Patient's question:
These days I've been feeling a bit unwell. It might be due to some internal heat. My throat feels uncomfortable. It's like there's something stuck inside. Recently, I've been frequently brewing pear and radish tea. Can this help treat my internal heat?Doctor's answer:
The several types of food you mentioned all have a detoxifying effect. Drinking more boiled water and avoiding staying up late will be even more effective.Additionally, last month you asked about whether it’s appropriate to exercise after giving birth. I didn’t see your message at the time, and now that it’s been too long, I can’t submit a response. However, I’d still like to help you learn more about this topic, so I’m pasting relevant materials here for you.
How to Control Obesity After Giving Birth
Some slim women may gradually gain weight after pregnancy and childbirth, losing their former charm. The reasons are multifaceted. On one hand, the pregnancy process can temporarily disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, leading to an imbalance in fat metabolism. On the other hand, China has the traditional practice of "doing postpartum confinement," where women are encouraged to consume large amounts of high-fat, high-protein foods in the first month after birth to support breastfeeding. This results in a significantly higher intake of nutrients than needed, while minimal physical activity further reduces energy expenditure, ultimately causing fat cells to become overfull.
Dr. Jia Xiaofang, a chief physician at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, told reporters, "During normal pregnancy, the weight gain is due to the increase in fetal weight, amniotic fluid, blood volume, and interstitial fluid, as well as the enlargement of the uterus and breasts. Physiologically, weight can increase by about 15 kilograms."
"During pregnancy, women’s intake and storage of protein increase. If dietary control is not properly managed, and daily calorie intake is too high, it can lead to physiological obesity. Postpartum women whose weight exceeds the normal range by 20–50% are referred to as having 'obesity related to childbirth.' This type of obesity not only causes distress for many beauty-conscious women but also has a significant impact on postpartum health. Women who are obese after giving birth often experience poor appetite, weakness in limbs, and slow recovery of reproductive organs. In severe cases, they may even face issues like incontinence, uterine retroversion, or prolapse. Therefore, actively preventing obesity related to childbirth should be a priority for postpartum women and their families."
Dr. Jia Xiaofang reminds pregnant women to prevent obesity related to childbirth by following these points:
1. Do not diet within 42 days postpartum
A scientifically balanced diet is crucial, whether during pregnancy or postpartum.
The dietary principle should be a balanced diet, avoiding high-fat, high-calorie foods. It’s important to ensure that both the fetus and the mother receive adequate nutrition while avoiding excess.
The dietary structure should first be reasonable, with a proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. It should also be moderate. Postpartum women need to increase their nutritional intake, but they should avoid excessive consumption of poultry, fish, meat, and eggs. Instead, they should maintain a mix of meat and vegetables, including milk, vegetables, fruits, and staple foods, while minimizing the intake of sweets, fried foods, animal fat, fatty meat, and animal organs.
Dr. Jia Xiaofang emphasizes, "Do not diet within 42 days postpartum. The body has not yet fully recovered to its pre-pregnancy state, so nutritional supply must be maintained. However, excessive eating should also be avoided to prevent nutritional excess."
2. Start activities on the first day postpartum if you have a natural birth
Active exercise during and after pregnancy is a key measure to prevent obesity related to childbirth. Proper exercise can promote metabolism and prevent the accumulation of excess heat in the body.
Women who give birth naturally can start moving on the first day postpartum, such as doing (turning over), (lifting legs), and (anal sphincter exercises). Anal sphincter exercises are particularly beneficial for the recovery of pelvic floor muscles and membranes.
For women who have a cesarean section, they can perform appropriate (turning over) and walking activities before the stitches are removed. After the stitches are removed, they can gradually increase their activity levels.
Postpartum women can start doing light household chores after one week. Walking after meals daily can promote metabolic regulation, fat breakdown, and the consumption of excess energy, helping to prevent weight gain. In the first week postpartum, they can begin doing (sit-ups) and leg-lifting exercises on the bed to strengthen abdominal and waist muscles. This aids in the recovery of the separated rectus abdominis muscles and reduces fat in the abdomen and buttocks.
The CEO of Metro-Tel China headquarters recommends that postpartum women stand or kneel semi-recumbently on the bed 12 hours after giving birth to perform mild upper limb exercises, such as chest expansion, arm spreading, and shoulder rotations. For cesarean section patients, the same exercises should be done 24 hours postpartum. The purpose is to quickly restore blood circulation, especially pulmonary circulation, prevent thrombosis, reduce the risk of severe postpartum complications, and strengthen chest muscle strength, which supports breast tissue and promotes milk production.
On the fourth day postpartum, women should increase exercises for their abdominal, pelvic floor, and anal sphincter muscles (excluding cesarean section patients). During pregnancy and childbirth, the muscle fibers and ligaments of the abdominal, pelvic floor, and perineal muscles weaken, leading to muscle fiber rupture, which can cause abdominal wall relaxation, pubic diastasis, and severe cases of uterine prolapse. Early muscle recovery is necessary to improve these conditions and aid uterine restoration, while also preventing postpartum constipation.
The CEO says, "Within the first eight weeks postpartum, the reproductive organs, especially the uterus, need to recover to normal. Therefore, we do not allow postpartum women to participate in postpartum recovery training. Postpartum recovery training should be done two months after giving birth. Healthy women with fully recovered reproductive organs should undergo a physical condition assessment before training and then once a month thereafter to track training progress. The training session lasts 35 minutes, and it is conducted three times a week."
The CEO emphasizes, "Some postpartum women are not suitable for postpartum training, such as those who experience severe postpartum hemorrhage, severe postpartum infection, severe hepatitis during pregnancy, heart disease during pregnancy, chronic or acute nephritis, severe diabetes, hyperthyroidism, tuberculosis, severe psychological disorders, or those who have suffered head injuries within the past six months."
3. Do not use tight abdominal belts
Postpartum women can use abdominal belts in the early stages. Due to the relaxation of the abdomen postpartum, excessive movement can cause discomfort as internal organs are pulled. However, it’s important to remember that abdominal belts should not be too tight.
4. Avoid weight-loss pills
Dr. Jia Xiaofang reminds postpartum women, "Never take weight-loss pills or weight-loss teas. Weight-loss pills primarily work by reducing nutrient absorption and increasing excretion to achieve weight loss. At the same time, they disrupt the body’s normal metabolism. Especially during breastfeeding, most drugs are excreted in breast milk, which is equivalent to giving the infant weight-loss pills. Infants have poor liver detoxification functions, and excessive weight-loss pill intake can impair liver function, potentially causing abnormal liver conditions."
5. Confidence is most important
Dr. Jia Xiaofang explains, "Postpartum mood is also important. Women should not always appear anxious but should remain cheerful. The postpartum period is a time when the body’s organs transition from an old balance to a new one, and it takes about 42 days to return to the pre-pregnancy state and achieve a healthy, non-pregnant condition. Postpartum women should have confidence, as this will aid in recovery."
Breastfeeding Does Not Guarantee Weight Loss
A reporter asked Dr. Jia Xiaofang, "There have been reports that breastfeeding helps postpartum women lose weight. Is this true?"
Dr. Jia Xiaofang replied, "Breast milk is a natural, nutritionally balanced food for infants. Breastfeeding not only meets the growth and development needs of the infant but also benefits the mother’s recovery. Therefore, we highly advocate breastfeeding. Additionally, breastfeeding is one of the effective methods to promote uterine contractions. However, it does not lead to weight loss for the mother. When breastfeeding, the mother consumes more calories due to the high nutritional needs of the infant. To lose weight, she can use Metro-Tel’s nutritional weight-loss products, which promote fat cell metabolism by providing the body with comprehensive nutrition, without any side effects or dependency."