Back in shape!

Meet the EXPERT M&B’ panellist Sonali Shivlani is an Internationally Certified Pregnancy Consultant and a child nutrition counsellor. She is the executive director of CAPPA India and also trains aspiring birth professionals to achieve certification in pregnancy, birth and lactation counselling.

- Sonali Shivlani

No one told me that I would look seven months pregnant, the day after I had my baby. In fact, all the well-meaning aunts actually made me feel like it was abnormal and I looked as if there was another baby in there! I decided to take matters into my own hand and was determined to get back to my pre-pregnancy fitness levels super quick— and of course, why not start right away. So, driven by my motivation, bright and early on day two on my hospital bed, I attempted crunches in the hope of a flat belly. Thankfully for me, my doctor walked in on me at the right moment. She explained all about how the uterus needs six to eight weeks to shrink, and I have to allow that time before I get into hardcore abdominal work. It does not mean that you should just relax and take it easy once you deliver, and wait for your body to find its way back. Nudge it along, while keeping these things in mind. Boy, do I wish someone had told me this back then.