Nutrition For New Mums

Now that baby’s here, you probably have questions about weight loss, what you should be eating and if supplements are still necessary. MH speaks to the experts.

- Teo Kuan Yee

After an arduous nine months of nurturing your baby bump, you finally get to meet your little bub and cuddle him close to your face. Other than settling the care arrangement for junior, you should also dedicate time and effort to power up your body with a healthy diet and exercise, and lose some flab in the process.

Shedding Weight

Dr Shamini Nair, specialist in obstetrician & gynaecology and consultant, Raffles Women’s Centre, explains that most mothers gain around 10 to 12kg during pregnancy, and right after delivery, mothers will lose some weight depending on how heavy the baby, placenta and amniotic fluid are. Soon after delivery, a woman can lose up to 4 to 5kg depending on the weight of the baby, amniotic fluid and placenta, according to Dr Pamela Tan, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist from TLC Gynaecology Practice, Thomson Medical Centre. Explains Dr Tan, “The additional pounds usually come from an increased blood volume, breast tissues, fat stores and the weight of the uterus which takes four to six weeks to return to normal size.” One good guide to losing weight is the Body Mass Index (BMI), says Rachel Ng, dietitian, Gleneagles Hospital. Ng points out, “Women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI should aim to return to a normal BMI, whereas women who were overweight prepregnancy should aim to return to their pre-pregnancy weight, then continue losing weight if possible.”

Eating Wisely