How much weight do you lose after giving birth?

A woman loses approximately 10 to 12 pounds after the delivery of a baby, according to registered nurse Donna Murray for About.com. She loses another 5 pounds during the next few days while shedding excess water weight.

Breastfeeding burns up to 500 calories daily. Murray says that a woman who breastfeeds and stays within her suggested calorie intake should lose 1 pound or more every couple of weeks. A woman of normal weight who gained up to 35 pounds during pregnancy can be at her pre-pregnancy weight within two months, explains WebMD. A woman who was already overweight before pregnancy or gained too much weight may need at least a year to lose her pregnancy weight.