Losing Weight and Breastfeeding

Kim, I don't have any advice for you on how to lose weight while breastfeeding but i though you might feel better knowing you are not the only one that would pay a million dollars to know the secret. Unfortunately i haven't been able to loose weight and i've been breastfeeding for 8 months. In fact, i feel that at some point gained some weight. I am a stay at home mom like you and I love spending all my time with my baby but i also think anxiety plays a big part on not loosing the weight because it makes you eat more or if not more you don't eat any less than when you where pregnant.

Don't worry about it too much. There is a saying 9 months on, 9 months off. And also, watch your portions. All you need extra a day is about 300-500 calories which is a good sandwich. Weight Watchers has a program for breastfeeding women if you are interested in going that route. Also, exercise is important too even if it's a walk in the mall or around the neighborhood. It's not an old wives tale that some of the weight you put on during pregnancy is to help you with breastfeeding. Notice I said "some". A lot of women fall into the "eating for two" and put on more weight than they should. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing necessarily. Also remember every woman is different. You may have other issues that are preventing the weight loss such as diabetes, depression, a hormonal imbalance, or any number of things. Only your doctor can tell you for sure. You're doing a wonderful thing by breastfeeding your son! You should be proud of yourself.

Hey K.:)
clearly youre not alone with all of the other moms that have said so, and im no different! i actually gained weight during the whole year i breast fed! grrrrrr, but the nutrition company im with came out with a new line this year and since ive been on it ive lost 40 lbs and 36 inches!!! i wish i had it when i was breastfeeding (its natural so its completley safe) but i would ask your docter:) it is very effective!
heres a link: good luck!
www.cinchplan.com/sarahlaw

yea, i didn't lose lots of weight either!! but then i breastfed both my boys so i don't know how much weight i "wouldn't" have lost had i bottle fed instead. Don't worry about it now...you just had a baby and your body with not even begin to look "normal" til around a year. Just make healthy eating decisions and leave the rest to your body to take care of!

Hi K.,

I lost more with my first than I did with my second, but I don't know how much of a role breastfeeding played in any of it. Some people's metabolism is better than others. Sorry I can't be of more help. Congratulations on your baby boy!!

Good luck!!

I read once that if you breastfeed, you may experience a surge of weight loss at the beginning (until you start eating enough to counteract the effect) and then again when you stop (because your appetite will diminish).

The reason you are supposed to lose weight is because nursing burns oodles of calories. But you have to eat more, so it doesn't really matter. When I first started nursing, I remember being obscenely hungry all the time- I ate more than when I was pregnant.

You're definitely not alone. I breastfeed for a year & about 9 1/2 months after I stopped, I started to lose weight. I spke w/ my OB just before I moved from Charleston & asked if there was some validity to the observation that about 9 months after birth/ending breastfeeding is when you lose weight. He agreed that breastfeeding does seem to have am impact possibly because your body is keeping reserves to take care of both of us. I know I am having a very hard time losing weight now primarily due to excess stress and trying to run the whole show (no time for me) all while working full-time.
Conversations w/ some other moms has lead me to realize home cooked meals are best, portion control is now vital, skip white flour products & use whole grain, get more fruits/veggies into the diet, & try to exercise. (Walking the length of parking lots counts, too). Did you know that foods you eat while breatfeeding, he is more likely to enjoy as a food item later? That helped keep me on a balanced & varied diet while breast-feeding.
In the meantime, love the time with your son and know you are providing him with the most fantastic gift of all -- well-being.
A day-care teacher in Charleston made the observation to another that the breast-feed babies seemed to be happier than those who were not. I think she is right based on my own casual observations as well. Something to think about.

You are SO NOT ALONE. I think it's an old wives tale the want us to believe just so we'll breastfeed. I did it w/ both my kids (5 year gap), I lost weight w/ my daughter, but I also worked out 3 to 4 days a week. I dropped from a 16 to a 12 by the time she was 3 months. Of course - I stayed at a 12 for 10 years.... With my son - I didn't work out but did breastfeed him. Didn't drop a lb for MONTHS. I don't really think breastfeeding helped me one way or the other as far as the weight went.

I nursed both of mine and never saw the dramatic weight loss that you hear about either. I went from 125 to 200 when I had my daughter, had to have umbelical hernia surgery 6 weeks after I had her and wasn't back in my normal jean size till almost 2 yr later. Nursed her for almost 3 months till the surgery. At that time I also worked a full time job where I was very active!!! Now I've been a SAHM since Oct 04 and with my son I went from 130 to 170ish. I dropped the weight a bit faster with him (nursed for 3 months till I kept getting a reoccuring sever plugged duct)but now almost a year later I keep teetering between 135 and 140. I don't know if it is my hips being too wide now or what. Most of the weight is concentrated in my belly and thighs, but I still can't fit into my old jeans:( My step sis has a 4 month old and she hasn't dropped the weight very fast either and she was working full time as a Nurse Aid and going to college to get her LPN up till a week before she was due.

I really don't know what goes on with our bodies when it comes to weight loss and nursing. I'm starting to wonder if it is all a myth my self. Heck, with a baby we don't have time to eat so you'd think that would suck out all of that excess fat still left!! LOL Just hang in there. Summer is coming and you'll be able to get out side more and push that Little Man around in the stroller!

S.

Breastfeeding is not the miracle weightloss plan that as long as you are doing it you will loose weight. I know that when you have a new baby, you tend to eat whatever is the easiest (I even turned to comfort foods) However, if you just eat more fresh fruits and veggies(tons of them) , lots of water and low fat milk, and lean proteins(basically a well balanced diet, low on carbs and junk food) you will see a dramatic difference in how much weight you loose. It will be better for the baby AND you will probably be surprised at how you feel. You will have more energy and not feel like when you feed your baby you are being "drained."

I just wanted to echo what others have said. Of all of my friends who breastfed, only TWO (out of...20? 25?) actually got back down to their pre-pregancy weights while breastfeeding. As for me, I started exercising 4 weeks post partum and got close to my pre-pregancy weight while still breastfeeding but had about 15 pounds that just refused to go. Within 2 weeks of stopping breastfeeding - nothing else had changed, not exercise or calorie intake - I had lost about 8 of those pounds. Almost 9 months to the day after my son was born I got and the scale and was back down to my pre-pregnancy weight. I agree with the poster who said that it tends to be nine months up, nine months down. Of course, those nine months down only happen if you are exercising and being careful about what you eat. Even though you can't really go on a diet, it does help if the calories you are taking in are significant calories, coming from healthy foods. Also, I found that once my milk supply was established I didn't have any problems with exercise interferring with my milk. In general, exercise is only really going to mess up your milk supply if you are exercising hours a day (more than 1 1/2 to 2 hours) and/or not replenishing the water you lose while exercising. Hope this helps!

I expected to lose weight breastfeeding as well, and was very disappointed that I didn't. I think in my case there were other factors that played a role in that, but I also wanted to tell that I have read that when you breastfeed, your body releases hormones that actually help it keep on an extra 5 - 10 pounds. This is to protect the baby - making sure there is enough of a reserve there to feed him. So I think it's not just you! God bless, and hang in there!

I always tried to let the moms in my breastfeeding class know that breastfeeding wasn't like some magic weight loss people. Everyone is different. I don't think I've read anything anywhere that says breastfeeding will get you back to prepregnancy size in no time. Yes, it does help you lose weight, because you do burn a ton of calories doing it, and it does help your uterus contract. But how you eat can affect it, how active you are can affect it. And each person is made differently. Some people can lose weight just by readig about a diet (don't you love those kind!), and others struggle a little more.
Don't be discouraged. You're still doing yourself a huge favor by breastfeeding. You are reducing your risk of breast and ovarian and cervical cancer. So, I'd say it's worth it.
Walking, jogging, chasing after your son once he can walk, are all great ways to get back into shape!

Congratulations on your new baby boy!! And breastfeeding usually does help to loose the weight faster. It worked for me, but I did do a lot of walking. Now that the weather is breaking, it's the perfect time to see those pounds fall off. In the afternoon, before it gets too hot, just put the baby in his stroller and walk around the neighborhood or the park. It will also help you to feel better and not get bogged down by some new mother emotions.
I stopped eating some many fried foods, and opted for baking or browning/sautee'ing. And most importantly, stopped stressing about it. Stress alone will make you gain weight, even if it seems like you've stopped eating all together.
Just love your baby. Getting outside with him will keep you active, and give a foundation to want to be active as he grows.
Good luck to you. And God Bless

I exercise in addition to breastfeeding and am within 5 lbs of my pre-pregnancy weight. My daughter is now 9 months old. I think it is like what the "experts" say...you have to burn more than you take in. You don't want to diet, but eat healthy for both you and your son. That way you are both getting the nutrients and good things that you need.

Hi K.,

I nursed both my boys for 18 months each and I didn't lose weight quickly with either of them, so it's definitely not just you. With my first son, I started weight watchers when he was 2 months old. They take into account that you're nursing and adjust the plan so you don't lose weight too quickly. I was able to lose the baby weight plus 10 pounds by the time he was 10 months (I had about 18 to lose after the birth). And my milk supply didn't decrease at all as I lost the weight, which was a concern for me. With my second, it's been harder -- he's 21 months and I still haven't lost the weight (around 25 lbs). I'm really trying to buckle down and exercise and eat right. I'm tired of not being able to fit into any of my pre-pregnancy clothes. Hang in there and good luck to you!

Take care,

L.

I breatfed 2, and didn't loose the weight till I stopped.

Well...I lost a lot of weight when I breastfed, but it didn't come off magically. I did walk with the baby stroller about 4 days a week. It also took about a year for it to happen. You still have to eat more calories. Your body tends to hold onto fat when you are breastfeeding like a reserve tank, so it all doesn't come off. In fact, I lost about 10 lbs when I finished nursing because I could eat less and my body wasn't holding onto the fat for back up.

Hi K.,

I exercised 5 times a week and pumped 6 times a day. ( Not including a stroller walk with my son everyday) I also started eating more veges and less carbs. Also cut out salt. And not eating sandwich meats and hotdogs. I was able to fit into jeans that I couldn't even fit into before I was pregnant. My Lactation consultant adviced me that that was too much exercise and she said that 4 times a week is sufficient. She said that eating 6 small healthy meals a day will get your metabolism up and you will be able to loose weight better.

I will say that it was hard and I have gained some weight back but I still exercise and eat right as much as I can. Hope that helps!
PS Drink lots of water and skim milk!

Sorry Kim, I know how you feel. I breastfed both my kids for 6 mos. and I hardly lost a thing. Meanwhile my neighbor lost all her plus some. I was 105 lbs before pregnancy so I thought I would of lost it fast. It took two years for me to get back down and it was through step aerobics 3 X a week. I hate dieting too.
Just wanted to let you know your not losing your mind.
K.

Well, I have had 2 children and breastfed them both. WIth my first, I lost all my weight and more. Throughout my pregnancy with him, I exercised 3-4 days a week and a little after he was born. I really contribute that to my rapid weightloss along with the breastfeeding. However, after my second was born, I lost all but the last 5-10 pounds of my weight. I did not exercise hardly at all with my second pregnancy. I am still over my preferred weight and am starting back on a regular exercise routine of walking/running and lifting weights.

I think Breastfeeding does help with losing weight, but it's going to affect each person's body differently.

My recommendation would be to get out and exercise as much as possible. Your son would love to get out in the son and I'm sure you would also. Take him out in a stroller or carrier and start walking with him. Exercise is a huge key-and watching what you're eating. Be sure you're grabbing healthy snacks, like apples, carrots, yogurt, etc. :)