To be annoyed at the 'breastfeeding loses weight' lie

[Bibijayne]

Baby boy is nearly six months. EBF.

I have not lost a single pound. Actually, possibly worse. I have no idea how much I lost giving birth but since he was 2 weeks old to now, I weigh exactly the same as the day my waters broke (aka same weight as avec baby bump!!!!)

I hate how I look. But nothing seems to work, and whilst I could technically do more to shift weight I have no time/ money/ anything.

I was overweight before getting pregnant. Put on 10kg. Then got lots of pregnancy complications and lost that weight. But I look awful. So, so awful. I hate my postpartum body.

Which is why everyone (including midwives in the hospital after I have birth, including the health visitor) telling me that the weight would melt off breastfeeding is really annoying.

I would certainly have still breastfed, even though it isn't easy and I had a hospital stay in the early weeks with mastitis.

But seriously?

Baby boy isn't too bad and night, but feeds a lot during the day. He had really bad reflux but would feed to make it feel better - so his weight gain is good so I was offered no help with it. This meant I never had time to cook/ meal prep as at one point he wouldn't go more than 45 mins without wanting to eat in the day.

Turns out he has CMPA which has started to improve now I'm dairy free. But recently noticed he's also reacting to soya. So another food binned.

This drastically limits what I can eat. And leads to having to go back for yet another expensive supermarket shop to find foods I can eat.

But none seems easy to prep - and healthy.

I want to go to the gym. But 1.5 hours without food is too much for him and he ends up besides himself (one hour session, gym 15 mins away). I'd signed him and DH up to a shirt swim class on Sundays, but now I have to take him because he gets really hungry afterwards.

He refuses to drink expressed milk.

I am two stone overweight. I desperately want to be healthier and actually want to look at myself in the mirror.

I also don't want to give up breastfeeding - baby boy loves it, and I enjoy the bonding time - I also think he'd starve himself.

And I still get people talking me to just wait a bit, it'll all melt away if I keep breastfeeding.

And it's bollocks.

I lost weight when I breast fed. It’s certainly not a myth. Are you eating more

If he is 6 months he can start on solids, so you will be able to get to the gym soon

I lost weight during breastfeeding but not until after 6 months each time. And when l stopped feeding usually about 14/15 months l dropped weight very quickly for a while. Best thing was it took fat off my thighs that l never could get rid of.
Your dc can start other food s now and begin to drink from a cup so bit by bit will need you less. Make sure you drink plenty yourself.
This takes time. It was a year everytime before l was back to normal so be patient. Walk with buggy now weather may improve.

I lost weight during bfing. But did actually have to eat fairly healthily to do it. You can get away with cakes etc more but it'll slow the weight loss and you can still gain off you overdo it. Get your partner to have baby in the evening while you batch cook healthier recipes, then freeze portions to defrost later.

Off=if

@Decormad38

Nope. Not eating more, some days I don't get a chance to eat until DH gets home. Just not eating the best I could (more carbs than ideal - but not more than 2000 Cals in any day) but very sedantry for me. Rarely walking more than a km or 2.

You are taking in too many calories. It really is as simple as that. Eating "healthy" is good, but if you're consuming more calories than your body needs it's irrelevant.

@ReaganSomerset

Can't eat cake. As DF. Can't eat chocolates as DF.

DH helps where he can, but baby boy cluster feeds most evenings from 5pm until he goes to sleep around 9pm. Can't batch cook much in 20 minutes!

Also don't seem to be able to cook most things as he can't have dairy or soya.

@Aquamarine1029

Have you actually read the thread?

@Jackyjill6

I'm hoping - he's just shy of six months (six months on the 16th).

My understanding was milk should still be his main food initially though?

As junebirthdaygirl says, get your baby in the buggy and walk! 2000 calories is a lot when you are sedentary

2000 calories is too many (unless you are freaquishly tall) when you are sat around so that would explain it. Yesterday I went to a conference and sat on train then sat in conference and I burned ( according to fitbit) 1750 calories.

I ebf for first 6 months and lost the majority of my baby weight, which was mostly My tummy.

My DS was a guzzler and fed about every 90min for the first 8 weeks. He also needed motion to properly nap, so I probably did at least 2hrs of walking round the park with the pram each day. This probably made the most difference as I ate a LOT of rubbish those first few months.

I have, and what I wrote still stands. You're taking in too many calories and too many carbs.

I didn't lose weight while breastfeeding either op, because I was always bloody ravenous. Hang in there!

2,000 calories is WAY too many than you should be taking in. End of.

As you say your not mobile and eating more carbs, so your intaking more calories than your outputting.

As he’s nearly 6 months he should be on solids soon and I’m sure he will take naps I bet teen this, if not I’m sure you can stick him his bouncer while you do housework etc... so use this time to batch cook healthier meals, or when your partner is off work etc...

My little boy was soya, dairy citrus, and casein anaphylactic and batch meals were quite easy to make

It’s not a myth that you lose weight while BF, majority of people do, however also it’s only been 6 months, since you’ve given birth some bodies are just adjusting to becoming a parent.

@Decormad38

There's a number of studies that show that weight loss is not universal in BFing women. And on average BFing women only lose between 0.4kg and 1kg more in total in the first year after birth than women who formula feed. Some women lose weight very quickly, some gain.

Some of this is down to how much you eat. But your body's prolactin levels also play a part.

www.abbeyskitchen.com/breastfeeding-cause-weight-loss/

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2018/jul/02/truth-about-breastfeeding-weight-loss-myth-serena-williams

I obviously did not know this at the start. It's also a far cry from everything I was told by midwives, doctors and HVs

To clarify. I rarely eat 2000 calories! Usually far less, but never more.

I am aware that I need to do more physical activity. But even on a buggy walk I have to stop every 45 minutes to feed my baby.

I've not gained weight... I put on a bit initially, bit that was mostly regaining muscle wastage as I'd been on modified bed rest from 28 weeks until he was born at 36+6.

@Aquamarine1029

Love to hear your constructive solutions then!

It was bollocks for me too. I started slimming world at 4 months with my dd whilst bf and quickly dropped 3 stone, this time again it's not dropped off and 3 months in I'm 2 stone more than I want to be so going to start calorie counting on my fitness pal.

@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend

I can get 10 mins of he's in the jumperoo before he gets bored. :)

Would love suggestions of batch cooking I can get on the way in 10 minute bursts?

Baby boy is a cat napper. He sleeps well at night (usually 8 hours, then 1.5 hours) but never longer than 30 mins in the day unless he is being held and then you may get 45 mins/ hour.

I'd see if he interested in taking some other foods OP. I think you'll be happier when you are not tied so much to the baby