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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Weight loss and BF

34 replies

peacemakeruk · 07/01/2008 12:12

Just sheer curiosity really but am trying to find out when people lost baby weight. For me the old "BF helps you lose the baby weight" hasn't been correct because I haven't But I have now heard quite a few women who BF until they DC were over a year old that the weight dropped off them once they stopped BF. So, was it during or after BF YOU lost weight?

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 07/01/2008 12:13

during
but then I don't think I put much on tbh

belgo · 07/01/2008 12:15

during bfing, but I had been bfing for more then a year. My dd2 didn't have much appetite until then, and I ate too much chococlate

Tapster · 07/01/2008 12:16

I put on 3 stone with DD (I was only 8 stone to start off with but she was 9lb 1oz).

I lost 2 stone in the first two weeks. Then lost nothing again until she was 6 months and started weaning and I lost the remaining stone in two weeks by doing nothing.

I am still BF at 14 months and I can eat what I want really without worrying about putting weight on.

Your body does store extra fat just in case and mine went when solids introduced maybe others its after they stop. Most people stop BFing way before a year and so you often hear from them I only lost weight after I stopped BFing, my SILs favourite line but she never gets beyond 6-8 weeks each time.

fordfiesta · 07/01/2008 12:17

I lost most of my baby weight by 6 weeks after ds born (sorry) i did breast feed but i think it is just how i am..... only put about half a stone on (plus fluid). I am now half a stone less than i was before being pregnant but i think that is because i spend all day running around like a loon trying to keep up with ds...... was the ultimate slob before he was born so being busy has been a shock to the system!!!

StealthPolarBear · 07/01/2008 12:18

I have been bf DS for 8 months now
Haven't been dieting, yet in the last month or so people have been remarking about how I look like i've lost weight
Finally weighed myself, have lost a stone or stone and a half from my PRE PREGNANCY weight without even noticing! Have since tried some jeans on that I could get into but not do up pre-pg and they are now a little bit baggy
Sorry if that comes across as proud - I am amazed and really happy!
How old is your LO?

EffiePerine · 07/01/2008 12:21

During, but only after 5 months (and dramatically after a year).

Brangelina · 07/01/2008 12:21

I was back in size 10 jeans at 6 weeks, but I didn't really put much on during pg and DD was a constant feeder. I haven't really got any thinner since but I didn't got any fatter either and I ate a lot more than before, in particular copious amounts of chocolate. I did have a chubby period when DD was around 9mo and suddenly fed a lot less and my appetite hadn't adjusted accordingly, so it must have some effect.

Original poster
peacemakeruk · 07/01/2008 12:24

My DD is 8 months and I've not lost any weight in ages

OP posts:
dal21 · 07/01/2008 12:28

during. back in pre pregnancy jeans 6 weeks after DS born, back in skinny jeans (which was the real aim of mine) by time DS was 16 weeks. But I watched what I was eating both during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Speaking to some friends of mine - no one managed to lose weight whilst bfeeding while eating what they wanted too. we were most put out to discover that.

FioFio · 07/01/2008 12:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Notyummy · 07/01/2008 13:08

I put on nearly 3 stone and weighed less than I did when I got pregnant by the time I finished df at 7 months. DD loved her food and ate all my fat reserves whilst I carried on eating what I wanted! That said, I did exercise throughout the pregnancy, and was back in the gym 3 weeks after I had her, plus I walked miles everyday during maternity leave. She was a porker though...once put on 9 ozs in 3 days and never dropped below the 90th centile at any point!

LiegeAndLief · 07/01/2008 13:14

It is possible to lose weight whilst bf and eating what you want - I did! But ds was (is) a bit podgy and ate for England. I lost a stone post-birth in the same time it took him to get to 14 pounds - think it all just transferred to him.

naturelover · 07/01/2008 15:21

While pregnant I put on 2 1/2 stone and within 3 months exclusively bf I was back in my jeans. I do eat a healthy diet and walk loads, however, and swam often while pregnant.

kelmcd · 07/01/2008 15:28

I didn't put on too much weight when pg but lost it all plus whilst ex b/f. Since i started to mix feed about one month ago, af daytime, bf nighttime, the weught has piled on again Mind you it could be because of all the mince pies or lack of period for 2 months

Habbibu · 07/01/2008 15:32

Lost lots breastfeeding - am still doing 1 per day at 15 months. It did happen that a friend of mine lost more when she stopped, but she's a big walker and very slim anyway.

IorekByrnison · 07/01/2008 15:41

Still haven't lost it and dd 2.3. Think breastfeeding makes me hungrier.

RoRoMommy · 07/01/2008 15:45

Lost slowly but consistently throughout the months after delivery...but most dramatically after six months bf (and because I went back to work full time and frankly didn't have time to look after myself properly). Now skinny, like getting comments, "you've lost weight" skinny and trying to gain some back (unsuccessfully).

LavenderMist · 07/01/2008 19:30

I put on 3.5 stone with DS, now 9 weeks and lost 1 stone overnight after giving birth. Since then I haven't lost a pound. In fact, I managed to gain 4 lbs over Christmas. My Mum says that the weight 'just fell off' when she was breastfeeding.
I'm hoping that I'll start to lose some when he's a little older and needs more calories. Possibly having double cream and 2 spoons of sugar on my porridge isn't helping either...

SydneyB · 07/01/2008 19:35

Lost it very quickly after birth and stayed off whilst I was b/f DD, until she was 6 months, but the minute I stopped I ballooned!

Lizzzombie · 07/01/2008 19:36

I swear the BF and you loose weight thing is an urban myth.
I didnt put an ounce on during my pregnancy and have managed to put on well over 2 stone since having my baby, nearly a year ago. Think its possibly due to severe heartburn during the 3rd trimester which made it impossible to eat anything. And since then I've made up for it. Only I havent. I eat really sensibly. But I am still fat. And it can't be baby weight. My baby is nearly 1.
whine whine whine....pass the wine....

Likeasow · 07/01/2008 20:39

3rd DD born recently and yet again I have put on weight after birth while feeding - it never comes off until they start solids and cut down on the feeding for me. Too too hungry and tired to worry about it - but do hate still looking pregnant and have shocking bingo wings - was quite slim and trim during pregnancy

ShowOfHands · 07/01/2008 20:44

peacemakeruk, long time no see. My dd is the same age as yours and I cannot lose weight at all. I eat healthily and exercise, still feed her very regularly and I can't shift the weight. I'm making a renewed effort atm but am also trying to not worry about it. It's obviously the way it's going to be for me and you and I try and focus on the positives of having bf for 8 months. Sometimes it works, sometimes I look in the mirror and despair.

berolina · 07/01/2008 20:47

I put on 2 1/2 stone with ds1, lost about half of that almost instantly, a little more gradually, hung on to around a stone permanently (I did only weigh 7 1/2 st pre-children). Put on just over a stone with ds2 and had lost it all within 2 months. I've been bf permanently since ds1's birth

MumtoBen · 07/01/2008 22:19

During bf. Put on 2 stones in pregnancy both times.

With DS1 lost all baby weight in 3 weeks (how this happened I do not know).

With DS2 lost all baby weight in a few months, but most gone in 3 weeks. Still bf DS2 and have lost 9 lbs more than I put on in pregnancy (DS2 6.5 months old). Am still losing about half a pound a week and am eating loads more than usual. Didn't do any exercise DS2 pregnancy as had SPD and haven't done any since except a bit of walking as I still have SPD.

Only thing I can think of is that both boys were very demanding feeders, especially DS1. I had to feed DS1 on a schedule for the 1st few weeks as he had very bad jaundice.

whomovedmychocolate · 07/01/2008 22:23

I put on about five stone during pregnancy - lost a stone on delivery and then lose five more in the year after having DD - but it was sheer bloody determination not to eat cake that did it. I did the Paul McKenna Cds - worked for me - lost the weight phenomenally quickly once I started -about a stone a month with no difficulties. But up until month seven or eight I was still very fat and unhappy.

You can do it and feed your baby and if you do the weight will go quicker, it is a simple calories in/calories out thing. Though I reckon at least a stone of mine was fluid because I had pre-eclampsia and was swollen ala Veronica in Charlie and the Chocolate factor.