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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Shocking bf weight loss- anyone else?

28 replies

squizita · 27/07/2015 10:08

Not a stealth boast ... genuinely worried I might get too thin or get osteoporosis or something.

Pre baby I was about 9 stone, toned hourglass. 5"2.
Didn't gain loads during pregnancy.
Now I'm just under 8 stone, no bum or thighs. DD is 10 months and under 9th percentile.

For medical reasons I've had thyroid checks which came up fine.

I try to eat plenty. I had anxiety for a while which killed my appetite but ok now.

Don't want to be ill. Sad

DH wondered if it was because pre baby I would go to the pub/cinema/gigs/shopping and snack more than I realised - plus I drank cider which is sugary.
But I'm queen of Costas now Grin .

Also will it come back after a year? ie to charity shop donate or keep the huge random size range I have...

OP posts:
Ekkwhine · 27/07/2015 10:14

I'm the same, similar sizes, too, and getting a distinct "lollipop head"

My GP wasn't much help when I made an appointment last week, suggesting to eat cheese with everything, lots of chocolate and bacon. He seemed to wonder why I was bothered by it.

I'm genuinely watching this with interest for ways to increase my calorie intake without filling up as I physically cannot eat much more in terms of portion size etc. I've just started having the meal replacement shakes, but alongside rather than in place of.

Greenstone · 27/07/2015 12:10

My guess is it will naturally creep back when you finish breast feeding. When dd1 was 11 months I was absolutely tiny. By about 15 months (I stopped at 13) I had gained back a couple of kilos.

Dd2 is 9 months and I am quite thin again despite lots of eating crap. It just means I'll have to be very disciplined once she's off the boob!

Original poster
squizita · 27/07/2015 12:20

Oh phew Green. I was in my healthy bmi before, though bigger, and feel a bit uncomfortable this slim ... nothing wrong with it I suppose but its not "me" on a shallow clothes/looks level, and health wise I was too thin when in my late teens and I would get migraines and faint. Don't want to risk that! Smile

OP posts:
Jemimapuddleduk · 27/07/2015 12:29

Hi-I ended up lighter than pre pregnancy after around 4 months of breastfeeding with both of mine. This was despite eating chocolate or cake every day and drinking full fat milk (bf'ing gave me a very sweet tooth). When I stopped breastfeeding my youngest and swapped to formula the weight piled back on unfortunately (did coincide with pnd and starting antidepressants). I now can't shift the extra stone despite calorie restrictions and exercise! V annoying!

Jemimapuddleduk · 27/07/2015 12:30

If you feel you are too thin you could swap to full fat milk, cheese, butter etc.

fatpony · 27/07/2015 12:32

I had this 'problem'...didn't gain loads during pregnancy, maybe 20 pounds or so. I'd lost that within two weeks of birth and then went about ten pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight. I just stuffed my face with biscuits. I reckoned it was the breast feeding combined with ongoing physical exertion, we live near a hill and I was constantly out and about with the pram trying to get the wee bugger to go to sleep. Lifting the pram in and out the house etc. I'd always exercised but sitting in an office all day with a gym trip in the evening cannot compare to constant movement.
The docs mention a thyroid thing that can be triggered by birth but I didn't get tested. In the end I bought new clothes. I finished breastfeeding three months ago and haven't put the weight back on yet (!) so if you have some budget maybe treat yourself to a few nice things in your new size? It's disheartening to have trousers hanging off your hips etc.

Luckystar1 · 27/07/2015 12:34

I have this too. I feel like I look dreadful (although of course I'm pleased to have lost the pregnancy weight). I've had a few comments on how thin I look and most of my clothes are hanging off. I'm finding it difficult to eat properly as I just can't get the time, is this true of everyone or am I being silly? What do you eat for lunch etc??

Quinandthem · 27/07/2015 12:35

I was thinner whilst bfing than before pregnancy but unfortunately put it all back on by end of mat leave.

Now 35wks with second and hope to loose weight again and hopefully keep it off!

But I was overweight to begin with so not the health concerns you have.

SheilaTakeABow · 27/07/2015 12:37

I was the same with DS1, when I mentioned it to the HV she just tittered and said "Some women would love to have that problem!" I was hovering around 7st FFS. It contributed to me giving up BFing at six weeks. This time (DS2 is 8 weeks) I tried to bulk up in advance so it's not as severe, and, like PPs, just trying to up my intake of cheese and carbs and Cake. No doubt when I stop BFing and return to the red wine, it'll pile back on!

Drivinghomeforchristmasornot · 27/07/2015 12:39

I was the thinnest I've ever been when ds was 10 months.
The weight should go back on once dc increases solids.
Make the most of being able to eat plenty of cake and chips!

Original poster
squizita · 27/07/2015 12:42

Grin Phew! Glad I'm not going to disappear.

OP posts:
Octopus37 · 27/07/2015 12:48

I was like this, long ago. I weighed 8st11 pre pregnancy (II got a it am 5ft5), I was back to that weight within a week and lost another stone taking me to 7st11, although I was stuffing my face with lots of chocolate, cake, big portions etc. Like you I was worried enough about it to get it checked out, although I loved being that size. Kids are now 8 and 5, I am 40 and about my pre pregnancy weight and desperately trying to get into a no arse position again without having another baby. I would just say eat and enjoy, I know thats what I did

Backforthis · 27/07/2015 12:57

Did you ever read those period info leaflets they give to young teens that said a woman loses around half an egg cup of blood during a period? I think the 'breast feeding uses up to 500 calories a day' thing is like that. Some women will barely see any difference and some will lose weight. If I'd bought all my sanitary protection over the years from Boots I could bail out Greece in club card points single handed.

LateDay · 27/07/2015 13:01

The same thing happened to me with DC1. Pre pregnancy weight was 9st. 4 weeks after giving birth I was 8st.

I also had tests done but they all came back negative. I eventually went back to normal after I got pregnant when DC1 was 16 months old.

FoodieMum3 · 27/07/2015 17:03

I think if you're eating a good diet and feeling well then I wouldn't worry.

I'm finding that I can eat a lot more without putting on weight than if I wasn't bf, iykwim.

Greenstone · 27/07/2015 18:21

Luckystar, see if you can always cook extra for dinner and save leftovers for lunch. Batch cook stew and soup and freeze individual portions in ziplock bags for your lunch. I always do this as otherwise I'd never have time to organise something when raving hungry. I freeze everything, sliced roast chicken and ham in portions can also be handy, and keep my bread in the freezer too as it lasts so much longer with less waste.

perfumedlife · 27/07/2015 18:55

I had this too but had an undiagnosed over active thyroid. The health visitor was worse than useless, crowing it was the wonderful benefit of breastfeeding. I was six stone and gaunt. Be sure the GP tests your Free T3 levels, just checking the TSH and T4 isn't always enough. That's assuming you feel unwell of course.

Luckystar1 · 27/07/2015 20:36

Thanks Greenstone, I think the biggest problem is I'm a lazy sod! And now with this bloody weaning, im cooking DS 3 banquets a day and I'm still eating feck all (except chocolate madeleines...!). I just can't be arsed thinking of something to eat. I need a live in chef.

Original poster
squizita · 27/07/2015 21:24

Perfumed I'm under the endocrinologist at a specialist unit at hospital - I've had blood tests, biopsies the lot. Well i was - got my discharge letters today. It's not thyroid.

OP posts:
perfectlybroken · 27/07/2015 21:27

Amazingly I'm in the same boat, I put on loads of weight during pregnancy, lost it all and then some! I also had anxiety and I think that makes you lose weight.

museumum · 27/07/2015 21:29

I lost weight breast feeding and on maternity leave (I walked a LOT with the pram). Back at work now and Ds nearly 2 and unfortunately for me I put it all back on again and am pre-pregnancy weight (which was 0.5-1stone too heavy).

Original poster
squizita · 27/07/2015 21:34

Perfectly hmm I have pn anxiety. Bit better now. I wonder if it has affected diet and perhaps my rest?

OP posts:
Peskyelephant · 27/07/2015 22:29

I had this with DC1 and probably heading that way with 6mo DC2. I've always been slim (low end of normal Bmi) but breastfeeding drains me. I put on about 3 stone with each pregnancy and was back to previous pregnancy weight by about 4 months. But I still carry on loosing weight untill I stop. I stopped bf at 13 months with DC1 as I couldn't stop loosing weight and felt rubbish.
I tried eating as much as I could but I think it's just the way I am.

applecore0317 · 28/07/2015 07:07

Also 5ft 2 and lost nearly 3 stone in the first six weeks after giving birth. Desperately trying to stay at 9 stone as don't want to go back to my pre pregnancy weight of 7stone 10lbs, I find that snacking between meals is helping at the moment, I take a pack of belvita biscuits to bed for early morning snacking when feeding and have cereal in the morning plus another breakfast like toast mid morning, stuff like that.

lightgreenglass · 28/07/2015 07:27

I am the same and lighter after DS1, heading the same way with DS2 - what do you eat during the day? I find myself having a bowl of porridge and a bowl of cereal for breakfast, a sandwich, crisps for lunch, a snack of biscuits/cake mid afternoon and a husband size meal followed by a bar of chocolate in the evening otherwise I get irrationally hungry.

I exclusively express and read that for 1 oz of BM it's 20 calories so if the average baby takes 28-32 oz a day then that is more than the extra 500 calories. I am eating as I want as I know there will never be another period of gluttony like it once I finish having my babies.