Postpartum Secrets of Celebrity Moms

Bouncing Back After Pregnancy

Movie star moms make it look easy. Catherine Zeta-Jones danced in Chicago months after giving birth to her first child, then performed again on Oscar night, eight months into her second pregnancy. Reese Witherspoon was back to looking leanly blonde just eight weeks after delivering her new son. And where does Kelly Ripa find the energy to skirt around New York City in high heels while filming two TV shows and raising three kids?

Although motherhood on the A-list may seem like magic -- the ultimate trick being a speedy return to normal after nine months with child -- Matrix mama Jada Pinkett Smith admits that celebrities are masters of illusion who get a lot of help from nannies, personal chefs, trainers, cleaning services, the works. "All moms struggle. Celebrities just know how to conceal it," says Pinkett Smith, who has two children with husband Will Smith and is stepmom to his first son. "While motherhood is a beautiful thing, it's traumatic to the body and the mind. I had some really down days after my kids were born. I thought I would never recover, even though I had a lot of help." Of course, you wouldn't have known it from looking at her. "The acting comes in handy," she admits. "We can pretend everything is great even if it isn't."

While you may lack their acting ability and the bank account for a team of specialists, you can still adapt some of the superstars' secrets for your own post-preggers routine. Follow these tips to bounce back and feel great.