She's been in the news for her buxom appearance, seven months after she gave birth to daughter Aaradhya. Aishwarya Rai's post-pregnancy curves have invited plenty of criticism. Unlike her international counterpart Beyonce Knowles, who lost a whopping 60 pounds in less than four months after giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy, Aishwarya clearly hasn't felt the pressure to look skinny. In fact, the new mother looked comfortable despite her extra pounds at Cannes recently.

She isn't alone. Other celeb mums such as Lara Dutta and Shilpa Shetty are fuelling this new trend of facing the camera upfront, baby fat and all. Unlike their predecessors, they have resisted the temptation to hide until the pounds come off. They are on the right track, as experts say that a woman should wait for at least two months after delivery before trying to lose weight. " Quick weight loss where the mother compromises on her intake of certain food groups definitely affects the health of the baby and mother," warns renowned nutritionist Aishwarya Rajan.

Check your weight gain
Actor and TV host Mandira Bedi says she had put on 22 kgs during her pregnancy, way beyond what doctors advise. Women are often told to 'eat for two' during pregnancy, which leads to a pile on off pounds. Food cravings don't help either. While it's important to ensure proper nutrition, overeating should be avoided.

"On an average, 10-12 kgs is a healthy amount of weight to gain during pregnancy," says Dr. Loveleena Nadir, Sr. Consultant, Obst & Gynaecology, Fortis La Femme. A weight loss of 4 to 5 kgs immediately after delivery is typical, so if you have gained within the weight bracket, you needn't worry.

"Extra pounds help build stores for your recovery and for breastfeeding," declares Dr. Nadir. During pregnancy your body goes through a series of hormonal, psychological and emotional changes. It needs time to recover from the stress and exhaustion of delivery. "After delivery, the uterus takes about six weeks to shrink back into its pre-pregnancy size and shape and Lochia, the post natal bleeding generally lasts between two and six weeks," informs Dr. Asha Sharma, HOD - Obst & Gynaecology at Rockland Hospital. During this rest period, the body recovers, adjusting to the changes of motherhood. Once your body gains strength and energy, you can think about exercising. "After a normal delivery, one can do some easy exercises a week after child birth like stretching of muscles and breathing exercises. But for C-section, we strictly advise a bed rest of 40 days," she adds.

Slow and steady
Seeing oneself as 'fat' can be frustrating for some, especially those who had an active lifestyle and took pride in their slim frame. "I was never fat, so seeing myself heavy was upsetting. But at the same time I knew my body was not ready for any heavy exercise," says Mandira.

Additionally, you need time to establish a breastfeeding routine and restore your energy levels. "Just remember, it takes 9 months to have a baby so give yourself a year to get back into shape," advises Anika Puri, Head - Maternity Services - Mamma Mia, Fortis La Femme. When it comes to shedding baby fat, experts agree that postnatal weight loss should be slow and steady. Not just are labour and delivery exhausting, but adjusting to motherhood also takes time and energy. "Take your time, let your body come out of the stress and then think about weight loss. And the best way to lose it is the natural way," says Mandira.

Exercise smart
Experts say a five minute walk is a great way to get back into an exercise routine. Gradually, you can increase the duration of your walks. Mandira who began with morning walks, hit the gym after two and a half months of her delivery. " I started with light weights and ten minutes of running and slowly increased the duration," she says. Your exercise regime should include at least 20 to 40 minutes of cardio workout, as you start burning body fat only after 20 continuous minutes of Cardio. This can be achieved through brisk walking, running, aerobics, cycling, swimming or using a cross- trainer. All this must be done under supervision and regular medical checkups are essential to ensure you are on the right track.

Set realistic targets for yourself. "I was never skinny, so I wasn't aiming for that," says Mandira. A healthy average would be to lose at the rate of 1 kg over a month. "Do not to go by generic 'targets' but try and exercise for at least one hour every day," recommends Puri. If you are breastfeeding you burn about 700 calories a day anyway, so if you top it off with a daily hour of exercise, weight reduction and toning is much quicker. "In six months, I had hit my pre pregnancy weight. And honestly, I did not do much," smiles Mandira. However, if you notice any pain in your pelvis or in amount of vaginal discharge, stop exercising and contact your gynaecologist immediately.

Eating right
New mothers must eat a well balanced diet covering all food groups to ensure the best nutrition, say experts. Instead of three heavy meals a day, they advise new mothers to take small frequent meals. Dieting is a big no- no as all mothers need continued nutrition so that they can be healthy and active. "A lactating mother during the first six months needs around an additional of 550Kcals / day and beyond six months to a year would need an additional of 400Kcal / day. On the other hand, a woman who does not lactate would need an average of 100- 150Kcal / day in the first month which can then gradually be brought back to normal," explains Rai.

It's important to keep everything in balance. "Increase the consumption of milk and milk products. Drink at least 3 glasses of milk a day or equivalent amounts of milk products like cottage cheese, cheese and yogurt," adds Dr. Nadir. In addition, ample amounts of greens, fruits that are low on glycemic load and healthy combination of whole carbs and pulses will help you lose all the unwanted weight.

"You do not need any extra ghee or sugar in your diet in the form of traditional sweets post delivery," declares Dr. Nadir. A healthy mix of sprouted pulses, whole grains including Millets with juices like lime water, coconut water, butter milk works best. "For my protein quotient, I take Quinoa seeds in breakfast and ' Makhanas' or a whole wheat egg roll for evening snacks," shares Mandira.