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Body After Baby: 3-month update
Hi Beauties!
I can hardly believe I’m already 3 months postpartum. The time has flown.
While in many ways I’d like time to slow down, I’m also happy to be wrapping up the “fourth trimester.” I love the newborn stage, but it’s hard in a lot of ways too. It’s nice to feel more settled and to watch our little guy develop more personality as the weeks go on.
Here’s a little update on my body after baby and how things are going…
Weight Loss
I’ve lost a total of 31 lbs. since giving birth! That’s a lot to lose in 3 months, but given my dietary restrictions I’m not surprised (more on this later).
I am 8 lbs. above my pre-pregnancy weight and the scale hasn’t budged in about 3-4 weeks. While it’s a little frustrating, I do believe my measurements are going down (although I haven’t been paying much attention to be honest). I also know that my body may hold on to that weight for awhile while I’m breastfeeding. And I’m okay with that.
I’m not focused on weight loss at this point. Instead, I’m focused on keeping my nutrition up and getting back into shape.
Fitness
I’ve been doing short Pilates routines at home and that’s about it!
My walks and return to running have been stalled due to cold weather. It’s one thing for me to go out by myself in the freezing cold, it’s another thing to bring a 2-year-old and 3-month old out when it’s below freezing. I worry about their temperature and they’re also usually not very happy about being in the cold so it’s been a struggle to get outside.
My goal for the next few months is to continue doing Pilates and to add in some HIIT workouts, TRX and barre to get my heart-rate up.
I’m struggling to find time for exercise so I’m continually trying to shift things around in my schedule. During the last month, if I wasn’t taking care of babies I was working on Pilates 4×4. It was a very, very busy November. Now that Pilates 4×4 is off the ground I’m finding a little bit more time in my schedule for exercise but there is a lot of room for improvement. I hope to have a good update on this soon. 🙂
Diet
I’ve been a little quiet on my postpartum updates because my weight loss and journey has not been typical. I want to make sure you know that if you’re reading this. After my first pregnancy I didn’t even START losing significant weight until the 3-month mark.
This time has been different because of my son’s digestion issues. While we have seen great improvement in his overall comfort level, happiness and mood, his diapers are still not 100% clear.
I am currently off of the following foods: dairy, soy, gluten, eggs, nuts, beef, fish and coffee (as of today…wahhh!).
It has been a significant and frustrating challenge to say the least.
I’ve gotten very comfortable cooking meals and finding snacks that are free of the above allergens, but it’s really hard to miss out on all of the JOY that comes with food, especially this time of year. I miss sharing meals with friends and it’s hard having to say no to so many things. It puts a damper on date nights when I can’t eat at most restaurants and it takes a lot of work to grocery shop and food prep so that I always have things on hand that I am able to eat.
I don’t want it to sound like I’m feeling sorry for myself, it’s just a hard thing. So if you’re out there, and you’re having to make similar accommodations just know you’re not alone!
Since I’m already omitting so many foods from my diet I am not focusing on weight loss at all. I am actually eating as much as I can find to keep my calories up.
A typical day looks like this:
Breakfast: 1 vegan muffin from It’s All Good + 1-2 turkey sausages from The PBP meal plan
Snack: 1 vegan muffin w/sunflower seed butter or a green smoothie
Lunch: leftovers (chili, chicken taco soup, taco bowls, chicken curry w/quinoa, etc.), rice cakes topped with Applegate Farms turkey, veganaise, dijon mustard, avocado and tomato or a big salad with roasted veggies, roasted chicken and hemp hearts.
Snack: apple + sun butter, banana + sun butter, a smoothie (if I didn’t have one in the morning), 2 turkey sausage patties or hummus and veggies/chips.
Dinner: I’m currently rotating about 8 different meals (taco bowls, chili, white chicken chili, tomato soup + salad, chicken curry w/quinoa, sausage & white bean casserole, meatballs + kale, quinoa pasta with broccoli & chicken, roasted balsamic veggie bowls and this sausage-apple-sweet potato bake.
Snack: anything I can find!
I snack frequently and drink loads of water. I’m currently getting my healthy fats from avocado, coconut oil, hemp hearts and seeds.
I’m hoping and praying that my little guy will be 100% in the clear soon so that I can start adding foods back in!
The good news is that he his happy, healthy, gaining weight like a champ (he is so chubby) and sleeping well, so my pediatrician is not overly concerned. (You can read more about my first journey with the dairy and soy protein intolerance here.)
Sleep
Baby K has slept through the night 2 times! We’re getting closer and closer to sealing the deal. If he doesn’t sleep all the way through he usually wakes up around 5:30 for a feeding and then we fall back asleep until 6:30/7:00 when I wake him up for his first official feeding of the day.
In the beginning, he was having trouble falling asleep by himself and staying asleep. We had to bounce him and hold him nonstop. I thought he was going to be a challenging baby and I thought it would be impossible to get him on a sleep schedule like I did with Blake.
But around 10 weeks we started our “eat, play, sleep” routine and our lives changed! He started falling asleep easily on his own (no longer needing to be bounced & held) and started sleeping much longer stretches. Our days have gotten much easier as I am now able to manage both kids without feeling totally stressed and overwhelmed. It was a game-changer for sure. I’m so thankful.
He currently nurses, stays awake for about 45 minutes and then I swaddle him and put him in his crib. It always seems too soon to put him down, but he happily drifts off into sleep every time! He was nursing every 2 hours in the early days and is now going about 3 hours between feedings.
If your baby is not sleeping well, please don’t let this post make you feel bad! All babies are different.
I’m just sharing how well this routine has worked for us with both kids, even when I thought Kincade wouldn’t follow suit. As a mom who works from home, having a routine is imperative so I’m just thankful we’re finding a new groove. And also thankful to be getting more sleep at night. 🙂
Emotions
Thankfully, my hormones have leveled out and I no longer feel quite as emotional. The major ups & downs are gone and I’m feeling like myself again. Again, thankful to be coming out of the “4th trimester.”
Work-Life Balance
It was hard to imagine finding any time to work during the first few months, but we’ve made some shifts and we’re starting to find a new rhythm. Here are the big shifts that have helped:
- B goes to preschool one day per week and afterwards my husband has started taking her on “daddy dates” which gives me a full day at home to work and be with Kincade.
- We hired a nanny to come to our house 1 day per week. She watches Blake while I work from home and take care of Kincade. She also helps with some light cleaning, laundry and dinner prep which makes a HUGE difference. I am so grateful for her and love that she is becoming a part of our family.
- The sleep routine! As I mentioned above, getting Kincade on a sleep routine has made my life so much easier. B still takes an afternoon nap (or plays in her room for 2 hours if she resists) so each day I at least have a small window where they are both napping so I can catch up on emails.
We’re still figuring out how to make it all work but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the seasons will continue to change. Every few months we’ll need to re-evaluate based on the kids’ needs, our work schedules and what kinds of things are happening here on The Balanced Life.
I am thankful that I love my job so much and that you all support me on this journey. If it wasn’t for this space and you as a community, I could not do this…so thank you!
So, here’s to continuing on my postpartum journey…
My main goal over the next few months is to find more time for exercise and more time for rest.
Hold me accountable okay?
xo,
Robin Long
Robin Long, founder and CEO of Lindywell, certified Pilates instructor, Nutrition Therapy Practitioner, and author of 'Well to the Core,' blends 15 years of expertise with a lifelong commitment to holistic health.
Learn more about Robin Long
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17 thoughts on “Body After Baby: 3-month update”
I am so relieved to hear that someone else is in the same boat as I am!! My first baby was a piece of cake! He didn’t “wake up” until he was 4 months old. Baby 2 has really thrown us for a loop. Refux, laryngomalacia, MSPI, had to be rocked to sleep, we are at a loss.
It is refreshing to hear that eventually you were able to get him on a schedule. I LOVE routine and so far we haven’t been able to have one with #2 and it’s killing me!
So I have one question. With your feed, wake, sleep schedule do you wake him up to feed him if his nap lasts too long? I know babywise says to wake them but healthy sleep habits, happy baby says not to… I am hesitant to wake him like I did with #1 because he is so hard to get back to sleep. It sounds like you might have been in the same boat with a “bad” sleeper so I just wanted your opinion. Thanks!
Congrats on your little one Claire! To answer your question, I do wake him up during the day. It’s hard because I want him to keep sleeping but I’ve found that it really helps us stay on a natural rhythm. I feed him every 2.5 – 3.5 hours so if he’s still sleeping at the 3 hour mark then I’ll wake him up, feed him, let him stay awake for 45 minutes to an hour, and then put him back down for another nap. At night (since the doctor gave us the go-ahead), we let him sleep. I give him a “dream feed” at 10:30pm and then put him back to bed, thankfully he goes right to sleep. Then he’ll either wake up once in the night or sleep until 5:00ish. Hope this helps!
Robin, this post is so, so helpful!! My little guy will be 3 months next Friday, and I honestly thought we’d be MUCH more in a routine by now! It’s reassuring to hear from a seasoned mama that these first few months are a whirlwind for you, too. He’s started to sleep for long stretches at night (6-7 hours!) and falling asleep on his own for naps during the day. He’s still eating every two hours and only sleeping for 30 minutes at a time, but I’m hopeful that he’ll start to stretch that out soon! I, too, work from home, and finding time for everything has been hard. It’s also so great to hear that your weight hasn’t changed much in the last month, even though your body composition has. I’m finding the same thing – the scale actually says I weigh the exact same as I did at my 6-week postpartum appointment, but I know my measurements have changed because I’m fitting into my pre-pregnancy jeans, which I definitely could NOT do at 6 weeks! It’s hard to not focus so much on the scale but on how I look and feel, but so helpful to hear that you’re doing the same. Thanks so much for sharing!! xoxo!
Yes, ignore that scale! The body does weird things postpartum. 🙂 And see my note in the other comment about the “45 minute intrude,” it might help. 🙂 Keep up the good work mama, I’m sure he will continue to adjust and you’ll both fall into a good routine soon. xoxo
Oh my word….everytime I read your updates I feel less alone. Our journeys have been so similar. Elliott was born Sept. 6th – 1 1/2 weeks overdue. He also has struggled with falling asleep but is getting better. Do you have any favorite resources that you’ve learned from to help create more of a routine for your family? Thanks in advance!
I’m so glad you found this encouraging! Congrats on your new little guy. 🙂 We loosely follow Babywise. I didn’t mention that because I have honestly received the worst comments and emails from people who are misinformed on how Babywise works. It has been a huge gift to us – it helps me interpret his cues, know whether he needs to eat or needs to sleep, and saves all of us by providing good sleep. 2 of the biggest takeaways for us have been: 1. put him to bed before he seems tired (about 45 minutes after eating) and 2. The “45 minute intruder”. Without fail he will wake up and fuss a little bit after 45 minutes of sleep, then drift back off to sleep for another hour or so. If I didn’t know about that I would probably get him up every time! Hope this helps. xoxo
So glad to hear you are doing well and finding a routine. Thanks for such a helpful update!
Congrats on your beautiful baby boy! My little girl just turned 5 months. You hit the nail right on the head with the elimination diet. I’m Top 8 free. Going out to eat or now going to holiday parties has been so hard. I gained 35 lbs with my pregnancy and have lost almost 55 — but I hate it! I was a healthy 130 prior to getting pregnant and I’ve been struggling to keep weight on. I’m really trying to stay above 110. People compliment my weight loss but the truth is, I’d much rather be able to eat REAL food and gain some weight.
My hardest part through all this is struggling with exercise. I want to build muscle back, but in afraid of expending more calories and losing more weight!
Do you have any tips on how to start exercising to build back muscle without losing weight? I’m already trying to eat every healthy fat under the sun and have meals similar to yours.
Thanks Robin,
-SC
Hi Sarah! I’m sorry you’re going through a similar challenge! I totally get what you’re going through. I have found that Pilates is a GREAT option because it’s low intensity, I can control my expenditure but still build great muscle. I’ve been slow to start running again for the same reasons you mentioned. I need to keep some weight on for this babe! Definitely give Pilates a try if you’re not already. 🙂 xoxo
It’s really encouraging to read this. Thanks for being so open and honest about being a Mom. I just had my first baby 11 weeks ago. I gained about 35-40 lbs with him (depending on who’s scale I used). I’m back to 130 and have 10 lbs to go to be back to pre-preg weight (117-118 on a really good day). I’m stuck around 130… just started your 30 day challenge and loving it. Add that into some light weights and treadmill, I’m hoping the weight can come down. The hardest part of this is feeling this jello stomach and pants not fitting. Still BF exclusively so wondering if that is keeping some weight on. I haven’t been super strict on my diet, starting to do that more now. I use to do a ton of Pilates pre-preg (reformer, mat, cadillac…. loved it all). Hoping that the muscle under the flab starts emerging again. I’ll never complain about “feeling fat” again! LOL! 🙂
I went through the same thing with my first baby back in 2011. It’s a difficult time already for moms at the newborn stages, but when you add in the feeding difficulties, it can be tremendously overwhelming. I started out with a complete elimination diet, and eventually was off of soy and dairy for most of the first year of her life while breastfeeding. I can happily say that she has grown out of all her allergies, so while it was a tough time, we are grateful her body strengthened and as she got older, things got better. We worked with a pediatric gastroenterologist as we reintroduced foods to be constantly testing her diapers. By the time she was 18 months, we were all back to eating regularly. I will say though that not eating dairy contributed to me losing almost all my baby weight with that pregnancy. I’m 14 months postpartum now with my second, and I’m still working hard at getting my body back to where I want it to be. Sounds like you are staying very positive, which is the most important thing! I’m thoroughly enjoying your 30 Day Pilates Body Challenge, which led me to your blog, which I’m also loving!
Thank you for sharing Jennifer! This is so encouraging to me. I’m so glad to hear you’re little one grew out of all her allergies. xoxox
Hi robin thanks for sharing your experience it makes it a little easier to hear about others going through the same experience. I’ve had to cut out a ridiculous amount of foods out of my diet as my 6 months old was gettin blood in his diapers. Unfortunately the paediatrician we were referred to hasn’t been helpful and won’t test nappies for us so it’s hard to tell how he is getting on since starting him on solids as he is now constipated a lot of the time and when he does go they are very hard so I can’t visibly see the blood like before, but he has bad wind and sometimes just seems in discomfort with his tummy. I’m only feeding him fruit and veg along with breastfeeding at the moment but did you find nappy testing was the only way of confirming for sure the intolerance is gone? My paediatrician wants me to feed him soy and gluten products soon but I am hesitant as I don’t feel his digestive issues are resolved just because I can’t see the blood. It’s so hard keeping this diet ( no dairy, gluten, soy, corn, some fruits, some veg, anything from the soy family such as lentils chickpeas, all nuts, egg) and I’ve had very little help from professionals so I feel like I’m stumbling through things in the dark. He doesn’t sleep well anymore which I’m convinced is due to his tummy as he wakes up passing massive amounts of wind so it just feels between the lack of sleep I’m getting and the diet I have to maintain I’m struggling.
Can I ask what prenatal a did you switch to from honest brand? Also any great resources or websites you used for safe foods?
Thanks for the meal ideas! My first had a milk protein allergy And I had to eliminate dairy soy and eggs but my second is far more sensitive. I’ve eliminated dairy soy eggs beef bacon shellfish and still have some reactions ( fussiness and blood in diaper ) do I’ve started a good diary bc I don’t know what it is! Planning on sticking with only whole foods and nothing packaged or processed so I know exactly what’s in it!
Hi, my second has several food sensitivities which I am still trying to narrow down (currently going backwards to re-challenge suspect foods but I have a feeling most will need to stay out of my diet). I’ve really been struggling with finding a variety of nutritious food to eat and your sample menu is super helpful. The sausage, apple, potato bake looks yummy. Is there a specific sausage you used that was milk (casein, etc.) free? I also am hopeful that our son will outgrow his sensitivities and your posts have helped me feel more optimistic.
Hi Leah! We are so glad this sample menu is helpful for you! We recommend checking your local health foods store and carefully reading over the labels to ensure the sausage is milk free! We know every local area can vary in their products and availability! 🙂 All the best to you!