Weight gain is expected when creating the miracle of life. The weight you gain supports your baby’s development and stores the fat your body needs if you choose to breastfeed. We understand that you want to get back to your pre-baby body as soon as possible and that you may be wondering if compounded Semaglutide and med spa treatments can help.
Let’s dive into pregnancy weight gain and how to lose weight post-pregnancy in a healthy manner.
How much weight should you gain while pregnant?
How much weight you gain is unique to you. The average woman gains between 11 and 40 pounds. The lower your initial BMI, the more you’re likely to gain. Instead of focusing on the number on the scale while pregnant, focus on your whole-body health. Stay up to date with your prenatal appointments and reach out to your OBGYN if you have questions or concerns.
Even if you gain more weight than expected, don’t try to lose weight while pregnant.
Do I need to eat more food while I’m pregnant?
Yes, but what you eat matters. Don’t diet while you’re pregnant, but do modify your nutrition and build your meals around healthy whole foods—especially if your pregnancy cravings are unhealthy. You’ll need to consume between 300 and 450 more calories per day when you’re pregnant, more in your third trimester.
You’ll need to continue with an additional 300 to 400 calories per day while breastfeeding.
Why do we get pregnancy cravings?
Up to 85% of women have pregnancy cravings, so you aren’t alone. There’s an ongoing debate as to why cravings occur, but it’s likely a combination of factors.
- Cravings may arise due to a heightened sense of taste and smell.
- Hormonal fluctuations may be the cause of sweet cravings.
- You're craving what you need to soothe your nausea, such as vinegar.
- Your craving may contain an essential vitamin or mineral that you’re lacking.
As long as your overall nutrition is well-rounded and your physician approves, indulge your craving.
How long does it take to lose my pregnancy weight gain?
Most women experience the most rapid weight loss during the first 3 months after giving birth. It takes most women 6 to 12 months to lose their pregnancy weight gain. However, the number on the scale dropping isn’t the same as returning to your pre-baby body. Non-surgical med spa treatments can help to rejuvenate your body.
Does breastfeeding help you lose weight?
Wondering if breastfeeding to lose weight is an old wives’ tale? It’s not. The choice is yours, so you must decide what’s right for you, your baby, and your lifestyle. That said, breastfeeding burns approximately 500 calories per day. Breastfeeding may also encourage you to be a bit more mindful of what you eat.
Results vary, but you can expect to lose up to 6 more pounds if you breastfeed for at least 12 weeks.
Is it harder to lose weight after the second baby?
Maybe. Every pregnancy and post-pregnancy is unique. Some women lose weight faster after their second baby as they have a better idea of what works, and some women struggle more.
If it’s more of a challenge to lose weight after two or more births, it may be because your metabolism slows with age.
Does napping help you lose weight?
Yes, it can! Sleep deprivation is linked to weight gain. Since new babies wake up for feeding, changing, and snuggling in the middle of the night, most new parents are sleep-deprived. If you can, nap when your baby naps during the day. This is challenging for working parents. If you can’t nap, aim to head to bed earlier.
What’s the best diet to get back to my pre-baby weight?
We never suggest fad diets, because diets don’t work. We know extreme diets are tempting if you want to shed your pregnancy weight gain, but the results aren’t sustainable. If you’re breastfeeding, you’ll need to continue with increased caloric intake. You’ll also need to maintain well-rounded nutrition, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t tailor your meals to promote weight loss.
If you aren’t sure what to eat, and you aren’t breastfeeding, we suggest a Medical Weight Loss Program. These programs include vitamin injections to support metabolism, with or without compounded Semaglutide. The weekly meal plans are delicious, nutritious, and won’t leave you feeling hungry.
Can you take compounded Semaglutide while trying to get pregnant?
No. If you decide you want to conceive while taking weight loss medication, speak with your physician. Your physician will advise on how long to wait to try to conceive after you stop your weekly injection.
Can you take compounded Semaglutide while pregnant?
No. Compounded Semaglutide and other weight loss injections are not advised while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Many women who’ve struggled with their fertility are getting pregnant while taking weight loss medications. Obesity can lead to hormonal imbalances that disrupt ovulation and fertility. So, you aren’t alone if you’re losing weight in hopes of conceiving.
Work with your physician to determine what percentage of body fat you should aim to lose before discontinuing compounded Semaglutide to try to conceive.
If you unexpectedly become pregnant while taking your weekly injection, contact your physician immediately. You’ll likely be advised to stop your injections. If you’re diabetic or taking other medications, your physician will discuss risk factors and may prescribe alternative medications.
Can you take compounded Semaglutide while breastfeeding?
No. Weight loss medications are not suggested while breastfeeding, pregnant, or trying to conceive.
Once you’re done breastfeeding, compounded Semaglutide may be an option to lose your pregnancy weight gain.
Can aesthetic treatments help me lose my baby weight?
Yes! The face is often the first thing that comes to mind when we think of aesthetic therapies, but Valley Medical Weight Loss and Med Spa offer whole-body aesthetic treatments. Don’t be shy, as we’ve heard and seen it all. Some of the post-pregnancy concerns can be resolved with the non-surgical solutions below.
Hyperpigmentation
Fluctuating hormones can cause the body to overproduce melanin, leading to what’s often referred to as the “mask of pregnancy”. The face is prone to hyperpigmentation as it’s an area of the body that encounters damaging UV rays daily. This leads to sun damage that accelerates hyperpigmentation on the face, even when you aren’t pregnant.
Lumecca Peak intense light pulse (IPL) therapy is a revolutionary method of fading hyperpigmentation of any kind. It’s so effective, that you can see results after just one session!
Double Chin
You aren’t alone if you’ve developed a post-pregnancy double chin. What’s even more frustrating is that even if you get back to your pre-baby weight, your double chin will remain.
The fat cells that develop under the chin (subcutaneous fat cells) are unique. If you lose weight, these fat pads shrink, but they don’t dissolve. Even if the cells are smaller, you lose the definition in your chin. This area is also difficult to target, so you may not be able to shrink these pesky fat pads in the first place.
We may advise administering Kybella with or without Morpheus8 Burst for this area of pregnancy weight gain. Kybella is a series of 2 to 3 injections that target and permanently dissolve subcutaneous fat cells. Morpehus8 utilizes a combination of radiofrequency and microneedling to blast fat cells and tighten laxity in your jaw, face, neck, and body.
Chubby Cheeks
The chin isn’t the only tricky place to lose weight, but also the face. We may suggest a few different treatments to blast fat, tighten skin, and contour your face and neck. This includes the Forma Facial. This radiofrequency treatment targets and dissolves fat cells and tightens skin laxity.
Labia Fat
Your outer labia may accumulate fat cells that you may not lose when you return to your pre-baby weight. Like the chin and face, workouts don’t target the muscles in this area. If you lose weight, the fat pads stay behind. We may suggest Morpheus8 Burst for this small but noticeable area of stubborn fat.
Vaginal Rejuvenation
The O-Shot is a non-surgical method of vaginal rejuvenation. It works by injecting platelet-rich plasma derived from your blood, to help you heal. Benefits may include restoring your ability to orgasm, minimizing pain during intercourse, minimizing scar sensitivity, and improving urinary and fecal continence.
Breasts and Body
Let’s be honest, your breasts will never be the same, especially if you breastfed your baby. The longer you breastfed, the more times you’ve breastfed—the harder it will be for your breasts to recover.
Your breasts, back, and stomach may sag, develop stretch marks, and have pockets of fat. We’re here to explore how to contour, tighten, and rejuvenate.
Lipo Laser may be an option for addressing back fat, belly fat, and fat on your thighs and buttocks. This series of 8 pain-free sessions has zero downtime and delivers similar results as liposuction without surgery.
Let’s Discuss How to Lose Your Pregnancy Weight
Pregnancy weight gain is inevitable, but we’re here to help you accelerate your weight loss. Going it alone can be stressful, but we’re here to help. Discuss your post-baby aesthetic concerns, and we’ll discuss how our treatments can blast fat, heal your body, and boost your confidence.
