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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you weigh more or less after having children?

64 replies

JennyLongLegs · 20/08/2017 19:42

Personally, I'm lighter than ever after having two kids but I know that's not the case for many. I've had long spells of being overweight but I've found that running after my children and cooking them good dinners have been good for my physical wellbeing.

A number of other ladies I know have ended up slimmer, maybe it's having less time to snack.

Before I had children I was so worried I'd never lose the baby weight as I felt I had heard so many stories of how hard it can be to shift, which I know is the case for some but I'm just curious to see if that's the norm or if most of us have found it's made us healthier and possibly lighter.

OP posts:
Sashkin · 20/08/2017 19:53

Less, but I was on bed rest for my third trimester and lost loads of muscle (I literally couldn't walk downstairs when I left hospital). I'm lighter than pre-baby but much flabbier, trying to build back up.

Me264 · 20/08/2017 19:53

I weighed less at the end of my maternity leave than I did at the start. Running around after DS meant I had less time to snack, was more conscious of eating healthily once I started weaning him, and was way more active as I went out for a lot of walks with DS and did buggy fit classes.

Been back at work for 6 months and I've but at least half a stone on again ... thanks to sitting on my arse at my desk all day and eating the many cakes that people bring in for their birthdays.

MagnumAddict · 20/08/2017 19:54

Packed on the pounds after my first, breastfeeding helps you lose weight? Pah, not if you keep reaching for sugary snacks to help you through the day and night!

Just about to have my 2nd so I want to thank-you OP for giving me some hope Grin

Original poster
JennyLongLegs · 20/08/2017 19:55

Thanks sizeofalentil can i just say, my body hasn't recovered well from having babies and I need to have surgery down below now to repair a lot of damage which has been causing me problems for almost four years. I may be slim but that doesn't mean my body is perfect. I'm sure there are very few of us who are lucky enough to be perfect but we've all done something wonderful bringing babies into the world and no doubt it has impacted our bodies differently. No need for the hate. I'm most certainly not boasting.

OP posts:
AccrualIntentions · 20/08/2017 19:55

I haven't had my DC yet but I'm really hoping that becoming a mother may help me with my food issues. From the day I found out I was pregnant I haven't had a single episode of bingeing, and I really hope that maybe I've managed to break that cycle.

I'm also friends with a number of women (and men, actually) who are slimmer, fitter and healthier now after having children than they were in their twenties when we were out drinking and eating kebabs at 3am. Perhaps it's that your health becomes more important to you when you're no longer just responsible for yourself.

SonicBoomBoom · 20/08/2017 19:56

Less. And I was tiny before. Breastfeeding is really hard work on a small body. Sad

FiveStarService · 20/08/2017 19:57

I weighed less after my pregnancies but regained some weight afterwards. My continuous all day sickness in pregnancy contributes to the weight loss. I have a tendency to put on weight when I'm not pregnant and as I get older mainly due to doing less exercise and eating too much Grin I have also found weighing less and being slim and toned are not the same. I won't be sporting a bikini in the interest of public safety again in this lifetime Grin

MrsMyreton · 20/08/2017 20:02

Yeah, I lost some weight after having my daughter. Think it was from trying to improve my diet right before I got pregnant, then morning sickness at the beginning/mega heart burn if I even looked at anything greasy towards the end!

Also never stop during the day... escaping my office job for maternity leave and carrying baby around has toned me up no end! Grin Definitely not what I expected!

MrsMyreton · 20/08/2017 20:04

Just realised I was polishing off a share sized bag of M&Ms while typing that. Oh well, the weight loss was good while it lasted! Blush

MrTurtleLikesKisses · 20/08/2017 20:04

I'm about 4kg heavier than my pre-pregnancy weight and my DS is 2.5. I don't run anywhere near as much as I used to so no mystery there.

I find it really frustrating that this post is getting such ridiculous responses though. Aren't we the fattest country in Europe now? We need to learn to talk about weight (whether that's gaining it or losing it) without people taking it personally and getting offended.

JuicyStrawberry · 20/08/2017 20:07

I'm about 2 stone lighter than I was before I had children. I'm just a lot more active than I was pre-children.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 20/08/2017 20:08

Weighed more for a looong time after DD was born. She's now 3 and I weigh less.

BillBrysonsBeard · 20/08/2017 20:13

Definitely bigger! But working on being slim again as we speak. Kids are definitely not good for my weight though... Chocolate is like my wine/cigerettes for the stressful days and I spend a lot of my time sat down for feeds. Being a SAHM means I don't worry about fitting into work clothes and can hide away from people. It's good it has happened naturally for you!

NoWordForFluffy · 20/08/2017 20:13

I'm about the same weight, but a different shape as my body now grips hold of belly fat in a way it didn't pre-kids (not helped by the split abs / c-section shelf combination!).

EnthusiasticEdna · 20/08/2017 20:15

Yep. I lost two stone in two weeks Grin

user543215432154321 · 20/08/2017 20:17

3 stone heavier after DS2 (now 3) than before!!! But diet starts tomorrow! :)

JemimaMuddledUp · 20/08/2017 20:17

I weigh around a stone and a half less now than I did before my first pregnancy. I put on weight with each of my 3 DC, then lost around 4 stone once DC3 was in primary school.

GreenShadow · 20/08/2017 20:18

I (briefly) was the lightest I've ever been in my adult life after having DS1.

He was born incredibly skinny and then took a few days to start feeding (BF), but once he did, he must have consumed so much milk that I couldn't keep up with him and lost not just my baby weight, but an extra half stone or so too. Soon went back on once his weight stabilised.

Original poster
JennyLongLegs · 20/08/2017 20:18

Good luck user - you can do it Smile

OP posts:
Celestia26 · 20/08/2017 20:20

Sorry OP didn't mean to be so harsh. It did come across as quite braggy though, I know you probably didn't mean for that.

Camomila · 20/08/2017 20:22

@SonicBoomBoom I had the exact same situation too. I don't know how old your DC is but it gets much better once they are on 3 meals a day and bfeeding is only for bed/comfort rather than a 'meal'

Oh and once they can walk and you don't have to carry them about everywhere!

I'm a bit skinner than I was pre DC, but I don't look ill anymore which I did for a chunk of maternity leave.

Elllicam · 20/08/2017 20:24

More - I was about 9 stone and then had 3 large sons in 4 years. At my heaviest I was over 11 stone but have been steadily losing. Now DS3 is 6 months and I have 11 lb still to lose. It's mostly my belly though Confused

Lovemusic33 · 20/08/2017 20:24

I was a size 8 before having dc's, then reached a size 14 after having dc2 (and when marriage started to go wrong), I'm now a size 10 after a lot of hard work but it's hard to stay there.

dudemummy · 20/08/2017 20:25

About the same. Was back at pre-pregnancy weight by the time we left hospital. Turns out feeling sick with worry over baby in NICU for weeks, so not eating lots, combined with expressing makes you lose weight. Not a recommended weight loss plan! Home now though and happily eating cake and going to baby groups and on walks and seem to just be same size as before. Smile

NextInLine · 20/08/2017 20:34

After my first I was lighter than before I was pregnant, then after my second I was even lighter again. I found the weight just dropped off.
After my third I'm at my original pre pregnancy weight, I don't have to work to maintain it, but I struggle to lose any more.