{"id":1413,"date":"2026-03-25T17:34:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T17:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/katsakos.gr\/?page_id=1413"},"modified":"2026-03-25T20:24:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T20:24:56","slug":"%ce%b4%ce%b9%ce%b1%cf%84%cf%81%ce%bf%cf%86%ce%ae-%cf%83%cf%84%ce%b7%ce%bd-%ce%b5%ce%b3%ce%ba%cf%85%ce%bc%ce%bf%cf%83%cf%8d%ce%bd%ce%b7","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/katsakos.gr\/en\/%ce%b4%ce%b9%ce%b1%cf%84%cf%81%ce%bf%cf%86%ce%ae-%cf%83%cf%84%ce%b7%ce%bd-%ce%b5%ce%b3%ce%ba%cf%85%ce%bc%ce%bf%cf%83%cf%8d%ce%bd%ce%b7\/","title":{"rendered":"Nutrition During Pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nutrition During Pregnancy<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How long does it take for my body to recover after pregnancy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The average weight of a newborn is about 3\u20133.5 kilograms. But how much less does a mother weigh when she leaves the delivery room? And how long does it take for her body to return to its pre-pregnancy condition? Although the \u201ctimeline\u201d for weight loss varies for every woman and depends on many factors (e.g., how much weight she gained during pregnancy, whether she is breastfeeding, her dietary habits, and whether she exercises), there are certain consistent factors regarding the body\u2019s recovery after childbirth.<\/p>\n

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24 hours after giving birth:<\/strong>\u00a0On average, women lose about 5.5 kilograms immediately after giving birth.<\/p>\n

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1 week later:<\/strong>\u00a0Breastfeeding plays an important role in weight loss. While experts recommend that breastfeeding mothers consume about 500 more calories per day than usual, these women typically lose more weight after childbirth and do so more quickly compared to non-breastfeeding mothers. This is because the process of milk production is particularly energy-intensive.<\/p>\n

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1 month later:\u00a0<\/strong>It may sound too good to be true, but it is common for new mothers to lose about 10 kilograms within the first month after giving birth, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Since experts recommend that most women gain 12 to 14 pounds during pregnancy, this means that about four weeks after giving birth, you should have almost returned to your pre-pregnancy weight!<\/p>\n

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Your belly won\u2019t flatten out overnight. It takes about six weeks for your uterus to return to its original shape and size, so you\u2019ll still look pregnant for quite some time. However, just one week after giving birth, you\u2019ll have lost quite a bit of weight and your belly will start to shrink. The \u201ckey\u201d to quickly regaining the figure you had before you became pregnant is none other than exercise. So start some form of exercise as soon as your gynecologist gives you the go-ahead.<\/p>\n

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Swelling in the extremities is completely normal and may worsen after childbirth. This happens partly because the uterus directs a large amount of blood to the rest of the body, and partly because most women receive intravenous fluids during labor. This fluid accumulates mainly in the lower extremities. Swelling in the feet usually subsides within a week to ten days, and it is advisable for the new mother to be informed of this. A woman may also notice that she needs a larger shoe size after pregnancy, even after the swelling subsides. This happens because the body\u2019s ligaments loosen during pregnancy, causing the foot to expand slightly.<\/p>\n

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Your reproductive organs and nearly all of your body\u2019s functions return to their pre-pregnancy state within 6\u20138 weeks after childbirth. This period is called the postpartum period. The exception is the breasts, which become active during the postpartum period to perform their vital function\u2014lactation\u2014to ensure the newborn\u2019s nutrition. This transitional period usually proceeds smoothly, without any major problems.<\/p>\n

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What is the ideal amount of weight to gain during pregnancy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Follow the guidelines provided by your obstetrician and dietitian. Overweight women should aim to gain up to about 10 kilograms, women of normal weight should gain 9\u201312 kilograms, and severely underweight women should gain about 15\u201319 kilograms. You should not try to lose weight during pregnancy, but it is equally important not to gain too much weight. This depends on your weight.<\/p>\n