To be a bit concerned about drastic weight loss six months after giving birth?

[ChateauMargot]

I was extremely lucky in that I returned to pre-preg size within a few weeks of giving birth to my first baby this summer. But four months later, I had to buy a belt just to hold up my pre-preg jeans... and now at six months, with the belt at the tightest notch, they are again hanging off of me.

Husband says that if it weren't for the fact that he sees how much I eat, he'd be worried.

I feel fine, and appetite isn't an issue. I'm exclusively breastfeeding and looking after the baby single-handedly during the week - and yes, there's lots of picking up/putting down, etc. but not so much that I'd expect to burn off this much weight.

Has anyone else experience similar? Should I be concerned about unexplained weight loss?

Thanks in advance.

Stress+ breastfeeding+physical activity= rapid weightloss. I gained and lost five stone, within six months, all gone.

Depends on how fat you were when you got pregnant,no?
And whether you were a couch potato before?

Or maybe it's all that single-handedly bringing up a whole baby all on your own during the week.
Tis a mystery!

I was a size 8 or 10 before getting pregnant. Didn't put on a huge amount in pregnancy. Not a couch potato before - did ballet and swimming and walked everywhere.

Now wondering about hyper-thyroid - would be good to know if anyone has experience or advice.

Well, I don't know - my weight went back pretty quickly too, but it stabilised at what I'd weighed before iyswim.

It might be worth talking to your GP and running some tests for thyroid, etc. Not to worry you - just to rule stuff out.

Oh sorry - x posts!

Ha ha ha ha!

This happened to me too, I could hardly pull myself away from the mirror!

Then we weaned him...

He fed from me less and less...

I didn't alter my calorific intake, too much fun...

14 months later I don't look anything like I did 6 months post natal.

A warning to you all!!!!

Not unusual in my experience! I was a size 12 before pregnancy but put on a huge amount of weight during (mostly water). I lost it all within 6 months and was low carbing from 4-6months. At 11 months I'm now an 8-10 and a stone lighter than pre-pg. and I'm eating lots of cake!

I'm still breastfeeding DD, but I do a lot less exercise than before pregnancy and just train 3-5 hours a week now. It's all the running around, not sitting at a desk for several hours a day, sharing food, sleeplessness etc. I can't believe what I'm eating and still losing a bit of weight - but I'm also eating smaller meal portions after low-carbing.

In my experience most of the mums who are still bfing are still losing weight.

But if you are worried, eat more healthy fats and maybe get your thyroid checked.

This happend to me. I became almost skeletal despite eating huge amounts. I was told it was the breastfeeding. It wasn't. I had developed a rare thyroid problem and suffered for a long time with it as it was over-looked because of just having a baby. I also had other symptoms I/medics just put down to post-pregnancy and being busy.

Go and see your GP.

Just at add - at it's worst I was going down a dress size in just over a week.

Definitely get your thyroid checked. This happened years ago to my aunt after she gave birth, and then to my aunt's daughter when she had her first child a few years ago. (Is hyper-thyroidism in your family?) I visited when her DS was about 9 months old. She was still so, so thin! Despite having been on medication for a few months by then. And considerably thinner than she had been pre-pregnancy. Go to your GP!

This happened to me. I had a grumbly child and used to take daily 4 or 5 miles walks to calm him down, was exclusively breastfeeding and "trying to eat sensibly" so that I lost weight. It wasn't until DS stopped gaining weight that the penny dropped. I simply wasn't eating enough.

Obviously don't know all your circumstances OP, but I certainly found I had to eat a lot more than I thought I did.

Im the opposite, my bf body CLINGS onto weight until I stop bf.

If I were you, Id see a doctor to get a blood test to check thyroid just to be on the safe side.

This is happening to me I weigh just over a stone less than when I got pregnant DS2 is 12 weeks old. I'm always about a stone over weight but haven't really put on wright in either pregnancy and both times it's just dropped off, but with DS1 I just went back to normal whereas this time I just keep getting thinner, I eat loads too.

I was also going to post that it's worth going to your GP and asking if he/she can check your thyroid. It could be the breastfeeding, but it wouldn't hurt to rule out a problem.

What MrsTittleMouse said. Your thyroid can go out of kilter after having a baby, always worth getting it checked.

Sounds similar to me however was more like after 12 months that clothes were falling off. I put it down to a few things ie the breastfeeding, just being busy etc. I did used to drink quite a bit before dc (we wasnt particularly ttc) so also put the weight loss down from going out three times or more a week as a student and drinking, eating junk food etc not the healthiest of diets to little drink and home cooked food. I did take me a while to work out how much had changed from before dc.

toeworries are you me?

My favourite memory from that time was taking a pair of size 12 jeans into the changing room. Then buzzing the assistant and asking for a 10. Then an 8. I ended up with a 6.

6 months later, DS weaned, back at work, stressed to the max, on the junk food diet and after getting the coil fitted the size 6 jeans wouldn't go over my knees.

Go to your GP and they'll do blood tests to check your thyroid and absorption levels of iron etc.

I'm in the same boat. Was a a size 10 before pregnancy, put on 2 stone, lost that in 6 weeks post birth and now DD is 14 months I weigh over a stone less than I did pre-pregnancy and have a bmi of 18.

My blood tests showed no problem so I guess it's the Breastfeeding and general running around.

It's probably the same for you but always best to check it out.

I was the lightest I've ever been in my life in the months after both DCs were born, in spite of eating vast amounts. I put it down to BF and running around.
Still rapid weight loss can be a symptom of illness so wouldn't hurt to mention to doctor.

Ahem. What are your bowel movements like?

Thanks, all - will book an appt with the GP next week.

(BMs normal!)

I don't have any scales at home, but I knew I was about 13 1/2 st pre-pregnancy.

My normal eating habits were appalling, so DP made me encouraged me to eat healthier (introduce a few more veggies to my diet, introduced tuna, cut down on the chips, etc). I was 85.2 kg (13st 5.5lb) at 11wks+1, and 84kg (13st 3lb) at 16wks+1.

Nearly 7 months later, DD was 99% EBF up to 4 months. We introduced 1 solid meal a day at 17wks (Baby porridge, then puree), and between 5 1/2 months & 6 months 1 week, she went from 1 meal a day to 3 + snacks (she likes to steal some of my teacake when I go to the local cafe). I'm still BF about 5-6 times a day including night feeds. I now weigh about 74kg (11st 9lb, but still overweight for my short-arsed height), and my pre pregnancy jeans are about 3-4 inches too big for my waist - this has been the case since about 3 months post pg. However, while a pair of size 16 trousers from Sainsburys fall down my hips, the same trousers in a size 14 have the camel toe effect

I'm never going to be a twig, but walking at least 2-3 miles a day pushing a pram up & down hills is a brilliant way to lose weight & tone up my bum

I've got streaks of fresh blood in mine. To be honest i'm worried as I've lost 5kg in three months. I'm also exclusively breastfeeding

ZOMBIE Thread

Not unusual but can be a sign of other things. I'd imagine it'd be something related to the thyroid.