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.

Could your DH and you a sandwich or wrap or salad and put it in the fridge for your lunch? Ready meals were a godsend to me in the early days. Just a cheese and tomato pasta. Pate on toast and chocolate hobnobs. I was a single mum of 3 with no help whatsoever. You've got a partner do he needs to be helping you more to meet your nutritional needs. How do you manage to shop or do anything in the house if you can't even make yourself anything to eat? Something needs to change here .

I remember with all three babies the joy of being able to eat a meal that required a knife AND fork rather than just a fork or something gin could eat without cutlery. I ate everything over my babies as they fed. It sounds like you've not adapted to things and aren't supported.

It isn’t a “myth”

As with most things, it is true for many breastfeeding women. They use up extra calories making milk, and lose weight.

For others though- ie me, breastfeeding seems to hold the body at a certain weight. I didn’t gain, but never lost, no matter how much i ate less and moved more.

It’s down to individuals.

@PerverseConverse I think the problem recently has been baby boy's allergies. It seems milk and soya are in virtually everything. Be n using the slowcooker a fair bit too. I suspect I'm just knackered at the moment as he's teething and we both caught a nasty tummy bug a couple of weeks ago from swimming.

My very lovely mum is also coming over tomorrow afternoon to give a bit of a hand so bulk cooking can commence. My dad has found me a dairy free cookbook too. Hubbie is currently on a supermarket mission to get supplies.

My nephew is 8 months and my sister in law has lost all her baby weight plus another stone to make her a size 6, and says it's only due to EBF, no other change in lifestyle - except inevitable changes of a first child!

I'm glad he's helping. Your mum too.

I never lose all my baby weight until I totally stop BF. I keep a pot belly that whole time.

I do manage to lose the rest of the weight pretty easily though but I exercise hard and eat very healthily.

Why not exercise for 30mins twice a day? It’s not as satisfying as a full hours session, I grant you, but calorie wise it’s similar.

And then try my fitness pal to check you’re eating what you think you’re eating.

I',m getting bloods sorted too. I had a lot of issues in late pregnancy which really messed up how my body handles fat etc. I want to check nothing untoward is going on!

@PerverseConverse thanks! They're both amazing. I had a lot of physical recovering to do in the early weeks, so maybe I missed that quick shred time. Have found baby boy loves I if I do a fancy workout for him whilst he's in his highchair or jumperoo. So that may help!

I lost weight effectively in that first year and I breast fed but not convinced the two were closely linked.
I had a sling and walked everywhere. As ds got heavier, the more calories I used carrying him. Once he was too heavy to carry, pushing a buggy up hill was pretty effective too.

It depends on how much crap you eat .. 5m post partum with my daughter I had gained 9lb since her birth, because I was eating Jaffa cakes and cereal bars constantly. I then joined Weight Watchers to get some structure and lost 35lbs in 5m (12st 6 to 9 st 13lb). I've never found it so easy to lose weight....