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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I thought breastfeeding was supposed to slim me down?

47 replies

Applecrumble0110 · 02/02/2025 20:13

Aibu for relying on breastfeeding to make me slim cos all I've heard is how everyone who bf loses the weight? My baby is 9 weeks old and I'm just getting fatter and not really overeating either. Just my normal amount

OP posts:
strangerontheinternet · 02/02/2025 20:14

Lost a ton of weight breastfeeding 1st baby. Have not lost weight BFing baby 2 🙃🙃

Completelyjo · 02/02/2025 20:14

If you eat more calories than breastfeeding burns then you’ll still gain weight. It’s not magic.

Rogerisourlodger · 02/02/2025 20:16

I gained weight breastfeeding, but it fell off as soon as I stopped.

ComtesseDeSpair · 02/02/2025 20:16

It’s supposed to be something like 400 additional calories a day expended through breastfeeding. It’s not a lot. A couple of slices of toast and butter, for example. Considering you’re probably a lot less active with a new baby than you would be normally, if you’re overeating even slightly you’re not going to see any sort of weight loss.

But ultimately, it’s not the most important thing to think about right now. Concentrate on feeding your baby and then when they’re older and you stop feeding, diet and exercise can be your focus then.

BarbaraHoward · 02/02/2025 20:17

I gained because it made me ravenous and sleep deprivation makes me crave sugar. A friend lost an absolutely crazy amount. Seems to be luck of the draw.

northernballer · 02/02/2025 20:19

I gained weight the three times I breastfed. I'm naturally very slim so wondered if it was ny body holding onto fat for the baby.

Original poster
Applecrumble0110 · 02/02/2025 20:20

Thanks all. It is baby number 2, I ff DC1 because I didn't even have any milk by day 7 and she wouldn't latch on. I don't overeat, I'm talking in comparison to friends who eat LOADS AND LOADS more than me and the weight drops off them everytime they bf.

OP posts:
NewmummyJ · 02/02/2025 20:22

With my first I didn't lose any, just seemed to gain, with my second I lost a lot. Can't explain it. Have read that body can hold onto fat when brestfeeding to ensure you have enough to nuture baby, unsure how true that is.

MysteriousUsername · 02/02/2025 20:24

The only time I lost weight breastfeeding is when I had newborn twins and a 5 and 2 year old to run around after as well. I didn't have much time for eating!

Completelyjo · 02/02/2025 20:24

Applecrumble0110 · 02/02/2025 20:20

Thanks all. It is baby number 2, I ff DC1 because I didn't even have any milk by day 7 and she wouldn't latch on. I don't overeat, I'm talking in comparison to friends who eat LOADS AND LOADS more than me and the weight drops off them everytime they bf.

You can’t really compare like that though because don’t actually know what they are eating all day or how much they are moving all day.

Biffbaff · 02/02/2025 20:25

It didn't happen for me either time! Incredibly disappointing. One day I'll look nice again.

user2848502016 · 02/02/2025 20:26

Yeah i've EBF 2 babies and the magical weight loss thing didn't happen! BF just made me starving or crave carbs 😂
For the first 3 months or so anyway, after that I started losing weight but it was probably due to me eating more normally and being more active.

AlloaintheMiddle · 02/02/2025 20:27

BarbaraHoward · 02/02/2025 20:17

I gained because it made me ravenous and sleep deprivation makes me crave sugar. A friend lost an absolutely crazy amount. Seems to be luck of the draw.

Same here!
I was hungry all the time (especially at night).
I didn’t any weight until I stopped breastfeeding.

hjfoau · 02/02/2025 20:27

BF drained the life out of me first time around, it was like he was sucking out the flesh from my bones! He fed constantly, and was huge! It didn't really happen like that second time around though, DS2 didn't feed as much, he was much lighter himself, I was puffier with more weight around my face and arms etc. It did come off eventually with no effort though, just not as quick.

TheEllisGreyMethod · 02/02/2025 20:28

I don't think it works that way really. I lost weight, because I was spending hours attached to DD cluster feeding and she was a clinger so I could never put her down to have a drink or make food, and DH worked 7 days to fund my mat leave. I felt horrendous and I probably looked like I was stuffing my face to the outside as whenever I went out and someone else could hold her - I did stuff my face.

IdrisElbow · 02/02/2025 20:28

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

PotaytoPotahhto · 02/02/2025 20:31

Completelyjo · 02/02/2025 20:14

If you eat more calories than breastfeeding burns then you’ll still gain weight. It’s not magic.

Well no, that’s not quite right. For many breastfeeding women, your metabolism slows down and your fat reserves go up so that the body can support breastfeeding.

So not all women lose weight when breastfeeding, and if it was simply about calorie intake, then the women whose metabolism slows down will need to be on a minimal calorie diet, which is not healthy for mum or baby.

Original poster
Applecrumble0110 · 02/02/2025 20:34

@IdrisElbow thanks for the kind words. My DS feeds allll the time I'm talking every single hour during the day and every 2 hours at night. He doubled birth weight by 6 weeks of age and I don't always even get time to eat so I was like... why am I still fat! Haha

OP posts:
Elektra1 · 02/02/2025 20:36

I put on a stone and a half while BF so no, it doesn't make you lose weight IME.

TheGoogleMum · 02/02/2025 20:54

I lost weight at first but then I gained lots :(

Caterguin · 02/02/2025 20:55

I ate a lot, a LOT of cake and biscuits when bf. Never missed a meal. I walked miles though- 1 in a sling and one in a pushchair. I thought I was quite big, because the stomach was flabby for a months. Photos show me I really wasn't. Bf just flattened my boobs!

Plaided · 02/02/2025 20:56

I put on 20kg when I breastfed. I only put on 3kg in my entire pregnancy! Took me so long to lose, still trying to lose in now 4yrs later!

spinningbirds · 02/02/2025 20:58

Hey you, you total hero ! God you must be exhausted, your'e doing an amazing job :)

I didn't lose weight breastfeeding either, with both kids. I was also frustrated by it, everyone said I would, I couldn't understand!

I guess I was too bloody tired and hungry and bored and overstimulated to even contemplate regulating my eating though, so I just gave up thinking about it. I breastfed for six months.

Eventually after baby was over a year old and sleeping well, I found I could regulate my life more, and slowly slowly slowly lost tiny amounts of weight, with the help of weight-lifting and exercise mainly. It probably took nearly 3 years until I was a weight I was happy with again.

We're all different aren't we - so go easy on yourself right now. Eat loads of good veg and drink plenty of water and try to make sure your prioritise your own sleep over most other things (a tidy clean house can bugger off, for example!!) and know that you'll get there in good time.

Drivingoverlemons · 02/02/2025 20:59

TheEllisGreyMethod · 02/02/2025 20:28

I don't think it works that way really. I lost weight, because I was spending hours attached to DD cluster feeding and she was a clinger so I could never put her down to have a drink or make food, and DH worked 7 days to fund my mat leave. I felt horrendous and I probably looked like I was stuffing my face to the outside as whenever I went out and someone else could hold her - I did stuff my face.

Same here!

DramaAlpaca · 02/02/2025 20:59

I didn't lose a thing until I stopped when DC1 was 9 months. However, I was already pregnant with DC2 so I put it on again pretty fast.