How long did it take you to get back to your pre-pregnancy size post-partum?

hordol

My sister is getting married at the end of June, so about 2 months post-partum for me. The maker of the bridesmaid dress she wants is requesting measurements for bust and waist. Bust I'm not concerned about because I've had no boob growth at all, but how would I estimate what my waist size is going to be? I realize it probably won't be exactly what it was and the dress isn't tight so I should have some wiggle room...but I don't really know where to start. I suppose I should err on the side of too big so I can get it taken in if need be, but how would I know what that would even be? Haha. I would appreciate any sharing of your experiences!

cwm11985

It took me 5 months with rigorous exercise and nursing. I'd definitely account for a bigger chest; mine didn't grow at all while pregnant but was 2 cups bigger while I was nursing.

RedDawnsRevenge

I didn't and still haven't lost anything after DD... Unfortunately some women are unable to lose weight while nursing and I am one of them.

thomas930

Its really hard to say. I was up two pant sizes until about 6 month postpartum just because of my hips. The weight was gone but my hips hadn't shrunk back down yet. Also, if you are breast feeding I would still expect boob growth even if you haven't had much now.

ETA body shape is so different for a few months after birth and some of those changes can be permanent. 

jobabyyy

I really think everyone is different. I know some women who did it in weeks, some in months, and some not at all!! I know that's not helpful... Sorry

NicoleAnne416

More than 2 months. That's about all I can say, everyone is different. And you can't work out for a good 4-6 weeks after baby.

Rrrrrachel

I didn't. I lost all the weight, but things like my hips are just permanently bigger. I would also not rule out bust growth post partum even if you haven't had any yet.

ksulli

I was in a wedding 3 mos post partum and they had me order something that would have fit at about 4 mos pregnant. I normally am a 4, and ordered a 10. They basically had to remake the dress because I was back to my normal size, but up 2 cup sizes when engorged. It's a total crap shoot. Just order up.

momofmanyinthemitten

5 mos, nursing, no exercise, and eating ice cream every night for dessert. But, I'm naturally thin and have never dieted, and only exercise for being healthy, rather than weight loss.

joiedev

Honestly, my first postpartum experience was beautiful! I was back in my regular clothes (edited to add: and weight) by a week postpartum. However, after I finished breastfeeding, ten pounds popped up from outta nowhere, and those were a complete horror to take off. And of course I think things just "sit differently" after having a baby, especially the boobs. I'm interested to see how things will go this time postpartum.

lyndsey774

9 months, nursing, no exercise

fireflygirl12

I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight by my 6 week appointment, but my body was not shaped the same. My hips never got wider during pregnancy, but my shape changed in general. My boobs were 2-3 sizes bigger. I was BFing during my friend's wedding, and the difficult part was that you are in the dress all day, so needing to either BF or pump during the wedding/pre-wedding. Being full or empty definitely makes a difference in boob size, so the dress never seemed to fit just right on top. We did pictures when I was fully engorged and it's pretty much cleavage city.

amhah09

Well I lost all of my pregnancy weight and then some within weeks of delivering DS. BUT I have YET to be back in pre-pregnancy statistics. Everything shifted. I also keep getting pregnant and having more babies, though.

I would account for a bigger bust, bigger waist, and bigger hips. Even if you lose all of the weight by then, chances are you will be bigger in those areas for a while.

Teresa1896

joiedev said:

Honestly, my first postpartum experience was beautiful! I was back in my regular clothes (edited to add: and weight) by a week postpartum. However, after I finished breastfeeding, ten pounds popped up from outta nowhere, and those were a complete horror to take off. And of course I think things just "sit differently" after having a baby, especially the boobs. I'm interested to see how things will go this time postpartum.

This exactly. I was at my pp weight/size 2 weeks post partum, but my clothes didn't fit the same. If you're nursing your boobs will most likely be bigger. I'd take a guess at maybe a size or two bigger than normal but be prepared to make alterations last minute.

joyfullyfound

I gained 28 lbs with DD and was back to my pre-pregnancy size about a month later except for a residual jiggly 2 lbs in my tummy that didn't go away for about a year and a half. My body was just different though... even though I was technically the same clothing size, some of my clothes I'd previously loved just didn't fit the same way again... Still don't. 

WifeofaComposer

I'm a special snowflake. I dropped 80 lbs within 2 months after Skippy was born. I was breastfeeding and I had exudative diarrhea that lasted 7 months - I couldn't leave home (more specifically, a bathroom) for more than an hour. I was checked for Crohn's disease and colitis, but there were no conclusive results and my symptoms cleared up completely by Skippy's first birthday. I have put most of that weight back on, and am plus-sized. Everyone is different, and weight gain/loss is always unpredictable after giving birth.

hordol

Thanks for your input everyone! Looks like there really is no telling, hah. I'll just order big and figure it out closer to the wedding. Thankfully my mom can sew and should be able to handle last minute alterations if needed!

pdilly2b

I felt like my size didn't go down as quickly as I was expecting and my hips were wider. But at about 2 mo post-partum it started falling off and I was back in my thin jeans by 4.5 mo and then bottomed out at 5 lbs below my pre-preg weight. This was with breastfeeding 100% and having gained 35 lbs throughout the pregnancy. Boobs were huge too until I stopped BFing.

EDIT for spelling.

DemoDoll

I grew about a cup size from BFing so I would definitely go larger in the chest. I would probably get measurements of your body now and use them plus go up in the bust. It's easier to take a dress in than let it out.

It took me 10 months to lose all 40 lbs I gained. I lost 25 right away, gained 5 back on my maternity leave, then started really trying to lose the weight around 5 months pp. It took a lot more work than I thought. I was the type that held onto the last 10 lbs while BFing. Some women lose while BFing, others hold on to the weight.

Just a reference, I was a size 6 when I got pregnant, had to wear a size 10/12 PP and then got back down to a size 6 (140 lbs).

Knufflebunny2

With my first I lost all of it within a month or 2, and with my second I never lost all of it and then gained some.

BuggasMom

8 months nursing and working out like a crazy person ...For me.

RedDawnsRevenge

@jellysparkles I came home from the hospital heavier than when I went in. I did however pee out 11 pounds that first night. So since I was d/c the night before my birthday I can proudly say I lost 11 mounds on my birthday! Lol. But as soon as I got back down to what I weighed when I entered the hospital it stopped and stuck.

b-ruth

I was in a wedding a month and a half after giving birth. I ordered the dress two sizes bigger thsn pre pregnancy and it fit perfect. I would suggest going at least one size up. It's easier to take in then let out.

Sarahjess06

18 months. Weight watchers and lots of running.

However,

I was put on mirena at 6w pp. as soon as that happened I ballooned back up. I didn't lose any weight until I took it out almost a year later. That will not be happened this time!

patunia7321

jellysparkles said:

I didn't and still haven't lost anything after DD... Unfortunately some women are unable to lose weight while nursing and I am one of them.

This. I only lost what I lost in the hospital when they pulled 8 lbs of baby and a few pounds of other tissue/fluids out.

Wait... You mean to tell me they don't take out like 30 lbs of "stuff"? Aw crap... 

AcaAwkward

My body hung onto 10 lbs and 2 cup sizes despite all of my efforts. I BF DD until I was 14 weeks pregnant with this LO so I think that's the reason those lbs stuck around.

I was in my best friend's wedding 3 mo PP. I ordered my dress 2 sizes larger than I normally would and altered it a bit but not much (at that point, I was wearing a size larger than normal in pants but my boobs were HUGE).

Merlyna04

I gain 55 pounds, so it took me 9 months to lose my baby battle weight .

selina1113

Gained 45 with DS, lost 30 within the first 6 weeks. I kept losing and regaining 5 lbs over the next year. (No real dieting or exercise.) The last 10 lbs stuck around for 3 years until I finally joined WW & starting running.

ccollins06

I'm also a FTM and am in my brother's wedding 3 months after edd. I normally wear a 6 but will be ordering a 10. I plan on BF and have already gone from a B to a full C, so the bust fit could get interesting.

sf214902

I'm in the same situation. I'm in a wedding the first of July. I ordered a 14, but normally wear an 8/10 in bridal.

J&NL

I gained 40-45 lbs with DD. Lost 30 of it within the first month and it took me about 9 months to get back to pre-pregnancy weight and for my hips to go back to normal.

melissashogan

Im a bigger girl it took me a year before I lost any but then it melted off in a few months with no diet or exercise.

snowclouds

Everyone is different.  

For the boobs, go up a couple sizes because when your milk comes in even if you don't plan on BF your boobs will get way bigger and stay that way as long as you BF.

I lost all my pregnancy weight in the first month, but I didn't fit into pre-pregnancy clothes until 2 months pp and then it took a year to get my body shape kind of back to what I was before.  

Some ppl struggle with losing the weight and some struggle with the shape after and then a lucky few just go back to exactly what they were before, but it's really hard to predict so go up a couple sizes and have the dress altered a month or so before the wedding.

jsoubel

kielpinskim said:

5 mos, nursing, no exercise, and eating ice cream every night for dessert. But, I'm naturally thin and have never dieted, and only exercise for being healthy, rather than weight loss.

This was me basically.  By 3 months, I was one size larger than I was before pregnancy, mostly due to the boobs.  I am also in a wedding 2 months post-partum this time and I ordered a dress 2 sizes up from my pre-pregnancy size (a 4, and I'm normally a 0).  They can always make adjustments to the dress (take it in) a week or two before the day, but they cannot always let it out.

ZebNMichelle

8 years