To wonder why the baby weight won’t budge?

Hi!

Currently in same situation now, baby is 4.5 months old, I weigh heavier now then what I did 4 days after birth!!! I’m very active and was throughout all my pregnancy. Whilst breastfeeding, my appetite did go through the roof however I stopped breastfeeding completely a month ago and my weight is just not budging! I’m relatively good with the diet side and still active 5/6 days a week.

Has it been easier the last month? I know a lot of people say it’s not important but it in important to me!

I don’t know whether it’s to do with hormones or whether once my periods return it’ll start to get easier? Driving me mad!!

My weight didn't come off til I stopped breastfeeding them miraculously melted away. Some people hold on to it , hormonal

For my first son, I didn't lose the weight til I stopped breastfeeding him at 8 months, and he was a hungry baby, fed for ages and went from the bottom to the 91st centile in that time. Second child I lost it whilst still breastfeeding. I don't do as much exercise as you now and my kids are 7 and 4. I hope you are not overdoing it, must be knackering! PS I totally understand the desire to lose weight, I've put on over a stone (part of it to do with some meds I'm on increasing my appetite) but you might find eating a bit more now to give you energy then worrying about the loss later when you've finished BFing is the easiest way to go?

Another who didn't lose all the weight until I completely stopped breastfeeding. I fed DC2 for 18 months. By 12 months it was just twice a day and for the last couple of months only before bed but it still didn't come off. I was going to a wedding and tried really quite a restrictive diet to shift the last of it but it wouldn't come off. When I stopped feeding it literally came off in a couple of months with no effort at all.

I wouldn't use that as a reason not to breastfeed though. You're getting to the stage where it's much more convenient than FF (I have done both).

Yeah to this. And actually this differed for me between babies. DC1 I lost an awful lot of weight very quickly breastfeeding, DC2 and 3 barely shifted a gram.

my third is about 4 months too and I’m exercising and eating healthily but barely shifting a gram. It is what it is! Trying to enjoy the exercise for what it is and remain relaxed about it.

And more importantly while I can understand why you desire to look how you did pre baby just be gentle with yourself.

Your baby looks at you and thinks you're the most beautiful thing in the world .

I’ll share my experience post two pregnancies, but I’m aware women recover differently. Both pregnancies EBF.

The first 3-4 months only a bit of a weight loss and the womb shrinking down slowly.

Months 5-8 sweet spot for peak weight loss - baby eats a ton of milk which burns 500kcal a day easily. During this period I start IF and low-ish carb.

Months 8-9 - pre-pregnancy weight reached, but body feels flabby and overweight still. At this point weight loss really slows down… and can only shift after breastfeeding stops, combined with really strict IF and low carb.

Just to say it's not only vaginal birth that increases the chance of prolapse.
While people seem to think that a LSCS avoids these issues it isn't a guarantee.
It's the weight of carrying the pregnancy on your pelvic organs and structures that can lead to prolapse.

I went from 9 to 10.5 stone with my pregnancies but breastfeeding had the opposite effect - with a 6 week old, I was down to 8.5 stone (and eating 2 dinners). I’d go back up to my normal weight after finishing breastfeeding. I think the previous poster might be correct re being pregnant again (eek).

I understand that completely but its so recent, surely you can see that? Like others are saying, give it more time.

You sound hugely anxious to be carrying a few extra pounds, particuarly in the context that you gave birth very recently

Whats that about?

The weight falls off me when I breastfeed. All I can think about is how little time you must spend with your partner is you're exercising so much!

You need as an absolute minimum, 1500cals a day to maintain breastfeeding. Possibly your body realises you're in too much of a defecit so holding on to fat?

It's breastfeeding and pregnancy hormones. Carry on with the exercise if you enjoy it but don't stress about calories until you stop breastfeeding. I wouldn't expect to lose weight until about 9 months post birth.

All the exercising is probably just stopping you gaining weight and keeping you the same! Breastfeeding made me gain and gain for the 6 months I did it, just ravenous all the time. As soon as I stopped as I was ready to feel more like myself, got my willpower back and my fitness - then shed 3 stone in 3 months back to my pre baby weight. It’ll happen when you’re ready to stop, just enjoy it for now!

Unscientific, but my body just didn’t seem to be in a weight loss zone for the first year after giving birth. Hormones not normal, breastfeeding etc. Maybe that?

I honestly thought that I would end up the size of a house when both of my babies were small. When I eventually stopped feeding them the fat just melted away. I didn’t lose all that much weight according to the scales and am still a good 5+kg heavier than before I had kids, but my shape returned. It’s just too soon, stop exhausting yourself, if anything you’ll make it worse in the short term.

My best friend couldn't work out why she wasn't losing the baby weight....turned out she was pregnant again, her children are VERY close in age. Just a thought.

Have you had your thyroid checked? Your thyroid can go haywire after pregnancy and if it is underactive it's practically impossible to lose weight. I was dieting and getting active with no movement on the scales at all. Now I'm medicated with thyroxine the scales have started to move in the right direction

@Norberta i was exactly the same, got really worked up about it not coming off! When I chilled out a bit and put it in perspective it was easier to accept my body would never look the same again (regardless of being at the same weight) but that was fine because look at what it did!

Focus on yourself and your baby, lots of fresh air, exercise and nourishing food. Hopefully you’ll feel much better about yourself and the weight will drop off when your body is ready.