Hi Mamas! I'm having a problem keeping on weight while nursing my ravenous son. We're 9 months postpartum and I'm now about 20 lbs under weight. I've always been "lean and lanky" but this is a new record; I weigh less than I did in high school! This may not seem like a problem to some since I know a lot of women struggle to lose those pregnancy pounds, but I feel like this could really take a toll on my health in the long term. It's also an issue because I would like to try to conceive again in about a year, so I feel like I should really start packing it on now. My husband thinks I should wean, but 9 months seems kind of early to me (plus, I'll admit that I'm still emotionally attached to it...). I try to keep up on my food intake, but in order to gain weight I need to be consuming about 3,000 calories per day, and that's without exercise. I feel like every spare moment is me shoveling food in mouth with no results! Has anyone else had to deal with this? I started taking some whey protein this past week as a start. Are there any other suggestions on some quick and healthy foods that could help me gain some weight without taking up all my free time by eating? Thank you!!
Thanks for the tips, Ladies. I haven't had my thyroid checked or anything, so I'll do some research to see if it could be the issue before ruling it out. I've always had a fast metabolism, it's just being exacerbated by nursing. My caloric intake to maintain weight at a measly 125 lbs (@5'11") with exercise is 1924, add nursing to that and it's 2424- to put on weight it jumps up to 2924. The problem I've been having is getting to that 3,000 calorie mark every day. I was tracking for a while and I'd do really well some days getting up to 2700 or so, but then it'd crash back down for a couple days and I'd barely get 2000 in; it all depends on what's going on for the day and how much attention the little one needs. I'm going to talk to the pediatrician at our 9 month c/u in a couple weeks to discuss weaning. I'm also going to track my weight and if I don't gain at least 4 pounds in the next 5 to 6 weeks he's getting cut off! Thanks for all the suggestions on different foods, I had forgotten all about my good friend avocado and how wonderfully filling it can be!
Also, I know the next pregnancy will help me add on whatever pounds required for the baby as we go along, but I would like to be a normal, healthy weight before conception to ensure proper fetal development from the onset. I was slightly underweight, just 5 lbs or so, this time around and despite gaining more than normal it still flew off faster than I realized. I'd like to be more mindful of it next time so I'm not in this situation again, and I feel like a healthy starting weight might give me a leg up.
My father in law was told to drink a slim fast with his meals to gain weight. It does have tons a vitamins, but a lot of sugar.
Lots of healthy carbs and grains (oatmeal, potatoes, whole wheat bread, sugary cereals), meats, eggs, cheeses, yogurt, ice cream, there are some fatty fruits/veggie like avocado, and nuts!!! 3 or 4 handfuls of nuts a day would pack up a lot of fat calories but are very healthy for you.
You have GOT to make sure that your weight loss isn't due to something other than the fact that you're breastfeeding. Hyperthyroidism is just one of the many conditions that could cause weight loss. If it turns out it's just because you're nursing, fine, but what if it turns out it was something else that you ignored?
Good luck! :)
Eat some ice cream!! LOL It is good to get some fat in you while breast feeding. That is why the Dr.'s tell you to put your babies on whole milk until they are at least 2 years old, it is good for the brain development.
- Also, with my daughter she was 9 months when I got preg, again, and my milk just quit coming. I was very concerned, but when I spoke with my Dr., he said that 9 months was old enough to start whole milk. She did fine. It was a bummer for me cause I really wanted to nurse until she was one, but looking back now, I don't think it caused either one of us any emotional damage! LOL ~ good luck with whatever you decide!! Are you taking pre-natals still?? That will help with your health!
Have you had your thyroid checked or mentioned this to your doctor?
Lots of healthy fats and more protein. Whole fat dairy, fish, eggs, avocados, nuts. Good quality whole grains and fresh fruit and veggies of course. Make sure the quality of your calories is there in addition to numbers. No processed junk! I would also get thoroughly checked by your doctor. There are tests for vitamin deficiencies etc... Make sure you take a great vitamin and some fish oil too. It isn't too early to wean as far as antibodies for baby, but of course mommy's milk is best. I would say you should make a choice though - either wean a bit early or put off next pregnancy several months to a year. I can speak from having 2 babies 18 mos apart that it takes a toll on your health and I am average weight and quite healthy and active in general. I was sick a lot for a whole year after having my second - way more than normal for me. Your doc should be able to refer you to a nutritionist as well. If you think you might be ready to wean don't beat yourself up about it. Your baby will be healthy! My second weaned herself at 6 mos much to my dismay and I was very upset. But it turns out she is just as healthy as big sister and I really beat myself up for no reason.
K so I was never that under weight but after my second I was actually a little underweight and I didn't really care but yeah 20 pounds under is too much. Like you I felt like even thought I was under I still ate all day but you really need to start keeping a calorie log so you can see how many calories you are actually eating and choose things higher in fat and calories to help you put some weight on. Protein shakes is a good idea but honestly I would add a scoop of Ice cream in it to add another 100 calories or so or use whole milk. Again count your calories. I remember feeling like a pig cause I would eat a whole can of soup for lunch and some crackers but then I looked on the back of the soup can...like for the whole can it was under 300 calories and 8 crackers was only like 180 calories. So my lunch was only 480. Bowl of cereal was like 120 calories. Fruit for a snack was 100 calories or under. A whole bag of those small size popcorn was 100 calories. Chicken breast, salad and a roll was about 700 so for the whole day I had only eaten about 1500 calories. Which is great but no wonder I wasn't putting any weight on you eat that then add nursing on top of it....yeah not gonna gain any weight. So just make some changes like if you like to eat sandwiches for lunch start buying the bakery bread. That has way more calories then regular bread. Or eat a sweet snack before bed like a bowl of ice cream. My M. said when her and my Dad were first married they were trying to get by so my Dad worked 2 jobs and hardly every had time to eat. He got so skinny it was grossing my M. out! haha so she started buying him a whole cheesecake each week. And he had to have at least one piece every day. That did the trick. My Dad never got fat or anything but it helped him look healthy once again.
You know what makes people fat. They are always trying not to eat that stuff.
Macaroni and cheese, cake, ice cream. Take vitamins, whole organic grains, sauces over food and chopped meat patties. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits.
If you can't gain weight consider eating pizza, calzone, chinese food in big portions.
Nursing takes 60 lbs off the mother in a year but you are really off the chart.
Go get a thyroid test it could be it is over active. There is medicine if that is the case.
Go to sparkpeople.com and sign up for their nutrition tracker. I did this. I got down to 90lbs while breastfeeding my DD and it took me two years to gain it back. I wish I had discovered avacodos and nuts way sooner!
Take your vitamins and stock up on healthy fatty foods like nuts, avacados, whole grain breads, cheeses, summer sausage, etc.
Also, do some core/strenghth training. It'll add muscle which will add weight. I'm just beggining it and I hope it helps.
You've gotten some great ideas. How about adding an Ensure? Also - make yourself some mac-n-cheese using cream instead of milk, or substitute cream or 1/2 and 1/2 in recipes that call for lowfat or skim milk (that might mean cooking two seperate recipes if your husband is trying to lose or maintainhis weight). Good luck!
Talk to your doctor. 3,000 calories? That's a lot. Is your baby eating enough ? Is he getting more nutrition from your milk or from solids? Discuss this with both your doctor and the pediatrician. That doesn't sound right at all.
i always had a fast metabolism too, along with the other women in my family. looked like skeletons and frequently called anorexic (i wasn't). anyway, turns out we have celiac disease which causes mal-absorption of nutrients. also have hypothyroidism and always colder than everybody else with a faster heart rate so maybe i am burning more calories that way? just thought i'd pass this along.
I lost all my pregnancy weight from breastfeeding. My babies just sucked all the fat right out of me. : ) Why do you feel you need to pack on weight before you get pregnant? I've never heard of this. Pregnancy, whether you like it or not, at least from my own experience forces you to gain weight. Shoot, every single calorie I put in my mouth is stored somewhere on my body. I know, because I'm 24 weeks pregnant with my 4th baby.
IF you know without exaggeration that you are indeed consuming 3,000 calories a day and still losing weight, this sounds like something your doctor should be aware of. I don't know what others have responded but I would consult your doctor to rule out any underlying medical condition.
BTW: Just because you want to be pregnant in a year from now doesn't mean you have to wean your baby. I breastfed my second child while I was pregnant with my third. Your body will gradually stop producing milk which will force your baby to self wean on his own.
I had the same thing happen! I hear what you're saying. You just want to be your healthy weight again. And it sucks to always be hungry! I would have your thyroid checked as others have said. Thyroids can go wonky after pregnancy, so it would be good to check out now. I didn't have mine checked at the time, but I have a ND now that thinks I was hyperthyroid and then my thyroid got tired and started to run out of "juice" and now I'm slightly hypothyroid.
