to worry that breastfeeding is making me fat?

[womblesofwestminster]

I'm a huge advocate of breastfeeding, so slagging it off feels dirty, but that's exactly what I'm about to do.

I'm bfing my 2 year old twice a day (morning and night). Despite me being religious with my diet and exercising hardcore at least 4 x a week, I've got this bastard tyre around my middle. I'm talking about the 'mummy tummy' and the love handles, maybe even a gunt. The rest of my body looks in decent shape - expect for the sodding middrift.

Now, I've read on MN many times before that women have found it hard to shift the last few pounds of baby weight until they stopped bf. Is there any scientific proof in this? I'm, quite literally, working my ass off, but my apple-shaped physique just keeps getting more applely.

[CrohnicallyFarting]

DD was EBF. By my 6 week check I was lighter than prepregnancy (though a larger clothes size, my hips are wider than they used to be). I had another check up after 11 months - a year and I had put on over a stone in that time.

However, I'm not convinced BFing is to blame, I switched contraceptive pills as the one I used to take wasn't suitable for bfing and I'm now on cerazette- I've seen quite a few posts on here saying that they gained a lot of weight while taking it so I think when I've finished this pack I'm going to switch.

[pinkbear82]

Dd 8 months and I initially lost weight and felt good, now I feel fat and can't shift it. I may have slightly indulged in a cake here and there, but certainly not to the extent it looks like I have. If I had known it could keep the weight there I would have bloody enjoyed more cake and chocolate and not bothered with trying to be good at all.

[soupmaker]

I lost loads feeding DD1, gave up at 4 months and put weight on.

Been feeding DD2 for 6 months and she shows no signs of giving up. Have put on bloody loads of weight. Lost the baby weight in about 6 weeks but now seem to be growing a massive midriff. Grrr.

[pinkbear82]

Chronically I too was on cerazette, I hated it, it made me feel irritable all the time and I too don't think it helped with my weight.

I waited until 6 months when I thought I could go back on my old pill to be told no, had to fight for another mini pill and am now on micronor, the only other one the gp would consider. And was told not to expect miracles with my weight changing, it's a 'common side effect and to be expected, if I'm being totally honest' helpful gp and so confidence boosting!

[BuntyCollocks]

YANBU. I hang on to a good stone whilst feeding. Buggers off when I stop. Feeding my one year old morning and night, and whilst I love doing that for her, and will feel exceptionally sad to stop, selfish part of me looks forward to dropping weight a bit easier.

I don't even lose on 1200 cals ATM. It's a right cunt.

[womblesofwestminster]

I wonder if bfing alters your metabolism?

[emsyj]

I couldn't stop eating whilst bf - had constant sugar cravings, no size of portion was enough. It was as if a switch had been flicked when I finished feeding - after 1 year with DD1 and 11 months with DD2. I lost a stone in a week after I stopped feeding DD1. It just melted away, it was bizarre. I didn't gain as much weight in pregnancy with DD2 (2 stone as compared with 4 stone first time around) and was only 7lb over my pre-pregnancy weight a couple of days after the birth - but quickly gained a stone from insatiable breastfeeding appetite! I am losing it more slowly this time (not deliberate dieting, just not anywhere near as hungry any more) but for me, yes, 'the breastfeeding stone' is very much a reality!

[IdRatherPlayHereWithAllTheMadM]

v interesting.....makes sense for body to hang onto it doesnt it

[womblesofwestminster]

I am...dare I say it... tempted to quit bf. I'm feeling frustrated. I hate it that when I work out I can see my gunt wobbling, yet my arms and legs are skinny. It looks comical to say the least.

[SpoonfulOfJam]

Just started back at the gym, ebf my 3 month old. Can't help thinking I'm going against nature by trying to lose weight through exercise while breastfeeding. Evolution, fat stores, famine etc

[IdRatherPlayHereWithAllTheMadM]

be gratful its just this strange gunt thats wobbling..

I pray thats your made up word and isnt another derogatory awful word about womens bodies that is lurking in the media

[hamptoncourt]

I lost loads of weight whilst bfing. Was two dress sizes smaller than before I got pregnant by the time I finished when each DC was 14 months.

I put loads of weight on when I stopped bfing. It uses loads of calories so I am surprised people managed to put on weight doing it. I guess our bodies react differently.

[SidandAndyssextoy]

I'm breastfeeding DS 9 months. I need to lose lots of weight. I have been eating carefully and exercising six times a week for four months, and have lost 12 whole pounds.

[ConstantCraving]

Same as Hampton - lost loads of weight, so much that my GP was quite worried. Ate high calorie food but couldn't keep my weight up. As soon as I stopped the weight crept back on (and stayed on...)

[milkingmachine1]

I'm on cerazette and I'm steadily gaining weight. Although I feel like I'm eating everything in sight as I'm so starving. I even wake up at 5 am and have to get up and have a bowl of cereal otherwise I can't sleep and get a headache. I'm only breastfeeding twice a day, I had no idea that breastfeeding would do this to me. I had planned on breastfeeding for 2 years but now I'm not so sure.

[womblesofwestminster]

I think the issue is that I'm bfing just twice a day (so not burning much by doing it), yet theoretically bf may be slowing my metabolism. Lose - lose :(

[brooncoo]

Opposite for me. Was at my slimmest in years when Bf.

[NoodleOodle]

It either had no effect or aided maintaining slim body for me.

[PickleSarnie]

I put on weight. Mainly because breastfeeding leaves a hand free for eating cake and biscuits whilst doing all that sitting. In fact, if you balance them right, it can leave two hands free for twice as quick biscuit eating.

Bottle feeding on the other hand leaves no free hands for shoving of cake in mouth.

[lyrasdaemo]

I put weight on when I stopped bf DD at 14 months. Haven't actually got on scales but have a belly, which I've never had before, ideal for balancing a toddler on. Mind my friend did warn me if I kept eating like a horse when I stopped, it would happen...I lost most weight when DD was having a growth spurt at 10 months and was less than pre pregnancy. Am also nowhere near as active.

[ladyquinoa]

Breast feeding got rid of baby weight for me. Every time. What are you eating in a normal day?

[Beamur]

Thinnest I'd been in a decade during bf. Baby weaned, I kept eating like a horse - put on 2 stone.

[MrsKoala]

I didn't lose the baby weight till i stopped BFing at 8mo. I was only doing 2 feeds a day like you and i seemed to store fat in dimply pockets on the tops of my arms, belly and thighs. Within 2 months of stopping and no change to diet or activity i had dropped 3 dress sizes. I was surprised because i thought the BFing would help lose the weight. But not for me.

[MomOfTwoGirls2]

During BFing I ate like a horse, and indulged my sweet tooth something wicket, and still lost weight. Dd2 was a big Was slow to adjust diet when I stopped and put most of the weight back on.

[MomOfTwoGirls2]

Oops, looks like half my sentence was cut..
DD2 was a big and hungry baby, I lost loads of weight while EBF DD2.