To hate my weight loss?

[KrissieJules]

I'm getting so unbelievably down about my post-natal figure :(

Before getting pregnant I was 8st 10lb and a size 8. Now I am dropping below that weight and my clothes hang off me! I look skeletal and very unhealthy for a mother!

I went to my Dr who wasn't concerned and said I'm perfectly fine but I don't feel fine - it makes me cry how horrid I feel I look.

What can I do? I've tried increasing my calorie intake and I'm breastfeeding

I hope you are real! I will jump in anyway. I am a rare breed and lost weight durning and after pregnancy and had to put it on post baby but like you (if real) it was hard when nursing. Everybody marveled at me telling me how lucky I was and so on. You will not get any sympathy at all, ever. I was shattered, my body seemed to consume itself growing and feeding all the children who, by the way were thriving! It happened on all four pregnancies. My skin was sore, I could feel my bones when lying down, my teeth hurt. No matter how much I consumed I could not get the kilos on. For the first time in my life I felt so sorry for the misery that anorexics must suffer (physically). i could not look at myself. As soon as I finished nursing it slowly come back on and goodness did I feel good.
Most women have the opposite problem and therefore find this very difficult to understand or be compassionate about.

YANBU. I seem to be permanently half a stone down on my pre-pregnancy weight, and it happened at just the wrong age. It's aged me by easily 5 years because my face looks drawn. Not that the sleep deprivation helps. Or not being able to buy any clothes - we're broke, so I'm managing with my pre-DS clothes and they don't hang properly any more.

How old is your baby? Do you make sure you sleep when baby sleeps? Try to do this and ask doctor to check your thyroid. It will take time to feel normal again especially if you bf. Rest as much as you can and take little snacks.

I lost a lot of weight breastfeeding and felt uncomfortably thin, especially my face, upper arms and breastbones. A lot of my clothes weren't flattering any more. And there are plenty of friends who you can talk to about wanting to lose weight, but not about trying to put it on, especially if you're already eating cake. When I cut down, then stopped, bf most of it came back so I'm sure it will for you.

Have you looked at a building up diet - lots of protein I think - ask go to see a dietician

I was the same. Worse with DS1 than DS2. DS1 literally stripped the flesh off me and I was 7.5 stone when I went back to work.
Don't worry about it, eat a healthy diet and it will come back when you get your DC weaned.

You poor thing I have the opposite problem, but I can easily see that the reverse would be equally hard.

I agree that you should see a dietician and that your Dr should be running some thyroid and other blood tests.

Are you taking a supplement? It might help with the exhaustion.

I really feel for you. Try not to worry and just keep eating a healthy diet, I'm sure the weight will gradually come on again.

Bratingham Palace you've made a light at the end of the tunnel for me!

It's good to know there ARE women out there like this and I'm not alone in this misery. Everyone says how lucky I am to have 'bounced' back. I hope once I stop nursing the weigh will return

x

I have been berating myself for now being back up to my pre-pregnancy weight, but looking at pictures of myself when DD was 8 or 9 mo, I realise that I was too thin back then (over half a stone lighter than normal).

Stopping BF, and the sedentry nature of my office job have done the trick.

That must be really hard for you, losing weight can affect you emotionally too aswell as physically.

Can you ask your gp for referal to dietician to help you gain some weight and increase kcals in healthy way?

I'd suggest 6 meals a day, 3 big 3 small, also make sure you stay hydrated, important to drink lots of water when bf.

Can also be hard to increase meals and get to rest with new baby but try to make sure you get as much sleep as possible.

Use full fat products, plenty of complex carbs and increase protein to help cells repair and grow, often when you lose weight muscle can decrease so protein helps keep this up.

What is your daily diet like at the moment?