How much weight do you lose after giving birth?

Last reviewed June 19, 2026 by Dr. Sapna Jadhav, General Physician. Sources from ACOG, NHS, Mayo Clinic, CDC, NICE, NIH, Cochrane, and peer-reviewed journals.

Bottom lineYou lose about 5-6 kg (10-13 lb) right after birth from the baby, placenta, and fluid, then more over the first weeks as extra fluid leaves; the rest comes off gradually over months.

Most people lose around 5-6 kg (about 10-13 lb) right after giving birth - the weight of the baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid. More comes off over the following weeks as extra fluid leaves your body.

What you lose immediately

• Baby: Typically around 3-4 kg (7-8 lb)
• Placenta and amniotic fluid: Roughly 1-2 kg (2-3 lb)
• Together, this adds up to most of that initial drop on the scale.

The first couple of weeks

Your body sheds the extra fluid it built up during pregnancy through more frequent urination and sweating, so you'll likely lose more in the first one to two weeks.

After that, it's gradual

The remaining pregnancy weight, mostly fat stored to support feeding, comes off slowly. How much and how fast varies a lot from person to person and depends on diet, activity, breastfeeding, sleep, and individual factors.

Be realistic and kind to yourself

It took nine months to gain pregnancy weight, so it's normal for it to take many months to lose. Crash dieting in the early weeks can slow healing and, if breastfeeding, affect supply.

Femora helps you track your postpartum recovery at a healthy, sustainable pace.

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