Breastfeeding and Weight Loss

Breastfeeding eats up the calories. You need to eat more while breastfeeding. Keep up the good work! Just eat more.

I have been drinking Mummy magic weight loss tea to shed my pregnancy pounds and this tea also helped me maintaining my breast milk supply.

Hi A.,
I had a similar problem. I started out as a thin woman, lost my 35lb of pregnancy weight within the first three months, then struggled to keep enough weight on. By the time I stopped nursing at 11 months, I was thinner than I had ever been and didn't feel or look healthy, despite the fact that I was eating more than I ever had! If you are small to start and have a hungry eater, I think this can be an actual problem, though I don't recall getting a whole lot of sympathy for it :).
Best of luck,
S.

Have your thyroid checked!!

Hi A., I agree with the other posts, and want to warn you that it might not stay off. I fell 10 pounds below my normal weight after 9 months of nursing, and within a week of weaning (which was a gradual process), gained it all back. 10 pounds in one week! But I'm still at my "normal" weight so no complaints from me!

Yes, this is normal. Sometimes breastfeeding just burns so many calories that it's hard for your body to catch up. Make sure you are eating plenty! And when in doubt just eat more!

YEs, it takes alot to produce quality milk, especially as they grow and get bigger. Your milk is more concentrated as they feed less. I weigh 135 and am 5'11, less than I weighed in high school! Get blood work done to be sure it's not your thyroid... but probably just chasing a 10m old... Good job nursing!

Sounds like to me it's just common...my OBGYN recommended in addition to my eating high calorie foods with good fats, that I add Ensure to my diet twice a day. The one that says, 'maintain healthy weight' it addes 350 calories a day. I was 125lbs. when I got pregnant with my son, and was down to 115lbs. before we weened, and now I'm around 122lbs. If you are truly concerned I would get in touch with your doctor...

Great Job!

Not sure what you mean by "quite a bit of weight," but I breastfed my son until he was 19 mo. old and lost about 8 lbs. more than my pre-pregnancy weight. Breastfeeding uses up your stores of fat. Just make sure you're eating healthy & enough. Congratulations on keeping up with the breastfeeding!

I would check with your DR. This happened to me when my son was about 10 months as well and it turned out that I was hyperthyroid and this is why I was losing so much weight. It is not uncommon to have a thyroid issue after pregnancy.

I only nursed my son for 4 months and he is now 15 months. I am smaller today then when I got pregnant the first time. I asked my doc and was assured that this is normal. We are a lot more active as mommies and our bodies are metabolizing faster to burn the baby weight. Unless its too much weight I wouldnt worry.

You should make an appt with your dr, just to be sure. It can't hurt finding out that everything is a.o.k.

I'm still nursing my 7 month old son. My weight loss has pretty much tapered off. It tapered off right about the same time as when I nursed my older daughter, so it could be just my body. Again, couldn't hurt getting the opinion of a professional.

Hi A. - Same as the other posts I was thinner 3 months after having my little girl than before. I normally eat pretty healthy - but just had to add more calories to keep at a decent weight - so I use high calorie/high value foods in my diet like avocado every day added to my lunch or dinner, a giant handful of trailmix to my oat meal, giant portions of healthy foods.

That still didn't help me keep from losing weight so I added haagan daz ice cream every nite (2 servings). (I can't believe I'm writing this). I had to eat the ice cream until she was only nursing once per day - then my body wasn't working so hard to make her milk. Sadly, since she's no longer nursing, we have retired the ice cream as one of my main courses every day! It was fun while it lasted.

Do talk to your doctor just to be sure you're ok.

You don't mention what you are eating and how many calories you are taking in. You are burning maybe 500 calories a day while nursing. If you aren't replacing it, you will create a deficit, which equals weightloss. However, if you aren't eating enough, you are loosing muscle which isn't a good thing. So, I'd suggest looking in to what and how much you are eating. You should be eating 5-6 x a day. About every 3 hours.

Most likely you just need to eat a well balanced diet. Whether you are breastfeeding or not, this will be beneficial.

M.

Hi A.,
the same thing happened to me with both kids, to a point where I was starting to feel concerned. With both kids, the minute we went to 1 time a day to none, I started gaining weight again. It just seems to be how my body works. If you still are familiar with your body and people aren't commenting that you look sick or something, you should be fine.
good luck!
Sophie

Hi Ameila, Give yourself a HUGE HUG for nursing him this long. Awesome. He is off to a great start. I am a huge opponent of breast feeding. Where you diabetic during pregnancy? You are probably sleep deprived and run down. Your plate is now a buffet table! Welcome to motherhood. Always trust you gut instinct and call the Doctor when not sure. You need to go get a check up, no worries. There is no such thing as "normal" we are all unique. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your beautiful new baby.