Nigerian fashion designer Veekee James has advised new mothers not to put themselves under pressure to lose pregnancy weight while exclusively breastfeeding their babies.
The designer shared her thoughts in a video posted online, drawing attention to the expectations many women face about returning to their pre-pregnancy bodies shortly after childbirth.
According to Veekee, women who expect to shed their pregnancy weight immediately after delivery may need to give themselves more time, particularly if they intend to breastfeed their babies.
“If you are pregnant now and someone has told you, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll have your baby and then you can lose all the weight,’ you can still wait another 9 to 12 months before you start to dream about losing that weight,” she said.
She further encouraged breastfeeding mothers to focus on that phase of motherhood rather than rushing into weight-loss efforts.
“You go still lose all the weight. Make your breastfeeding finish. Because breastfeeding mum, she doesn’t do weight loss,” she added.
Her comments have drawn attention to the pressure some women experience to regain their pre-pregnancy figures soon after giving birth.
However, Veekee’s statement reflects her personal perspective and should not be interpreted as a medical rule that breastfeeding mothers cannot or should not lose weight. Postpartum weight changes vary from one woman to another, and breastfeeding mothers who wish to manage their weight should seek appropriate guidance from a qualified healthcare professional to ensure they meet their nutritional needs while recovering from childbirth and feeding their babies.
Watch video below: