G.P Advised Me To Give Up B/F :-(

[magnolia1]

Ds1 is nearly 8 months. I have never been a big girl and was very underweight before having children but with each baby have kept some weight. (5 kids) Before ds1 I was 8st. Put on 2 stone during pg but am now down to 7.5st and still losing. Have had blood tests inc thyroid and all clear. Ds1 feeds every 2-3hrs day and night and gp says the best way to stop losing is to stop b/f I don't want to but am looking pretty ill with it now
I eat tons, carbs, protien, fats ect... I eat 3 large meals a day with a snack in between each meal.
I do burn a lot off with 5 kids and b/f but am having on average 2500-3000 calories a day which is pretty high.

What now??

[evilreturns]

do you feel unwell? is your BMI less than it should be?

if you are happy and don't feel ill, then try not to worry. IME bf does not necessarily affect someone's ability to lose/gain weight...

[magnolia1]

I feel very tired but with 5 kids inc a baby that doesn't sleep I am not supprised. Yes my bmi is low but always has been and that is normal for me. I should be 9st for my height but have a tiny frame so carry 8st quite well. The thing is a month ago I was 8st, 2 weeks ago 7st 9 and now 7st 6 so losing 1-3lb a week

[LazyLineLegilimens]

Am inexperienced in your situation but seems to me that your GP should be trying as hard as possible to find out what is wrong with you, or are they just assuming that the BF is what is wrong?

Are you pushing them hard enough to work out what is wrong? Unfortunately my experience with a couple of GPs is that if you will go away quietly they will let you.

[LazyLineLegilimens]

are you on any medication?

any contraception? Has the weight loss only started since having children?

[magnolia1]

Have had all the blood tests possible and seen a dietician. The dietician did not say give up b/f but did say I would need extra calories which I am having.

[magnolia1]

Always been skinny runs in the family. But haven't been this skinny since before the kids. My lowest was 7.7 after 1st child. Ds1 is a very hungry feed alot baby and I love feeding him. My kids before are girls and a lot less demanding as babies

[magnolia1]

No medication at all

[edam]

tapeworm? Sorry, sounds horrid, but if GP has run all the blood tests just wondered...

[magnolia1]

Ewwwwwww Thanks Edam

Ok so how will I know???

[reikizen]

I know you will get a lot of posts encouraging you to keep on bfing as this is mumsnet after all and bfing must never be critisised, but you are not a milk machine or an ideological point to be scored. If you want to stop, stop. Look after yourself so that you can look after those 5 (how on earth do you manage! Good on ya!) children.

[magnolia1]

Thats it though I don't want to stop at all Planning on b/f until ds1 self weans.
But I don't want to end up so bloody skinny and weak that I can't

[edam]

Dunno magnolia, you'll have to google it! (yuck)

[reikizen]

Keep bfing then until GP comes up with another solution! [smile} Are those complan build up things any good?

[francagoestohollywood]

well, I think you are doing fantastically. If I had 5 children and was b/f every 3 hrs at night, I'd probably be dead by now . You are doing great. Did he check if you are anaemic?
I find that since I strted taking zinc and magnesium +vit c I'm much more energetic.

[evilreturns]

are your iron levels low? they can be low and affect your level of energy/tiredness, but still be within the "normal" range IYSWIM? iron tablets can be nasty little things but there is a fruity tasting tonic type thing that i can't remember the name of that is pretty good...

my mum lost loads of weight after my bro was born (2nd out of 4 children) - no reason ever found why, weight went back on slowly while she was still bf, just one of those things (not helpful i know, sorry)

if LO is 8 months, maybe offering more food may take the pressure of you feeding him quite so much?

you sound like a fab mum btw

[francagoestohollywood]

tapeworm usually causes hairloss as well.

[magnolia1]

Have looked it up and don't think it's tapeworm. Iron levels fine, had blood transfusion at birth and iron tablets. Eat lots of red meat and dark veg. Levels were high enough.
Ds1 is eating 3 solid meals a day as well as b/f.

[francagoestohollywood]

nothing else spings to my mind... what about royal jelly? If I remember well it's v. nutrient and helps with energy levels and putting on weight...

[magnolia1]

Does it taste nice? sounds horrible

[francagoestohollywood]

my mum gave it to me as a child, when I was really thin, but I think I've repressed the memory . I think you can get it in tablets now. Have you got a health food shop nearby? I'm sure they could give you sensible advise. I hope you feel better soon .

[francagoestohollywood]

[another thing, royal jelly was all the rage in the 70s , it was believed it helped putting on weight, I'm not sure whether it is still believed so )

[magnolia1]

Ok will go tomorrow

[edam]

my HV told me to eat a Mars Bar every evening to help with milk production. I know this was rubbish but dh didn't and loyally stopped off at the corner shop every night... worth a try, might cheer you up at any rate.

[magnolia1]

Ok I know I am not normal but I don't really like chocolate
Eating loads of oaty cookies though

[francagoestohollywood]

! Plain chocolate was my choice. And my grandmother told me to drink beer...