London (IANS): Have you just given birth to a baby and are dying to shed those extra kilos? Well, women should not put themselves under too much pressure to lose weight right after giving birth, according to the latest research.

The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care has warned that overdoing early weight loss attempts could have a negative impact on breastfeeding.

Gaining weight in pregnancy is not only normal but necessary too. The mother's body has to nourish the growing baby. Some of this added weight will usually be lost as soon as the baby is born.

Peter Sawicki, Director of the Institute says that "often the extra effort women have to make to look after a new baby and breastfeed after giving birth means the kilos just melt away without effort."

The research indicates that it is normal for it to take three to six months for women to lose the weight they gained in pregnancy.

The Institute suggests that a balanced diet with or without exercise is one of the best ways of losing weight after childbirth.