by: Christoph Puetz

Pregnancy and gaining weight go along with each other. But once the little one is born the weight put on during pregnancy can be a concern for many women. How fast you lose weight after a pregnancy will depend on a number of factors, including the amount of weight you gained during your pregnancy.

Studies have shown that most women will lose anywhere from 8-16 pounds within the first 2 weeks of delivery. This weight is primarily attributed to the loss of excess fluid in the body, (of course) the baby's weight, the placenta and amniotic fluid that are removed from the body with the birth. Some women might lose a little bit less, and others might lose a little bit more - there is no "one" number.

How do you lose weight? The uterus shrinks back down to its normal size once the baby is born and you lose weight this way. Often women gain around 6-8 pounds of fat during pregnancy. This additional body fat is meant to help women to have enough energy resources available while breastfeeding. How fast this weight comes off depends on a number of factors including: your overall health, genetics, diet and (of course) exercise.

A woman should expect that it will take some time to lose the weight she gained during her pregnancy. It did after all take you nine months to put that weight on! So, do not expect to lose it in 2 weeks. But many women have seen significant weight loss 2 to 4 months after giving birth.

Breast feeding: Some women will hang on to the last few extra pounds they want to lose until they stop breast feeding. The body uses these extra pounds of weight to allow for enough energy resources while breast feeding.

The good news is that with some discipline when it comes to eating and with moderate exercise, a woman can expect to lose the weight she gained during pregnancy within a reasonable time frame.

Experience shows that most women will be back to their pre pregnancy weight within nine months of delivery if they do exercise frequently and eat a healthy diet after delivery. That said some women will lose their pregnancy weight in as little as six to twelve weeks!