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Infant feeding

Should you diet when breastfeeding?

33 replies

dinny · 19/12/2004 20:52

DS is 14 weeks old and on 98th centile. REALLY enjoying him/feeding him/life in general but am so pissed off am still a lardy lump. Am two stone heavier than pre-preg. Is it really bad to diet when bfing and will it affect milk supply if I do? Was thinking of a non-extreme low-carb diet (such as the no-carbs-after-5pm diet). Or will this weight miraculously disappear (oh, please....!) Thanks, Dinny.

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wordsmith · 19/12/2004 20:56

No, don't diet. B/fing will help you lose weight. 14 weeks is nothing! 2 stone is nothing! Give yourself a chance. Make sure you eat healthily and have a varied diet. I'm sure you look fab. You can't go from having a big baby like that to having a washboard stomach in just 3 months!

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beansontoast · 19/12/2004 20:58

umm...every one is different ,but i was told ''9 mnths up 9 mnths down'' as in it took that long to get lardy itll take that long to shed it,and that was pretty much true for me.
if you diet you run the risk of feeling knackered getting stroppy etc.but i suppose you can eat healthily and just see how you feel.good luck and congrats on the baby. x

oh and the last few pounds dont go till you stop b feeding.

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dinny · 19/12/2004 21:00

Am so hungry all the time too. Is that a bfing thing? Surely if I keep scoffing so much my fat won't get used up?

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lockets · 19/12/2004 21:02

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emkana · 19/12/2004 21:02

I started Weight Watchers when dd2 was six weeks old. Have now lost 52 pounds in 14 months. Great way to lose the weight - you can eat loads and loads as you can eat extra points when you're breastfeeding. Often doesn't feel like a diet at all. I can highly recommend it.

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Wills · 19/12/2004 21:03

sorry but unless you're that half of the population then you don't necessary loose weight when bf. With dd1 I put on a stone and half whilst bf on the advice of hv's saying I'd loose it. Best thing I did with dd2 was join weight watchers. They have a diet especially for b'fing women and I lost a stone this time round. Kept hold of the final 7 pounds until I finally stopped bfing but that's the way I'm built. It will not affect your milk supply so don't let anyone tell you that it will and don't worry about it. They are researching things like this all the time and current research says that for women who cut down sensibly it does not affect the content at all. However a low carb diet is not sensible - sorry. You need to be taking in all groups but just cut down the calories. There's loads of threads on this so if you do a search you'll find quite a lot. They make interesting reading, but trust me I would say about half the population loose weight whilst breast feeding and half don't. If ds is now 14 weeks then I would say that unfortunately you fall into the don't . Join the rest of us unfortunate souls - sorry. I'm not a big WW fan but they did look after me and ensure that I was sensible so it was a lot easier - by the way you wont be allowed to loose faster than a max of 2 pounds a week preferably only 1.

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beansontoast · 19/12/2004 21:03

scoff by all means,its a perk of the job,but you cant dine on processed junk food and expect to stay happy and energetic and lose weight.
drink loads of water too,sometimes you can eat when actually you are realyy thirsty.
im jealous wish i was still b/feeding

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dinny · 19/12/2004 21:04

Thanks Lockets
Took me 9 months last time. Think was expecting miracles this time as bfeeding.
Week before Xmas not good time to start worrying about weight!
ps are you free tmorrow aftrnoon instead Tuesday?

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TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 19/12/2004 21:05

You sound just like me

I lost weight bf'ing DS but with DD haven't and have also been unable to control my appetite .. I NEED to eat and frequently

She is now 7.5 months old .. still breastfeeding, weaned on to solids from 25 weeks and I joined Slimming World 5 weeks ago .. can recommend it .. its an easy approach to losing weight whilst bf'ing

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lockets · 19/12/2004 21:06

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dinny · 19/12/2004 21:10

Twiglett, I have such a sweet tooth too. And eat about double what I normally do at meals.
Wills, I thought as much How annoying.

Lockets - Wed? DD at nurs so just me and ds....

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CelluliteClaus · 19/12/2004 21:12

I joined WW when DS was 6wo as also completely depressed at being 2 stone over pre-preg weight. I lost a stone really quickly (BF and WW) and didn't lost the other stone until I stopped BF at 9m. I stressed about being porky at the time but it really doesn't matter in the great scheme of things and I am now back in a size 8/10. You will get there!

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lockets · 19/12/2004 21:13

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dinny · 19/12/2004 21:17

Lockets, common ground closed for month,yours OK? thanks!

CelluliteClaus so similar! Thing is, I was MASSIVE with ds. DREAD to think what I weighed (avoided scales throughout pg!). So I have lost loads of weight since he was born but I really need to stop eating crap now and treating myself all the time. Keep going out for lunch and having chips as a side order! Am normally quite skinny (8-10 too) but am a 14 now . Boobs aren't helping - usually 34B now a 36DD!!! ARGH!!!

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lockets · 19/12/2004 21:19

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tiktok · 19/12/2004 23:26

It's safe to diet when bf - won't affect quality or quantity of milk....see archives for lots of this

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dinny · 21/12/2004 19:34

Thanks, Tikok - most reassuring. Think I may just have to put off the diet till Monday though.....

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whowantstobeamillionare · 21/12/2004 19:38

NO!!!!!!

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dinny · 21/12/2004 19:39

Don't put it off?

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merrykittymas · 22/12/2004 15:51

I was 10 stone pre pregnancy always dieting going to the gym now DD 5 months I'm 9 1/2 stone.

Went back to 10 stone in 6 weeks breastfeeding. Ideally I want to be 9 stone again. I don't think it's bf that made me lose it but because I'm not working, I work in the food industry and foods always around and I would sit at my desk and eat all day. I eat a lot less now.

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ragtaggle · 22/12/2004 16:32

You definitely can! I was like you - two stone overweight and very p---d off with it. I joined ww and followed their breastfeeding diet. It was great - you can eat loads and still lose weight. I really missed it when I stopped bf. I lost the two stone in three months and I'm bloody glad I did. Good Luck

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ragtaggle · 22/12/2004 16:34

Just realised I've repeated what everyone else said. Oh well...now you know!

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singsong · 22/12/2004 16:38

Hi dinny, think I?m having a similar problem. Ds is 19 weeks, I?m breast feeding and still nearly 2 stone up on pre-preg weight. Don?t mind the weight so much as where it is, all on my tummy in a big blob that is. Also feel like I can eat everything in site and not good at the moment with all the xmas chocs about. With the weight all being confined to my tum I?m waiting for the day that I?m out without ds and someone asks me when it?s due! Look like I did when about 6 months preg.

Merrykittymas

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Yorkiegirl · 22/12/2004 16:44

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lulupop · 22/12/2004 17:54

dinny, I'm joining in a bit late but just have to add my agreement with those who say BFing does NOT nevessarily help weight loss. I put on hardly any weight with DS, then larded up an extra 2 stone in 3 months after he was born - I was BFing, starving, and just thought my body must be telling me I needed to eat more, so I did. Three big meals a day and as many biscuits as I fancied.

I was miserable, 3 dress sizes bigger than normal, and it took me months to lose it. I think it's a real mistake to indulge the whole "I'm pregnant / breastfeeding, so I can treat myself" thing. Just eat healthily, and have as much as you need not to be hungry, but make it salad/soup/veg things rather than (my personal favourite) pate/camembert/ice cream.

With DD I tried to be much healthier and was back to my pre-preg weight in 6 weeks. And I've been much happier in myself this time round too! So, if it's bothering you, then try and cut back on the refined sugars, get loads of fruit and veg in, and maybe try and find the time for some exercise. Easier said than done at this time of year, I know. But good luck.

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