, but it will bounce back to where it was.

* Good news! Your uterus contracts during breastfeeding—and helps everything return to shape. These contractions can be quite strong, but keep your chin up, it means your stomach is shrinking.

* Good news! Well not really good news exactly, but if you are feeling really sluggish, treacle tired and really not getting back to where you were—could your thyroid be working below par? Other signs are hair loss and feeling the cold. Worth checking out?