Pregnancy is generally a time of joy. But it doesn’t come without consequences for a woman’s body. Cellulite, weight gain, stretch marks, and skin concerns are all challenges that expectant mothers face — and they don’t simply disappear after giving birth. The belly is the area most affected; it often retains residual cellulite after pregnancy. Here are some tips and advice to help limit the appearance of abdominal cellulite during and after pregnancy.
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Why does pregnancy encourage the appearance of cellulite?
Pregnancy is a prime time for the development of cellulite in women. It’s a very common phenomenon, partly due to the exceptional hormonal changes involved. Cellulite is a benign skin condition caused by the enlargement of fat cells, sluggish veno-lymphatic circulation that can sometimes lead to water retention, and occasionally a disruption of the subcutaneous elastic network.
During pregnancy, female hormones are at their peak. These include:
- Oestrogens, which increase blood flow to the abdomen to nourish and oxygenate the foetus. However, the surge in oestrogen levels inevitably leads to water retention, as venous return becomes less efficient than usual — a tendency made worse by the reduced mobility of pregnant women.
- Prolactin, the hormone that prepares the mammary glands for breastfeeding. It promotes greater fat storage, potentially overloading the fat cells. This excess in turn slows venous circulation and contributes to water retention.
The combined effects of these two hormones therefore trigger the onset of cellulite during pregnancy. And unfortunately, it doesn’t disappear after giving birth… This cellulite tends to develop in areas of the body naturally rich in fat cells, namely the buttocks, the hips, the thighs, and also the belly. In this specific area, it’s barely noticeable during pregnancy, as the skin is constantly stretched. But post-partum, many women discover a soft belly, puffy and marked with stretch marks and unsightly dimples.
What can you do during pregnancy to prevent belly cellulite?
Your options during pregnancy are limited: you can’t practise massage techniques like palper-rouler, nor apply many cosmetic products to your belly. That said, you can put a few preventive measures in place to keep cellulite at bay.
1- A healthy diet… and an anti-cellulite one!
- Make sure to maintain a balanced diet. No, you are not “eating for two” — that’s a complete myth. What matters is eating a varied, wholesome, home-cooked diet that is sufficient without being excessive.
- Avoid excess saturated fats, whether plant-based or animal. Not only are they not beneficial for your baby, but they also directly contribute to the formation of cellulite.
- Instead, load up on fruits and vegetables, omega-3s, complex carbohydrates, and low-fat dairy products.
- Watch out for fast-release sugars, which not only directly contribute to abdominal cellulite but also increase the risk of gestational diabetes.
- Support your venous health by limiting salt as much as possible, as it encourages fluid retention in the tissues.
- Drink water as much as possible. Pregnant women need to stay well hydrated. What’s more, dehydration actually worsens water retention, which is one of the root causes of aqueous cellulite.
2- Physical activity, even during pregnancy
To combat belly cellulite (and elsewhere) during pregnancy, it’s recommended to keep up with physical activity — but only with the green light from your doctor or midwife, of course! If you were already active before your pregnancy, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to continue your activities as much as possible. If you tend to be less active, it’s advisable to gradually increase your exercise, aiming for around 5 hours of moderate-intensity activity per week. You can combine aerobic exercises such as brisk walking , stationary cycling, swimming or elliptical training, with muscle-strengthening exercises (using a resistance band like ours, for example). The key: choose activities with no risk of falls or abdominal impact, and always listen to your body.
What can you do after pregnancy to get rid of belly cellulite?
Baby has arrived, and the reality is clear: you have cellulite on your belly. Nothing is permanent, and you can absolutely get rid of it. But before launching into an all-out anti-cellulite battle plan, one piece of advice: stop putting pressure on yourself. Cellulite is a perfectly normal phenomenon, and 90% of women experience it, pregnant or not. So before jumping into drastic measures that could put strain on your body, take it step by step, gradually, over the coming months.
1- Keep up the dietary efforts
First piece of advice: if you maintained a healthy, balanced diet during your pregnancy, keep it up. Going on a diet post-partum is absolutely not recommended — a new mother needs energy, and food is her only source of it.
- Continue eating a balanced diet: fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, dairy products, complex carbohydrates, quality fats.
- Prepare your own meals, keeping things simple but wholesome. You’re undoubtedly exhausted, but steer clear of ready meals, processed foods, and the temptation to order in.
- Still avoid saturated fats, sugar, salt, and snacking.
- Stick to regular mealtimes as much as possible, as your body thrives on routine. And above all, don’t starve yourself! Not only is it completely ineffective against cellulite, but it will leave you even more exhausted than you already are.
- Keep up your fluid intake with plenty of water, especially if you’re breastfeeding (in that case, aim for 2 to 3 litres per day, through both drinks and food).
2- Gradually getting back to physical activity
To tone the belly and tackle cellulite effectively, movement is key. That said, returning to physical activity after pregnancy must be approached with great care. Exercise does help you recover faster, shed excess weight, and reduce the appearance of orange peel skin. It’s also recommended to prevent common post-partum issues: urinary leakage, uterine prolapse, and muscle and bone pain. But a woman who has been through pregnancy and childbirth needs time to regain her full physical capacity — endurance, strength, tone… So:
- Start by properly completing your pelvic floor and abdominal rehabilitation. This can begin between 6 and 8 weeks post-partum, following a thorough check-up with your gynaecologist.
- After that, you can ease back into sport gently. A few hours a week of low-impact activity is recommended, such as stretching (stretching, yoga, Pilates, hypopressive gym), aquatic sports (swimming, aqua aerobics), walking (ideally brisk or Nordic walking) or cycling. These activities benefit all muscle groups and help tone the abdominal core — which in turn helps shift belly cellulite, as exercise boosts fat cell drainage, redensifies the tissues, and stimulates microcirculation.
3- Adopting an anti-cellulite routine
After a few weeks, once you’ve found your rhythm as a new mum, it’s time to carve out some time for yourself. And that time can be spent treating your body to some well-deserved care. By looking after your post-pregnancy belly, you should be able to visibly reduce the appearance of cellulite. And what better way to do that than with our Pack Maxi Anti-Cellulite?
It contains everything you need:
- Our Anti-Cellulite Scrub, which gently prepares the skin for the other treatments. The exfoliating motions stimulate microcirculation for a deep skin detox. Our scrub is also enriched with lipolytic caffeine to boost fat cell drainage and help restore a smoother belly.
- Our massage oils, which allow for stimulating belly massages to visibly reduce cellulite. You can work your massage routine into your shower with our Anti-Cellulite Shower Oil, enriched with detoxifying green tea and pineapple for its fat-burning properties, or after your shower with our Massage Oil with destocking grapefruit and draining ivy.
- You can of course perform your anti-cellulite massages by hand. But the most effective way to truly tackle belly cellulite is a palper-rouler massage using our Cupping Cup, followed by smoothing and draining movements with our Orange Peel Massager. Two essential tools for achieving smoother, firmer skin.
- Finally, what would an anti-cellulite routine be without a great all-round cream? Our Cryo Anti-Cellulite Cream, which combines a lipolytic coffee and green coffee duo with the toning action of menthol, can be applied directly to your belly. Used daily with circular movements, it progressively reduces the dimpled appearance of your skin. 95% of those who have tried it agree that it works!