Dieting and breastfeeding.

[SamJohnsMum]

What advice can anyone give me about dieting and breastfeeding? My DS is 5 mo and currently excusively breastfed. Obviously, I haven't tried to restrict my diet at all (apart from peanuts - I miss peanut butter - but that's another story) and I have been trying to eat plenty of good, healthy food to make lots of good milk.

So far, so good. But while my lovely DS is doing very well indeed, I still feel like a whale. I don't want to do anything to affect his well-being, but I'd like to do something to lose a bit of the old baby weight!!

I've weighed myself every week for 3 months and it doesn't matter whether I've pigged out on cakes or not - I've been exactly the same weight!!

I'm sorry if this seems shallow (we all have bigger problems than this with feeding - I know I do) but losing a bit of weight will make a big difference to how I feel and I do want a bit of the old me back!!

So, as I continue feeding him- what can I do safely?

I think weightwatchers do a diet for breastfeeding mothers.

Can you fit in some exercise? I'm bfing, eat healthily and exercise 4 times a week. Have lost 2 stones.

Someone on my PN thread did the weighwatchers diet whilst BF, think you get extra 'points'.

I found I was ravenous when DS was that age as he was still feeding loads, but I did walk for miles with the buggy trying to get him to sleep which I think helped get the weight off.

I didn't stay off peanuts either - are there allergies in your family?

I agree with Rhinestone. Try to eat sensibly but, for me, what really helped was chucking the baby in the buggy and going for an hours walk every day.

Just healthy eating really, I lost alot at first (putting it back on now just by eating right - lots of fruit & veg, less carbs I don't burn off, plenty of water etc. Do not restrict calories, just don't eat empty ones. Says lardy me!

Loads of walking helped with me too, although I was slinging rather than buggy pushing - helped with my posture, buggy pushing killed my lower back (live in a city with a load of hills).

Some people find that, while bfing often helps post-natal weight loss, that they keep a covering of fat that they just don't shift until they wean completely. That's absolutely NOT an argument for weaning (I'm feeding my 2,4 yr old while pg) but maybe a something to hold on to while still implementing PPs suggestions. And your pre-baby weight might have an affect too. I'm sure I read a study somewhere about postnatal weight loss but can't blooming find it now...

Hi SamJohnsMum,
Despite swearing not to this time I put on 4 stone (again ) with this second pregnancy, so just had to shift it asap- have been doing WW since DD was 3wks old, and don't do it very strictly (i.e. have days off, the odd meal out), but coupled with lots of walking as everyone else said its working. Have managed 30 pounds in about 3 months, its just annoying that if I'd been more sensible when pregnant I'd be back to normal by now, as it is I've got another 20 pounds to go.

In terms of DD, she has thrived, so seems fine. No illnesses, putting on weight well, alert, pretty big for her age. She feeds well and doesn't seem to suffer with colic, or wind. Poos very rarely, which to be honest is a bonus!

I don't know if there's any research on dieting and bf, but nothing very conclusive jumped out at me. I like WW, so see if it suits you?

I think as long as you aren't on some sort of starvation diet, you and LO will be okay. Have a look at this link for some more scientific/reliable stuff.

my ds is 7.5mo and still bf and i've been doing weightwatchers for 2 months and lost half a stone so far. You get a really generous points allowance to account for the extra calories you need, and they only recommend a 1lb per week weight loss. Once you wean your baby onto solids, your extra points drops down but you still get extra for the whole time you are bf

The big thing I have found is cutting back on sugary snacks. I still have a biscuit with my tea in the morning, but I don't have so many bars of choc or cakes and substitute in things like a low fat choc mousse if I need that choc hit. I haven't really touched the quantities or type of my other meals, so removing the snacks alone has helped me lose half a stone.

Sorry, I'm rubbish at links. Try this site www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-weightloss.html

I'm doing slimming world, they have generous extra allowances for bf. Started when DD was 2 months old, lost about a lb a week, had October off (hols and 2 weddings), stayed the same and started again from November, lost 2lb so far. During October there was no difference in the amount of milk I had, apart from maybe the odd day having loads when I had seriously pigged out. So I reckon as long as you don't overdo it you'll be fine.

I've put on 4 stone each time and lost it twice - ds3 is only 6 weeks old so I'm hoping to shift it all a 3rd time!

Be patient - each time I've lost a little weight, mostly through exercise, while bf, but the main weight has dropped off once I've stopped bf completely. I'm pretty certain thats down to biological reasons rather than anything I was doing!

This is really rather promising!! Thanks so much for your ideas - I'm feeling a bit ore hopeful that I can start to feel like me again!

Thought this link would be helpful too