Loose skin, scars, stretch marks… New moms and their post-pregnancy bodies can have a complicated relationship. We often look in the mirror with the most critical set of glasses and make the most negative and degrading judgments about ourselves! That may be why “How to tighten loose skin on stomach after pregnancy?” is one of the most common questions I receive…
During the nine months of pregnancy, the skin on your belly has been stretched and stressed to its limits. Once baby arrives, don’t feel discouraged if your belly skin doesn’t bounce back to its previous elasticity immediately. It’s quite common for a postpartum belly to look saggy and deflated, but your body has done something truly amazing by growing and birthing a baby. This should be celebrated!
Here are my tips to tighten loose skin after pregnancy and firm up your amazing body!
How to tighten loose skin after pregnancy naturally
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+ Embrace the Scottish shower
Tighten loose skin after pregnancy - Tip 1
Not familiar with this technique? In the shower, simply alternate jets of hot and cold water. In addition to enhancing blood circulation, this technique helps firm and tighten skin after pregnancy.
I know… it’s easier said than done, but it can be very effective! A good way to start is to cap off your normal morning shower by finishing with a brief cold blast! Then, once you feel more comfortable with your new routine, you can introduce circular movements with the shower head on your chest, stomach, hips and buttocks! It's a great way to wake up and feel energized for the day to come!
+ Avoid crash diets
Tighten loose skin after pregnancy - Tip 2
We all have a few pounds to lose after pregnancy. But please, be patient and work to gently shed the weight – stay away from crash diets as they can result in a greater amount of loose skin.
If you progressively lose weight your skin has more time to recover and regain elasticity. If you lose weight quickly, your skin has much less time to recover.
Also, your body needs a nutrient packed postpartum diet to be able to produce collagen and elastin fibers to tighten your skin, so don’t deprive it of essential foods. Your body has the ability to regenerate effectively when nourished properly.
+ Collagen
Tighten loose skin after pregnancy - Tip 3
Collagen is a vital ingredient in restoring your skins strength, texture, and vitality.
Here are some foods to boost your body’s collagen production naturally. Note that these foods don’t contain the protein itself, but they deliver nutrients your body uses to produce it: bone broth, meat, fish, eggs, leafy greens, citrus, kiwis, berries, avocado, carrots, tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds.
Try to get your beauty sleep! (I know that's a sensive subject for new Moms...) Your cells regenerate quicker at night. Sleep deprivation affects collagen growth, skin hydration, and skin texture.
+ Stay hydrated
Tighten loose skin after pregnancy - Tip 4
Drink up! Water is a crucial component for maintaining skin elasticity.
Up to 60% of the human adult body is composed of water, and the skin is an impressive 64% water! Generally, you should drink about 8 glasses of water everyday, and much more if you're breastfeeding (10 to 15 glasses).
Alcohol, cigarettes, and too much salt in your diet work against your efforts! Not only are they unhealthy, but they can draw out water from the skin and prevent optimal skin cell regeneration.
It’s important at this stage of your life to give your skin the best chance to regain firmness and elasticity.
+ Hydrate your skin too
Tighten loose skin after pregnancy - Tip 5
Proper daily skin hydration can deliver more flexibility to your skin. Sadly there’s no ideal cream/oil with magical tightening and firming effects... and most people are unaware that skin care products can be a significant source of harmful ingredients, toxins and chemicals.
Companies will try to sell you on a magic “skin tightening cream for stomach after pregnancy” and ingredients that are “clinically-proven” but you should look for what Mother nature intended, all natural ingredients.
I know it’s hard to find the ideal beauty products, but I personally love the “Bump 2 Baby” from Visha Skincare. I used it during my two pregnancies and continue use it regularly. I also love the Dr. Bronner products because I can read and pronounce all the freaking ingredients!
+ Scrub & Massage this belly
Tighten loose skin after pregnancy - Tip 6
To fully benefit from your moisturizer, it’s ideal to massage it into your belly. Practicing self-massage is an awesome way to reconnect with your body and give your belly some love!
Massage your belly with gentle pressure and always in a clockwise direction. It’s a great way to pamper yourself while preventing bloating and firming your skin!
Alongside massage, you can also use a salt or sugar scrub to increase blood flow.
+ Re-strengthen your core the right way
Tighten loose skin after pregnancy - Tip 7
Exercising can’t directly tighten loose skin, but it can definitely help you improve your stomach's look and firmness. Even if you’ve been diagnosed with a Diastasis Recti, it doesn’t have to be the end of your fitness life and flat stomach goals! Now is the perfect time to approach fitness and body awareness with new eyes and new tools like postnatal exercise.
To re-build strong foundations you need a strategy! If your deep abs are weakened, your organs fall forward against the ab-midline, giving you the dreaded postpartum, yet seemingly still pregnant look. Diastasis Recti exercises focus on the deepest layer of your abs: the transverse muscles. Acting as a natural “corset” or “girdle”, they hold the internal organs in place. You can now imagine why strengthening them is so important to regain this flat stomach! Let me help you lose the post baby belly and improve your pelvic floor function!
+ The cumulative effect
Tighten loose skin after pregnancy - Tip 8
You must already be aware that a series of repeated actions have an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects! In other words: applying only 1 or 2 of the tips above won't make much difference, but implimenting most or all of them can make a huge change in the long term.
Work towards new sustainable healthy habits!
Your post-baby belly
Tighten skin after pregnancy
How to get rid of baby belly loose skin
The response of the body to pregnancy and childbirth varies widely from one person to the next, and even from one pregnancy to the next in the same person!
Pregnancy can dramatically impact the appearance of a woman’s stomach. Searching for answers on how to tighten skin after baby can be distressing because there are no miraculous after pregnancy belly skin tightening solutions. None of the above suggestions are miracle cures but by following them you give your skin the best chance of healing.
Distended abdominal muscles, excess skin, and stretch marks are not inevitable - but they are extremely common. Some marks may stay with you forever no matter what you do, but remember that your biggest love grew inside you!
Let me guide you on the road to help your body heal and steer clear of the common mistakes too many new Moms make when they resume exercise after baby. The postpartum time period will fly by, and you’ll feel like yourself again, sooner than you think.