BF causing weight loss

[ChubbyScotsBurd]

Another Q for all you wonderful girlies (never before have I laid eyes on such a trove of sage advice and wisdom).

DS is 4 wks today and is exclusively BF. I had him by Caesarean and have recovered fine. I'm already over 2 stones lighter since the morning of the section, and am still losing weight at a rate of 3lbs a week. This is very welcome because I'm a big girl (I'm now 14 stone, ideally should be under 10) BUT I'm worried now because apparently rapid weight loss can lead to toxins being released into the bloodstream and finding their way into the milk etc. The thing is, I can't help it! So far today I've eaten 2 slices of toast, a nectarine and an apple for breakfast, 2 slices of toast and 2 scrambled eggs, a banana and a satsuma for lunch, a bag of crisps and a fun-size TimeOut. Dinner will probably be quiche/potato wedges/broccoli/beans or similar. This is a typical day, how on earth can I still be losing weight and should I be concerned? I'll start necking the complan if I have to!

The downside is that all my abdominal fat has slithered down so I have a lovely baggy apron, which gets sweaty underneath and which means I still can't fasten a lot of my pre-preg trousers, despite being lighter now than when I conceived

Don't complain, it will slow down. Most of what you will have lost so far will be fluid - you will lose fat though, don't worry!

The flab apron goes to in time.

Don't worry about 'toxins' - it's all nonsense! Be grateful you are losing weight And congratulations!

Have a bowl or two of cereal with full fat milk as well. I was the same and the wieght just dropped off. Be careful though because I kept the overeating up for too long and am puttin it all on again - even though I am still feeding at 11m.

my weight dropped off after my second - actually think a lot of it was water (I had night sweats).

BF did make me loose weight (fat) but very slowly.

Ds1 is 8.5 months and I have gone down to inder 8st No matter what I eat it is falling off Never heard of the toxins thing though

I think you need more calories. Your diet is balanced and healthy but someone who has jsut had a baby and whose body is adjusting to exclusively breastfeeding and the supply and demand probably needs more; not necessarily more food but higher calorie intake.

When DS2 was in SCBU and I was trying to get breastfeeding established against the odds (succeeded in the end), the midwives on the unit used to send me off to the canteen for a mars bar (!) or tell me to remember to eat pudding with custard with my dinner!

Don't worry about the "baggy apron".. you can tone up in a couple of months.

I disagree. The fat reserves in pregnancy are designed to be used up in breastfeeding. It's a good thing.

A healthy diet is enough. Doesn't have to be high calorie.

hmm. never heard of the toxins thing

i think, if you are feeling ok, have enough energy, and eat when yu are hungry... then you are absolutely fine.

v important to remember to keep your fluids up. bf'ing can 'dry you out' a bit, so keep downing water etc as often as you rem,eber.

Then why do midwives routinely recommend ensuring you are having enough calories? I tended to lose baby weight quickly after all three of mine.. last two very successfully breast fed and have been told this by midwives/health visitors each time. At different ends of the country.

Not suggesting a diet of junk.. just a few more calories.

Because midwives know nothing whatsoever about breastfeeding!

your diet sounds absolutely fineto me - lenty of fruit etc... a bit more veg in there and you can jin the 10/10 thread

the apron reduces in time. have to work off the last bit tho (she says, sucking in small pocket of gut )

kelly mom says between 1500-1800 (pref on the higher side) for dieting mums when breastfeeding

I have to eat bloody ice cream (oh the hardships) to maintain my pre preg weight ds2 is 5 mths and I am now exercising to strengthen my back (badly unfit and back is dreadful) now am obviously losing weight again.

I think your body will guide you, I eat instinctively

You don't need more calories to breastfeed, you don;t need more fluids to breastfeed, you don't need to rest more to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding can take place perfectly efficiently without any of these.

Individual mothers may find they have more energy if they keep themselves well-fed, well-hydrated and well-rested.

But the milk (and the baby) will not be affected either way

Why do midwives tell you something different?

Because many of them are not well-informed

I'm sure I would be losing less but I'm trying to avoid dairy as LO has terrible colic/wind/general pain. I can't stand full fat milk anyway, but usually would have weetabix with semi for breakfast and would normally eat a lot of yoghurt.

It's all welcome, I feel so much better!

If you aren't getting any milk at all, then I'd take a calcium supplement if I were you, just for insurance. The chewable Osteocare ones taste quite nice!

Ok I stand corrected... Most midwives talks bollox.. thank God for the likes of TikTok and Mears

Tiktok, if you don't need any extra fluid, why am I gasping thirsty when breastfeeding? I get through 3litres of water a day, any less and I get headaches...

(Sorry to hijack your post CSB, but sort of same subject).

chicken, I didn't say you don't need fluids to satisfy thirst - and yes, many women are thirsty during bf. You don't need any extra ie over and above the fluids you are thirsty for

Too many women are told they must throw down X litres a day, as a deliberate act, in order to bf.

They really, really don't need to, and what little research there is shows that deliberately drinking a lot more than you want leads to less breastmilk (something to do with the way the body reacts to fluid overload).

Ah thanks for that, that makes sense! Will just drink as and when I need to then instead of forcing it down.

Might be a good idea to have a protein food with breakfast. Toast and fruit is good but maybe a yoghurt or some cheese to balance it out. After 10 months of breastfeeding I am now a few lbs lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight. Pity about that extra 2 stone I had before pregnancy that is still with me.