Updated at : 10-01-26 18:11:33

Why Many Women Gain Weight After Pregnancy

Are you gaining weight after pregnancy? Too much weight gain can affect your health, like increasing blood pressure and other complexities.

However, you aren’t alone. According to a recent study (2025), around two-thirds of women experienced weight gain during and after childbirth.

Another shocking data reveals the fact that 90% of women retain fat up to one year after childbirth.

So, why do women gain weight after pregnancy? Let's find out.

What Are The Consequences Of Weight Gain After Pregnancy?

NHS, England, in its study, says that if you keep gaining too much weight, it may result in the following complications:

Pre-eclampsia, where there is a rise of blood pressure in a woman’s body. Gestational Diabetes is another development. Even in this scenario, blood pressure will rise.

However, some women remain naturally slim while they are pregnant. The average weight gain after pregnancy has become a concern.

Why Women Gain Weight After Pregnancy?

If you face weight gain complexity, the best thing would be to seek assistance from an experienced gynaecologist. Let’s find out the answer to the question, why women are gaining weight after pregnancy.

Postpartum Thyroiditis

It is a condition where the thyroid gland becomes inflamed after having their first baby.

You can consider fatigue, muscle cramps, constipation and menstrual irregularities as symptoms.

Hormonal Changes Post Pregnancy

Hormonal fluctuations are one of the major contributors to women gaining weight.

During the pregnancy, the hormones like progesterone and estrogen increase drastically and dramatically. The levels drop suddenly post-delivery. It results in boosting metabolism and storage of fats.

Postpartum Depression

Many of you face Postpartum depression. In such a case, you may have a higher risk of retaining the pregnancy weight.

With such complexity, you may even experience depressed mood, anger, insomnia, etc.

PCOS

If you are one diagnosed with PCOS, you may face complexities like irregular or missed periods, acne and abnormal facial hair growth, and high cholesterol. All these only increase weight after pregnancy.

Apart from these, some other factors may lead to losing weight, and they include irregular routine, lack of sleep, smoking cessation, and reduced physical activity. However, you must consult a Pregnancy doctor or gynaecologist to get advice on pregnancy weight gain.

FAQs

Q1. Do all women face Weight gain after pregnancy?

No, not all women gain weight after pregnancy. Many losses, too.While many others lose weight, too. However, factors like mental health, breastfeeding, lifestyle, mental health, hormonal balance, etc, determine it.

Q2. Mothers not gaining weight after delivery– what may be the reason?

Reasons the mothers are not gaining weight after delivery may include breastfeeding-related issues, stress, sleep deprivation, a nutritional deficiency or even medical issues like thyroid imbalance.

Q3. When is the best time to lose weight after pregnancy?

Most the doctors usually recommend waiting for at least 6-8 weeks after delivery before beginning a structured weight loss program.

Q4. Is losing weight after childbirth normal?

Yes, gaining weight after childbirth is quite normal. In fact, there are many women who retain the weight even after pregnancy.

Q5. How to lose weight after pregnancy?

Firstly, you must have a balanced diet. A gentle exercise is great. Also, work on your stress management and professional medical guidance.