How to Firm Loose Skin Post-Pregnancy: Effective Remedies

Skin is the largest organ of our body. Due to changes in hormones and blood flow during pregnancy, many types of changes occur in the body, the effect of which is also visible on our skin. Such as - problem of varicose veins, stress marks on the skin, pigmentation, freckles on the skin, etc. During the 9 months of pregnancy, the skin of your stomach starts stretching to accommodate the growing baby. Therefore, after the birth of the child, it takes a long time for the skin of the stomach to return to its original shape and for the loose skin to tighten again.

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After pregnancy, the muscles of the stomach become loose, which contains fat as well as extra skin, due to which the skin of the stomach, especially around the navel, looks hanging. This is also commonly called pregnancy pouch or mommy pooch.

Let us tell new mothers that immediately after delivery, your stomach does not become the same as before pregnancy again. The time limit for weight loss varies for each woman depending on different factors. Such as how much weight you gained during pregnancy, whether you breastfeed your child or not, what are your diet and exercise habits, etc. Therefore, this loose and hanging skin of the stomach (pregnancy pouch) may take a few months to become normal again. But it is also true that in some women this problem never gets completely cured.

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Cardio exercise can help burn fat and tone your muscles. For this, if you want, walk fast, swim, jog or cycle daily. Before starting any new exercise routine, ask your doctor if it is okay to be active again like before. Start slowly and then move towards intense activities. Regular exercise can help prevent or reduce excess skin.

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Strength training workouts can help you tone your entire body as well as abdominal muscles and give them the right shape. Creating muscle tone also helps positively in tightening loose skin. For this, if you want, you can do sit ups or pushups. Pilates, yoga, plank etc. are also helpful in tightening your abdominal core muscles, hip and glute muscles. If you are doing strength training workouts with a trainer, then tell them that you have recently delivered because there are some exercises or moves that you should avoid.

Include such foods in your diet that can give you healthy protein and fat. Eating such things can help you build muscles. Protein also contains collagen. Every woman's protein needs are different and it depends on how much you exercise as well as your height and weight. You may also need more protein if you are breastfeeding a baby.

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Hydration is essential to tighten loose skin after pregnancy. Water helps to hydrate the skin and make it more elastic. Your body also works better and more efficiently with more water. Water can burn fat more easily and reduce water retention in your stomach. So drink 2 to 3 liters of water daily.

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Some plant-based oils can help repair the skin that has become loose after pregnancy and bring it back to its tightness. This can happen due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties present in plant-based oils. For example, almond oil can help remove stretch marks on the stomach during pregnancy.

Essential oils are diluted by mixing them in carrier oils, due to which they have many benefits for skin health. To help tighten the skin of the stomach, massage well with rubbing carrier oil like jojoba oil or coconut oil around the tummy line. If you want, you can also add a few drops of essential oil like frankincense or neroli to it.

If you want, you can also use creams rich in collagen along with vitamins K, C, E and A for massage. These things help in tightening loose skin. Massage well after applying cream or lotion. Massage improves blood circulation, which makes the skin look tight.

Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck surgery is also an option to tighten the muscles by removing the excess skin around the stomach. But remember that it cannot replace weight loss or any exercise program. During surgery, the doctor cuts the stomach and removes the excess skin. The remaining skin is stitched together and a new place is also created for the navel. However, this surgery is very expensive. So talk to your doctor and choose the option that is best for you.

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Some natural remedies can be helpful in tightening loose skin after pregnancy. First of all, regular exercise and yoga like planks, squats, and core strengthening exercises help tone the skin. Drinking plenty of water keeps the skin hydrated and flexible, which helps it recover quickly. Eating a diet rich in protein and vitamin C improves skin elasticity. Massaging the skin with natural ingredients like coconut oil, almond oil, and aloe vera gel increases blood circulation and tightens the skin. Getting enough sleep and reducing stress also helps in skin regeneration.