How Much Weight Do You Lose After Giving Birth?
Jun 18, 2025
How Much Weight Do You Lose After Giving Birth?
One of the most common questions new mothers ask is how much weight they’ll lose after giving birth. Let me start by stating that we are all different and our recovery after childbirth will also vary.
The answer varies widely depending on factors like what your weight was before getting pregnant. And other factors such as your pregnancy weight gain, any issues you experienced when pregnant and individual physiology.
While the scale drops significantly right after delivery, losing the rest of this weight takes time and patience.
How Much Weight Do You Lose After Giving Birth?
1. Immediately after birth, you lose a substantial amount of weight. This can be anywhere between 10 to 13 pounds (5 to 6 kilograms). This initial drop comes from the baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid.
2. A full-term newborn weighs about 6 to 9 pounds (4 to 4 kilograms) on average
3. The placenta adds roughly 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram)
4. The amniotic fluid contributes another 1 to 2 pounds.
5. You are looking at a quick loss of around 12 pounds for a typical vaginal delivery.
6. If you have a cesarean section, the number might nudge slightly higher due to extra fluids or tissue removed during surgery.
7. Beyond this, fluid loss kicks in fast. During pregnancy, your body retains extra water, up to 6 to 8 pounds (2.7 to 3.6 kilograms) to support increased blood volume and fetal needs.
8. After birth, hormonal shifts trigger sweating and urination to shed this excess, often within the first week. For some, this can mean another four to six pounds gone, bringing the total immediate postpartum loss to 15 to 20 pounds (7 to 9 kilograms).
9. Breastfeeding moms might notice this happens faster, as lactation burns calories and draws on fluid reserves.
This is Me
But what about the rest?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests healthy weight gain during pregnancy is 25 to 35 pounds (11.3 to 15.9 kilograms) for women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI.
Subtract the initial 10 to 20 pounds lost, and you’re left with 5 to 25 pounds (2.3 to 11.3 kilograms) of “pregnancy weight” mostly fat stores built to fuel gestation and breastfeeding. This doesn’t go away overnight.
For many mamas, the uterus takes six to eight weeks to shrink back (losing another pound or so), and fat loss depends on diet, activity, and metabolism.
Breastfeeding can accelerate things.
It burns 300 to 500 calories daily, potentially shedding an extra half-pound to a pound (0.2 to 0.5 kilograms) per week if paired with balanced eating.
Studies into Weight Loss Postpartum
Studies, like those in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, show breastfeeding moms often return to pre-pregnancy weight faster. This can sometimes be within six months compared to formula-feeding moms.
In another study, it provided evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for at least three months has a small effect on postpartum weight loss among U.S. women.
Reference: PMC - Effects of breastfeeding on postpartum weight loss among U.S. women
Every body is different.
1. If you gained more than recommended, or had multiples, expect a higher starting point and slower loss.
2. Swelling, stress, or sleep deprivation can also stall the scale.
3. The key? Focus on health, not trying to lose baby weight fast. Crash diets risk nutrient deficits, especially postpartum.
4. Most experts say losing 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) per week after the first month is safe and sustainable, often leveling off by six to twelve months.
Post-birth weight loss is a journey and we are all different. What you do need to focus on is your core rehab and re-gaining your body confidence. This is where my Core Rehab program has helped thousands of mamas worldwide.
Related Articles:
C-Section Recovery: Week by Week Guide
How Long Does it Take for Pelvic Floor to Recover after Childbirth?
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