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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Anyone else lost too much weight when bfing?

16 replies

footprint · 04/04/2006 16:06

Hello everyone

My daughter is 23 months old and I am still happily breastfeeding.

However, I don't seem to be able to eat enough to compensate and have lost a lot of weight, people keep commenting and I am generally tired and run down. Also, my periods have not yet returned.

Has this happened to anyone else? My mum suggested I stop, but I don't want to. I think the solution is maybe to cut down, but only feed before bed and naptime and in the morning anyway, and she won't take cow's milk.

any opinions appreciated
FP

OP posts:

ItalianJob · 04/04/2006 20:35

i have met a few people who have lost a lot of weight whilst breastfeeding. At 23 months, restricting it to 3 milk feeds a day sounds reasonable enough. Your DD can get calcium from yoghurt, cheese etc even if she's not keen on cow's milk.

beansprout · 04/04/2006 20:43

Sadly, not me. Ds is 17 months, happily still feeding and someone asked me if I was pregnant today

Passionflower · 04/04/2006 20:57

I lost a lot of weight very quickly when bf DD1. It turned out that my usually underactive thyroid had decided to become overactive plus I was still taking my usual dose of thyroxin.

If you are feeling ill go to the doctor and ask for a blood test, the weight loss may not be caused by the bf. With regard to periods mine only came back eight weeks after completely stopping feeding for all three DD's.

ItalianJob · 04/04/2006 21:05

Passionflower - can I ask what other symptoms you had? I am slightly concerned that one of my friends who has lost weight bfing could do with having her thyroid checked.

bramblina · 04/04/2006 21:15

beansprout oh dear. My ds is 8m (today) and on 3 or 4 feed per day, though 3 solid meals too. I was 9st2lb 4 yrs ago then slowly crept to 9st10lb when I fell pg. Put on 2 stones while pg, lost them both by 4m, didn't begin lo on solids till 5m and now I'm 8st10lb. I'm getting lots of comments about it, but I'm eating less than before due to having less time (!) and what I do eat is more sensible. I do lack energy sometimes but I think that's probably due to just being so busy as dh works away. My periods did return at about 5m though so can't help you there. You say you don't eat enough to compensate- do you mean simply to put the weight back on? That's not always necessary. Or are you actually eating really healthily and just not getting the benefit from it? D you think you could be lacking iron or other vitamins?

bramblina · 04/04/2006 21:17

In short, yes, dh does say I have lost "too much weight" though haven't been trying to so not worrying about it.

Just worrying about whether to pay £38 for those lovely jeans from next in a size 10 when they probably won't fit in 6 months' time...
Sorry, I do ramble a bit.

bramblina · 04/04/2006 21:18

Footprint if you're eating as well as you can, try not to worry, I caould imagine producing milk for a 23m old is no mean feat, you've done very well to get this far, well done.

Passionflower · 04/04/2006 21:34

IJ I didn't really get other symptoms as such at first which is why I was happily popping my thyroid pills while my gland was working double time! When I was really toxic I got hot flushes and light headedness and palpitations. There was talk of beta blockers, but luckily it righted itsself.

RedZuleika · 04/04/2006 21:44

Oh, I wish...

Adorabelle · 04/04/2006 22:10

I think it would be a real shame if you stop bf if you don't want to. You have to be well yourself though to be feeding a 23month old,i feed my dd who is 22months &it can get tiring some days,esp if she has fed alot during day. If it were me I would definately go to see my GP,there could be many reasons why you feel run down anemia,underactive thyroid. Hope you pick up soon &get to your drs surgery ASAP!

tassis · 04/04/2006 22:16

I lost a lot too.

Shame if it makes you stop though.

A blood test could be a good plan just to make sure you're OK.

Well done for feedign so long!

koolkat · 04/04/2006 22:22

I wish ! I bf DS 22 months old now. I lost all the excess weight from pregnancy in 2 weeks after the birth.

I like my food, so no way would I ever loose too much weight !

As they say in some circles a woman can never be too thin or too rich, etc....

koolkat · 04/04/2006 22:25

footprint - forgot to add I doubt you would be losing all the weight due to bf. This would be true in the first few months, but I doubt this would be the case now with a toddler.

Have you spoken to a GP ? Don't give up bf before you know for sure why you are losing weight.

Good luck

chipmonkey · 04/04/2006 22:32

Would definitely get thyroid checked. A lot of people blame bf for weight loss when it something else.
To give you an idea, Weight Watchers advise an extra 6 points per day for bf after 6 months, around 420 calories. Are you eating that much extra?

milward · 04/04/2006 23:21

My dd3 started to have cows milk with nesquik powder in it - around 22 months. This did the trick for me.

Clure · 07/04/2006 18:16

I am still bf (2 feeds a day) DD is 14 months and I am half a stone lighter than prepreganancy weight. I feel that its since I started back teaching 3 days and those demands are enough on the body without bf which in itself is tiring plus organising stuff for nursery and running around after a little one! Also I agree that its sometimes difficult to forget to look after yourself when you are so busy with little ones. I agree also a blood test to rule out anaemia or anything else is probably a good idea.

Incidentally (sorry to hijack) has anyone else periods returned whilst bf and are they regular? Mine came back in October and they have been all over the place - my last one was nearly 2 months ago!

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