It’s inevitable that our bodies change after having babies. And yes, while being pregnant and bringing a baby into the world is an absolute gift, it’s ok to want your body to look a little firmer and tighter, too. I had our second baby, Noah, 11 months ago, and I’m still working on reducing my “mummy tummy.” My once relatively toned midsection is now home to some stretched skin and ab separation.nI didn’t seem to really have a “mummy tummy” after my first baby, but I’m definitely noticing it more after having the second. Slowly but surely, it’s coming down and firming up… But there is still much work to be done! So, what can we do to reduce it?nStep 1: Eat more, not less! Eat more protein, veggies and good fats, as well as carbohydrates (especially after exercise). Counting calories and cutting out food groups, while it may work in the short term, is unsustainable over the long term. Plus, if you’re breastfeeding, you’re going to need all the energy you can get! Step 2: Drink more water. Our body is about 60{8964c77004c80ceb7a483a88d57a7a9902025e52f9fec2df9408e739e584e0eb} water, so keeping hydrated has a huge impact in helping everything work as it should. Step 3: Perform (safe) exercise. Our bodies have changed so much throughout our pregnancy, so while it’s important to get back to exercise, it’s just as important to be gentle in our approach. Some great exercises to try are:nSquats Glut bridge Side leg raise (Don’t you love my little trainers, helping me with my exercises?!)nSimply perform 10 reps of each exercise, 5 times through. Always get clearance from your women’s health nurse/doctor/physio before you commence training, too! Step 4: Stress less and sleep… When you can! When we’re stressed, our body produces a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol suppresses the immune system and has an impact on our metabolism, so in order to get maximum results from our healthy eating and exercise program, we need to focus on reducing stress in our lives. As for sleep? Well, all the experts say how important sleep is in order to stay in shape, but as a mum, it’s just not possible to get 8 hours of sleep every night. Yes, sleep is important, but if it’s not happening for you right now, don’t worry – you will still see great results if you are looking after yourself in other areas. Step 5: Apply a skin firming cream or oil. Look, the jury is still out on this one, but things like Bio Oil or a skin firming lotion are said to help your skin regain elasticity over time… I’ve just started using them a bit more religiously of late, so I’ll keep you posted on the progress!nAlthough, nothing works quite as well as having a good diet and exercise regime, as well as keeping hydrated and getting some rest – these are the most important things we can do to reduce the “mummy tummy” and feel confident in our bodies once again!