When you’re pregnant you have this beautiful glow and people notice. Compliments all around! However, after the baby is born, your body resembles more of a deflated stretched-out balloon. I’m sure many new moms, like myself, really wanted their bodies back. Or at least some resemblance to it. I’m not quite there still… but there are some great products that can really help with the recovery. I call them my 4 surprising but powerful postpartum body boosters!
So when my husband and I found out that we were pregnant, we were super excited. Each month, we were anxious to find out if our little blueberry was finally a peach or some other fruit. Looking back on the photos, I can see more clearly that my body went through so many changes. These products really helped during that time shortly after birth when you can’t exercise.
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The Belly Bandit
Many first-time moms might not know but after your baby is born you still have what resembles a 5-month pregnancy pooch. This is because your uterus needs time to return to its normal size after the baby is born and that can take a few weeks.
My mom recommended a band that you can wear around your belly that will help with your recovery. According to my mom, it helps with pushing your gut back in. After your baby is born, your body is working 24 hours a day to get back to its norm. The organs are readjusting and moving back into place and your skin, after being stretched is trying to recover.
Of course, I didn’t know where I could get this belly band.
Cue a fellow mom, a good friend of mine, she recommended the Belly Bandit. It is a wide velcro band that you can wear post-pregnancy. It aids with the recovery after the baby is born. While I was using it, I found my mom was right. It did help pull in my post-pregnancy belly. My only regret is not wearing it more often and for longer.
Pros
- Aids in the recovery of the uterus, as it contracts back to its original size
- Shortens the length of postpartum bleeding
- Tucks in the postpartum pooch
- Helps the skin recover from being stretched during pregnancy
Cons
- It is uncomfortable, it is not the most comfortable thing to wear
- You need to wear it for the majority of the day
I am not going to lie, it wasn’t the most comfortable that was probably the worst thing about it. You’re compressing 9 months of expanding into this tight little band however, the results are worth it. Right after your baby is born, you won’t be able to work out (it is not recommended) for some, they will even struggle to walk or sit. So during those first few weeks why not get passive help by using this. My first not so surprising but powerful postpartum body boosters! I recommend wearing it over a form fitting tee or tank it helps with the discomfort of wearing it for such long periods of the day.
Sweet Almond Oil
Ladies, our bodies are amazing. It has the capability to house and grow life. Our body adjusts and provides everything our little one needs to grow and prepare itself for life after nine months. However, these amazing things come at a cost: stretch marks, weight gain, swelling, backaches, and loss of bladder control just to name a few.
Fellow mama, I will say it again, your body is amazing. Give your body some loving grace. It has sacrificed so much. What is more important is how you view and treat your body after this amazing thing it has done.
I recommend this Sweet Almond Oil. You are pampering your skin and body with this wonderful natural oil but also helping your skin tighten, smooth and lift. All things your body needs some help with, postpartum.
Pros
- No strong fragrance
- Helps tighten and smooth the skin
- Helps heal and reduce stretch marks
- Reduces redness and irritation from excessive stretching
- It actually works
Cons
- It is an oil, so it can strain certain kind of clothes
I got a few stretch marks and I definitely have a post-pregnancy pooch and the oil won’t make it go away but it will help. It works to tighten, smooth, and lift your stretched skin. A bonus? It’s really affordable.
After every shower, I would lather this oil on and wore my belly bandit during my resting time. Working out also helps but it could be a few weeks before you can start. Consistency is key.
Dana Langren’s Pelvic Floor Program
Pelvic floor…? What is that?
It is a group of muscles in your pelvic region that suffer a lot of weakening during pregnancy and childbirth.
Before we go further, make sure you get your doctor’s, “okay” before starting any physical program.
Dana’s program is low impact, low intensity, and effective. She teaches you how to properly activate your pelvic floor and effectively strengthen it in her Pelvic Floor Program.
Pros
- It is affordable
- Postpartum friendly almost right away
- Effective and works to strengthen so many other areas
- Helps you ease into working out after baby is born
Cons
- It is not passive but requires your effort, unlike my other postpartum body boosters
Check it out, ladies. I can’t recommend it enough. I am post-pregnancy for almost 2 years, and I still use it. Remember when I said your body goes through a lot such as stretch marks, weight gain, swelling, backaches, and loss of bladder control. This program will help with weight loss, backaches, bladder control, more enjoyable postpartum sex, and if you suffer from diastasis recti; this program is for you.
You can also check Dana Landgren out on Instagram! She offers some of her workouts for free on her page. Exercises for weight loss, some that are pregnancy-friendly, and helps heal diastasis recti. She is a fellow mom who has been through it too. I would say that strengthening your pelvic floor is the best of all the powerful postpartum body boosters!
Want more on postpartum fitness? Check out my post, Beginners Guide to Postpartum Fitness!
Aura Inner Beauty
Here we are, my 4th and final surprising but powerful postpartum body boosters.
So, I looked it up and collagen is actually safe to have postpartum. Collagen has really wonderful effects. When taken consistently, reduces joint pain, helps firm your skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles and , it promotes and maintains thick and healthy hair.
After we give birth to our beautiful little ones, our skin is stretched out, all the relaxin hormones are still flowing through our system causing loose joints and pains. Taking collagen postpartum is a great way to help firm our skin from the inside out and aid our body as it gets back to normal.
My main reason initially for taking collagen supplements was the postpartum hair loss. Around the 3-4 month mark, mothers usually experience the postpartum hair loss and it can get pretty bad. When I would shower I could feel and see a fist full of hair… it really freaked me out.
Now lets get to the good stuff…
I really recommend Aura Inner Beauty Collagen. Let’s be honest here, collagen doesn’t really taste all that great but I found Aura Inner Beauty collagen actually tastes good! I have tried many different kinds, most of them powder. I have also tried collagen from different sources: bovine, marine, vegan. Aura Inner Beauty Collagen is ethically and sustainably sourced liquid marine collagen. Made in Canada, free of artificial flavouring and colouring, gluten-free, non-GMO and organic.
Pros
- It actually tastes good! They have many different flavours!
- Reduces joint pain
- Helps firm the skin as your body is healing, reduces wrinkles and fine lines
- Reduces postpartum hair loss
Aura Inner Beauty Collagen actually tastes good! As I mentioned before I have tried many different brands of collagen out there and usually I don’t repurchase because it was a struggle to finish in the first place. The liquid marine collagen from Aura Inner Beauty is something I took prepregnancy and postpartum and I truly feel that it has helped my recovery.
Cons
- It is pricier than other collagens on the market
- It takes some time and consistency before you can see the results
Consistency is key when taking collagen supplements. Remember, its about the long-game but the results are worth it. I also want to mention, yes it is more of an investment than other collagen supplements on the market but considering the level of purity, how it is sourced and how good it tastes, I would say that it is not very expensive at all. It’s better than wasting your money of collagen supplements that you won’t finish.
Aura Inner Beauty also has some other wonderful supplements that can help your body from the inside out! Other than the collagen, I also recommend the Dew Drops! Amazing stuff.
IF you’re interested in trying a clean good tasting collagen to help with your recovery and fight that postpartum hair loss, use my link and use the code GRACERENFREW to get 10% off your purchase!
I have always struggled with my self-image. I grew up feeling very insecure about my body. My post-pregnancy body didn’t do much for my insecurities. These products that I suggest are to help you bounce back but in no way replace healthy eating and appropriate exercise.
Remember that a combination of all of these things is to help your body recover. I hope these powerful postpartum body boosters will help you get back on track after pregnancy.
To conclude, my fellow mamas, remember what your body has done. Make sure you honor it and show your beautiful body lots of love. These boosters are meant to help you in your postpartum recovery, don’t twist the purpose of these products as a way to punish your body for not being what you want it to be. Your body created life and don’t think you can undo 9-months of change in such a short time. Postpartum recovery takes time and also use this time to fully enjoy your little one. Remember they will never be this small and cute and cuddly again.
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