Shakira shares parenting pressure

Shakira believes moms these days face more "pressure".

The Columbian singer and her soccer player husband Gerard Piqué welcomed their first child, Milan, into the world in January.

Soon after, Shakira returned to work on the US edition of The Voice, lending her expertise as a mentor with co-stars Usher, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton.

The pretty star is already in great shape, but admits it wasn't easy shedding the pounds she put on during pregnancy.

"[Losing baby weight] is the only thing that's been a little stressful... I knew I had to come back here to do The Voice two months after I had delivered a baby. I didn't have my four months of maternity like every woman on earth has. I'm not trying to complain, but it's been a process full of challenges," she confessed to People magazine.

"I think that our mothers and grandmothers weren't under the pressure women of today are after delivering a baby. My dad says there's nothing better than meat over the bones. So he likes my mom a little chubby. She was never under the pressure to have to get to her old weight - and she never did."

The 36-year-old feels she is still "a few pounds over" her ideal weight, but is working towards her target with healthy meals and regular exercise.

Sometimes her work schedule and her parenting duties manage to get in the way of a good workout though.

"I do Zumba. Zumba has been actually really great for me... Even during pregnancy, I kept doing it until almost the end," she revealed.

"Now with The Voice, I don't have time to exercise... And when I have a day off, I just want to be with Milan."