People who BF toddlers, tell me about your body shape/weight/hunger...

[TrucksAndDinosaurs]

Have you found that you lost weight, gained weight, hung onto fat as you continued to nurse past the first year? How's your hunger?

I was ravenous when BF permanently-sucking and screaming,mnon-sleeping reflux baby DS, but didn't shift the weight I'd put on during pregnancy until he was almost a year old, then I suddenly went down three dress sizes despite eating big portions. DS is now 2.2 and still BF morning noon and night, I still eat largish portions of healthy food, and now have fat tummy and top of thighs although the rest of me is slimmish.

BF medical friend told me the body hangs onto fat stores in abdominal and thigh area to make milk and I will likely change shape again after weaning. Is she right? How's BF your toddler affecting your body?

[reneaa2]

I didn't lose any weight (or gain any either) until after he turned one.

I don't know how much I weigh but I now fit most pre pregnancy clothes, but I think there is still a bit of extra weight on my tum, thighs and bum, so I would agree with your friend.

I m still so very hungry and have to restrain myself not to snack all the time, which I find difficult. I am trying to stay off sweet foods in particular at the moment as this is what i crave all the time.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Not really sure as my DS tt was never diagnosed properly. Is there a lll group near to you or any other bfing support groups? Could you start your own thread in the breast & bottle section?

[Sleepybunny]

Yeah now that I read that, it looks like a tongue tie!! I give her bottles of expressed milk too very often as it just makes feeding easier. Sorry to hijack this thread but what should I do? She's four months now, has my breast feeding ship sailed?

[midori1999]

I lost about 1 1/2 stone initially after having DD without trying. Now I've sadly put most of that back on (she is 21 months) and then some. I'm now 8 weeks pregnant too and am even more ravenous than before.

I am hoping tandem nursing will help me lose weight....

[tory79]

I was about 8st 13lb before I got pregnant. Still feeding ds now at 18 months, and I vary between 8st 2 and 8st 6ish. I eat quite a lot I think, I certainly did in the early days, and if I looked at the amount I eat now I should weigh more than I do.

I put it down to drinking a LOT less wine these days

I have lost weight everywhere, even my legs, face etc. Still have a tummy, although I'm working on it! And my boobs are smaller (and saggier, and lower....) than they were pre pregnancy as well - not so pleased about that

[SteepApproach]

Ravenous? Cake sales went through the roof in my neighbourhood... I'm the skinny type, couldn't keep up and probably got a bit underweight tbh. I was feeding a preemie so that may have accounted for some of it.

The constant hunger started to ease off after 18mths or so. She's 2.10 yrs now and I'm finally back up to my pre-preg weight thanks to a winter of hibernating with cake. May even have a hint of tummy, though that might be lack of muscle now? Will be interested to see what happens when she weans or even goes to a morning and night feed.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

Forgot to say: my boobs have gained a cup size or so with each pgy/nursling but haven't had the chance to subside again as I've been pg, bf or both for such a long time. No clue if I'll end up a D or a J eventually!

[HorryIsUpduffed]

I held on to a lot of weight whilst bf DC2 (two extra stone perhaps) and pretty much had to starve myself to get 20lb of that off. Throughout I was constantly ravenous.

But I am now pg, and he is "still" bf at 23m. I had bad nursing aversion during my pgy with him, so am not necessarily expecting to last much longer, although he still feeds up to eight times in 24h (why am I not six stone?!).

While I have been pg my appetite has noticeably dropped. I'm not continually hungry; when I do eat, I eat less; and I've lost a few pounds since my BFP. Weird.

[smearedinfood]

I b'f til DS was 2.5. Felt a bit functional in the early days rather than 'oh I feel so connected to my baby' but boy was I glad of it when he picked up a few tummy bugs because the BM stayed down when other fluid/food didn't.

I now; avoid salt in my diet as we went down the BLW route and that does cut out a lot of crappy food that I used to eat. I also always now eat breakfast because I want to set a good example to DS.

And DS could walk waaaaay before he could comprehend so I was quite physically active after DS was 10 months old.

I'm hardly ever at the pub these days as I'd rather be playing lego with a two year old...

Hense; I am two stone lighter than my pre pregnant weight. And strangely I prefer my boobs post baby.

[PureedGoodness]

oops meant thank you

[PureedGoodness]

thank yoy trucks. hope u continue to get good advice on here to help you.

apologies again. I have been stressed myself lately and i had a lot of pressure from the mil whilst pregnant regarding bf (long story) so was just lashing out at the wrong person.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Takeoff not takeover

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Nobody is going to lecture you on how you fed your baby. Whether you bf/ff or a mixture of the two is entirely your choice pureed.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Trucks when we flew with DS the bfing really helped with his ears. All the other babies and toddlers were screaming on takeover and landing, DS just fed happily.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I'm still Bf my nearly three year old. Initially I put on tons of weight breastfeeding - too much cake. I have been really struggling to get it off again (just have nearly three years later) My thighs, stomach, and lower back are retaining fat really really stubbornly. I have this hope that when Dd finally gives up this fat will magically melt away, but I fear this is wishful thinking.

[TrucksAndDinosaurs]

Sorry I was a bit rough in response, am a bit defensive about people commenting on me feeding DS and have 12 hour flight to worry about in a few months (but good good advice on that on other thread).

Bf DS not something I'm sorry about though, we just do it quietly at home when he asks. Which is still a lot, especially if he has a bug.

[TrucksAndDinosaurs]

Ah thanks Puréed that's nice of you. :)

[PureedGoodness]

I just want to apologise for my previous posts. I had no idea that WHO recommend breast feeding until the age of two (minimum).

Due to my ignorance on this i was very rude and offensive. I dont know what came over me. I must admit i did not bf my ds as i didnt feel comfortable doing this. Perhaps i am a bit prudish, i dont know. (Am expecting some lectures on this now).

But i am truly very sorry for my outburst. It made me feel pretty shitty tbh when i realised i had offended you ladies.

[TryDrawing]

I found that the weight just fell off until dd was about 8 months and then crept back on a bit as she started properly on food. She's now 18 months and I'm about half a dress size bigger than usual overall, with a bit extra around the middle and thighs.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Agree with pascha what you eat and drink will have very little effect on your milk, have a look here.

If your Lo is showing signs of reflux, is gaining weight and you are loosing weight fast it sounds just like my DS. It turned out to be tongue tie and upper lip tie. Have a read of this on tongue tie and see what you think .

[Pascha]

Yeah you will Sleepybunny, you would have to be nutritionally in famine mode to not make enough milk.

[Sleepybunny]

I was wondering this too, I'm still having trouble with BFing at 4 months (also a refuxer!) but weight is falling off so fast I'm starting to worry I won't have the stores I need to make milk! Baby is gaining well though!

@ shiny shit!

[NightLark]

I bf all three of mine until around two, (am still going with 20 month old #3), and have a fat belly. But, I am massively tired, eat too many biscuits for the sugar rush, and don't exercise. When I sensibly restricted my calories a while back, I lost a stone very easily. Still had a fat belly though!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Just like to give a to all the ladies on here who have managed to bf into toddlerhood

[Pascha]

Yes of course it depends on just how much cake you continue to eat, I found the insatiable appetite did die down after about 9-10 months though. I imagine eating a normal healthy diet will mean after a few months you are back at whatever shape and size is normal for you.