Love Yourself - Day 11 - That stubborn baby weight

We want mums to love themselves this Valentine's Day - and today's subject is probably one of the biggest reasons mums feel bad about themselves.

Day 11 - Shifting that stubborn baby weight
According to the experts at BabyCentre the average mums can expect to be 12.5kg (27.6lbs) heavier by the time they're due to give birth. Once you've had the baby, you should lose most of that weight and have about 4kgs of extra fat stored to give you energy for breastfeeding. So in theory, once you've stopped breastfeeding, those extra kilograms should disappear.

But as most mums know, shifting those last few stubborn pounds is no piece of cake (indeed, that's what might have caused those extra pounds). And in the first few months of motherhood, eating a healthy balanced diet is important - but so is being able to say, 'I deserve a biscuit with my tea while I'm breastfeeding thank you very much. I had a baby you know.'

But there comes a time when you've stopped breastfeeding and your baby's first birthday is approaching and you still aren't back into those pre-pregnancy jeans. And that's when you start beating yourself up, thinking, 'I really should be back to normal by now.'

Firstly - it does take your body about nine months to recover fully from effects of pregnancy and birth. Secondly, many babies only start to sleep through the night at around nine months (we know the books say six weeks but in the real world, it's often a lot longer). Third - you've spent nine to twelve months having to get your head around a million new things that you had no idea about before. Like when to wean and what is safe to give them. Whether something is sterilised properly. How to change nappies with one hand. How to drink a cup of tea that is stone cold. How to get out of the house in under an hour and only one bag. All the words to the Wheels on the Bus....

You see. You've been busy. So the fact that you're still carrying a bit of extra weight is ok. Really. If it's bothering you, then swap those biscuits for an apple and go for a power walk with your baby in his buggy. But don't put pressure on yourself to look perfect. There will come a day when you have the strength and desire and will power to return to your former self. Or you many never manage to. Doesn't matter. As long as you're healthy, all is well. Learn to love your new self.

And while we know this prize isn't exactly going to help shift that baby weight, the occasional treat is just fine. So if you fancy being in with a shot of winning these chocolates, simply leave us a comment or Like Us on Facebook to be entered into the draw.