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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

breast feeding / weight loss / health

20 replies

Evita · 11/04/2004 21:21

I breastfed dd exclusively for 10 months then did mixed feeding and now she just has 1 feed before bed. She's 18 months old. I'm just about to stop that last feed. All the time I've been feeding her I've lost a lot of weight and I read recently about someone who claimed that breastfeeding had made her incredibly thin. I can't remember who it was but it was a 'celebrity' who was being accused of being anorexic by the press (not Posh). I wondered if there is anything genetic or whatever that makes this happen. I know it doesn't happen to everyone as my friend's put on weight while b/f rather than lost it. I'm hoping I might gain some weight back when I stop feeding finally but would just 1 feed a day be likely to make a difference? I know a lot of women want to lose weight but honestly I am looking pretty scrawny now and I don't like it.

OP posts:

karen99 · 11/04/2004 21:45

Hi Evita, well done for feeding dd this long! Unfortunately my ds has just weaned himself and I gave my last feed on Friday night He is almost 10mo...

Anyway, back to your question! I was told that each bf burns 200 calories (ie. the energy you use to make the milk) so I guess that's why some women lose weight. Especially in those early days, for me, the weight just dropped off. A mixture of stress, lack of sleep and the bf IMO. I'm now a little less than before I fell pregnant, but I've got to cut back on those biscuits cos I've noticed a few pounds come back since dropping down to 1 feed a day. If you eat healthily and bf then I would guess the weight would drop off. If you eat some 'treats' then you might lose a little and find your balance (like me) and perhaps those who eat lots of 'empty' calorie foods eat the same or more than they burn off bf and don't change shape.

I would have thought if you continue to eat healthily and exercise once you've stopped bf then your weight should settle where you want it to. You now have an excuse to eat a few more choc eggs this weekend!

Original poster

Evita · 11/04/2004 22:02

Thanks Karen. My weight loss has been quite a lot though. I was about 11.5 stone when pregnant, 9.5 before pregnant and now 7.5! I eat quite a lot and do cram in the chocolate but I seem to be getting thinner and thinner by the day. To be honest I wouldn't cut out the last bedtime feed as me and dd love it but I'm hoping that if I stop it the weight loss might stop too. I've also noticed that my nails are v. split and cracked badly for the first time ever and I wonder if that's a sign of malnutrition in some way?

OP posts:

Lisa78 · 11/04/2004 22:10

Evita, have you mentioned to your GP?
I think you should up your carbohydrates, rather than chocolate
Lots of pasta, cheese, bread and potatoes should help, especially if combined with lots of fresh fruit, salad and veg

karen99 · 11/04/2004 22:11

Hmm difficult one. Your weight sounds the same as me, but I'm now around 9st rather than 9.5 before pregnant. Silly question but do you eat three square meals a day etc? Do you do alot more exercise since dd (eg. pushchairing everywhere?). Dodgy nails can mean several things, eg. white spots mean lack of something, ridges in nails mean something else, also flaking etc. But unfortunately I'm not sure which lacking vitamin means what. [always meant to find out!] Do you take a vit supplement?

I would have thought that just one feed a day wouldn't cause continued weight loss, I mean not like full on bf does. Sorry, not being much help...

karen99 · 11/04/2004 22:30

Not quite what you're after but may have the odd point that'll help...

link1
link2 This one is a bit gross!
link3

karen99 · 11/04/2004 22:33

Sorry, meant to add that it does suggest a possible vitamin deficiency of some sort. Even though you may be eating what you think is a balanced diet there may be something missing? I agree with Lisa78 that it may be worth talking through with your GP.

[have to admit though that my nails always have something going on with them and I think I eat fairly well so it may be a complete red herring! Weight loss is the main issue.]

aloha · 11/04/2004 22:46

Go to your GP. YOu may have an overactive thyroid. Pregnancy can really throw your thyroid out of whack. If you are well and normal, well, stop moaning Eat more chocolate and enjoy looking like a bloomin' supermodel while us fat folk sulk around in our size 14/16 (oh, alright, 16s) and feel pretty crap. I was never fat before having ds so can't help envying you a bit. But do get yourself a blood test and see if you need a bit of help, medically.

Original poster

Evita · 12/04/2004 13:30

Thanks everyone, especially Karen99 for those links. Well, my nails don't look as bad as those pictures, they're just flaking and breaking a lot whereas in the past they've always been quite strong.

aloha, I know talking about being skinny is a bit of a no-no, my friends think I'm mad to be worried, but I'm 5,9" and I really don't look or feel particularly good at this weight. I look boney and scrawny. I've always been tall and thin (some would say lanky) but this isn't normal for me.

I do eat a lot of carbohydrates, live on cheese, pasta, potatoes and lots of veg. Never been a big fruit eater but I drink juice.

I have actually been to the GP and my thyroid function tests were fine, I'm not aneamic or anything like that. I feel v. tired but then what mom with an early-rising loony active 18 month old doesn't. It's just this damned weight loss.

But to go back to my original question - is there a 'condition' that means some women breast feeding shed loads of weight or is that just a myth made up by manic dieters in the public eye?

OP posts:

Original poster

Evita · 12/04/2004 13:33

aloha, also I guess everyone wants to be what they're not. After a lifetime of being long and thin I can't tell you how I've yearned to have some hips and breasts. I loved feeling the extra weight on me when I was pregnant. At school I envied all the chubbier girls. I think it may be a little known fact that skinny women may not always like it. I feel self-conscious and like a scarecrow with everything I wear!

OP posts:

Demented · 12/04/2004 13:49

7.5 stone is very light for your height Evita, I would imagine underweight which is also bad for you.

I can't really answer your question about b/feeding but IME when b/feeding DS2 I went through a stage of eating whatever I fancied and still losing weight, which was great, then as he cut down feeds this changed to eating what I fancied and not putting any weight on, then once he was down to 1 feed a day the weight started to creep on, then pile on when I stopped b/feeding.

I think it would be wise to see your Dr to see if there is any medical reason you are losing so much weight and then try to gain more weight by sensible eating and exercise (build some muscle).

Hope something from that helps.

karen99 · 12/04/2004 16:51

Sorry about those links Evita, a bit gross , but they may have had something you could pick up on. It is a strange one. Other searches for "unwanted weight loss" etc aren't coming up with anything interesting. Perhaps speak to a nutritionist to see if they can suggest anything?

gothicmama · 12/04/2004 16:54

Try a cheese sandwich each time you feed apparently helps mainatin nutrients needed especially good if you add watercress (iron)
Hope you find some answers

karen99 · 12/04/2004 17:13

Sorry, don't want to do the work I'm supposed to.. so I've found one more link!

about gaining weight sensibly

Nothing about too much weight loss with bf..

Original poster

Evita · 12/04/2004 20:47

Karen, you're so kind! Thanks for all these links.

gothicmama, I eat stacks and stacks of cheese. I'm addicted to it like some people are to chocolate!

That's interesting Demented, so you did find that when you stopped b/f altogether you did gain weight again. I'm on the verge of dropping her last feed but feel so sad about it I haven't quite cracked it yet.

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Demented · 13/04/2004 16:18

Oh boy did I gain it!

Although I was always in need of losing some so when I was losing whilst b/feeding I certainly wasn't thin but I was happy with my weight (fitting comfortably into size 14s and still eating 200g bars of chocolate, seemed too good to be true).

I was gaining weight whilst still b/feeding once a day.

Original poster

Evita · 13/04/2004 19:55

Gosh, I wish I could gain a bit. Dd's now only having 1 b/f a day but I'm still getting thinner!

OP posts:

grumpyzebra · 13/04/2004 20:00

Just get pregnant again, Evita, then you'll miss those scrawny days!

AussieSim · 13/04/2004 20:22

My Best Friend had the same problem Evita - she was naturally thin, always wanted to put on a few kilo, but when she was breastfeeding the weight just fell off her - I mean she had no arse at all. I know what she has gone thru over the years trying to maintain a decent weight and even though I have the opposite problem I can well understand how distressing it can be.

Original poster

Evita · 14/04/2004 10:33

grumpyzebra, I've thought of that! Going to have to wait a couple of years though.

AussieSim, that's a real relief to hear. And thanks for understanding the miseries of being bottomless. I just won't put jeans or trousers on any more. What happened to your friend? Did she gain weight when she stopped feeding? I'm getting a bit desperate as you can see!

OP posts:

stripey · 14/04/2004 11:00

Hi Evita I also lost weight when feeding ds1 even though I ate lots of mars bars and crisps as well as meals to keep my energy up. Think I remained around the same weight when I stopped feeding but probably needed to eat less then.

With ds2 I bottle fed and the weight dropped off in exactly the same way as ds1 (only difference was I wasn't starving all of the time so ate less snacks). I think some people just have fast metabolisms. It definitely doesn't help when you hardly get a chance to sit down and don't get much sleep either.

My nails have been terrible since having kids they never used to break ever and now they are non-existent also I get cracks all over my hands especially near the nails quite often. I think it is with all the washing up (we don't have a dishwasher) and changing nappies and constantly having to wash my hands. Also I used to take vitamins every day and did so while pregnant but don't take them any more - not sure why, probably don't get time.

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