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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Talk to me about bf and carrying extra weight.

38 replies

sunshine75 · 30/01/2009 19:13

So is it true or is it a myth that you carry an extra half stome while bf and it falls off when you stop?

I was 8 stone just pre dd (a bit too thin and hard to maintain)but am usually about 8 and a half. Anyway I'm 9 at the moment and wonder if it's bf or greed. Dd is 9 months now by the way

Has anyone lost weight when they stopped bf or is it wishful thinking on my behalf

OP posts:
Leeza2 · 30/01/2009 19:29

as far as i can gather from MN there are two types of Bfing mums. the ones who find the weight falls off them and the ones who don't lose an ounce until they stop. I am in the second group so i'm keeping my fingers crossed for when this one is weaned

helenlouisey · 30/01/2009 19:30

I must be in the second group as well, carrying at least an extra stone

shootfromthehip · 30/01/2009 19:33

I put on another 1/2 stone when breastfeeding (on top of the 4 1/2 stone I put on while preggers with DD) and didn't shift a pound until I stopped. With DS I did seem to lose weight whilst feeding but the majority of it didn't move until I stopped. You may be ok!

doggiesayswoof · 30/01/2009 19:35

I lost the extra weight when I stopped bf.

Then with ds I only bf for 3 weeks and the weight came off much faster. He's 8mo and I am slimmer now than I was with dd at that age when I was still bfing her.

Have no idea how much weight I lost - never weigh myself.

CharCharGabor · 30/01/2009 19:41

I'm in the holding onto weight camp too. I'm about 2 1/2 stone over my healthy weight atm, have lost 1/2 stone this week by drinking lots of water ( not sure how that works) and cutting down on snacking a bit. I imagine I won't get down to my healthy weight until DD finishes bfing though.

Wallace · 30/01/2009 19:41

I lose some weight but hold onto a lot until I stop bf. Midwife says it is your body's way of making sure you have the reserves to feed your baby if thee is a famine. Makes perfect sense.

And you can feel smug that when famine comes you will still be able to feed your baby unlike those skinny mums

MajorMajor · 30/01/2009 19:42

I found that the last 1/2 stone didn't come off till I stopped bf (at 6 months). Suspect that this was because when I stopped bf I also stopped eating a ton of chocolate every night.

so my point is, it's probably not stopping bf that made the weight come off, it's stopping eating so much comfort food!

bubbleymummy · 30/01/2009 19:43

I'm in the losing weight camp although I didn't put on much while I was pregnant either I actually had to add a couple of extra meals into my day. Hoping it will be the same this time round!

Mimsy2000 · 30/01/2009 19:49

i'm in the second camp too. feel so hungry all the time - no mystery why i can't lose the weight! just hope my normal appetite comes back after i stop.

whomovedmychocolate · 30/01/2009 19:51

I'm in the 'I was convinced I was carrying an extra stone because DD was breastfeeding but since I had DS have discovered it was just because I liked cake' camp

Seriously - the weight is just dropping off me - mind you I'm tandem feeding. But with DD it took till she was nine months and the weight fell off in a month (and then I got pregnant almost immediately and started eating cake again ).

I also found the hunger thing was basically thirst and the need to eat complex carbs more often!

tumtumtetum · 30/01/2009 19:53

In the second camp - def didn't lose weight while BF. Don't know if it would have gone awa y though - got pg the first cycle after i stopped

So now am huuuggggeeeeee but so what eh

Mimsy2000 · 30/01/2009 20:06

whomoved - i think the thirst point is pretty relevant for me. need to drink more water. how exiting.

peppapighastakenovermylife · 30/01/2009 20:07

Oh I LOVE this thread. I am fat and proud lol....

whomovedmychocolate · 30/01/2009 20:27

Tell you what though losing a lot of weight while breastfeeding has some freakish side effects. I've recently lost about 20lbs. I went from a 32K to a 30F - quite a big change. Anyway, while my boobs are smaller, when they are full they are sort of pointy and you can see the milk ducts bulging . Tis not a great look. DH asked me this morning if I was smuggling marbles in my bra .

Mimsy2000 · 30/01/2009 20:34

whomovedmychocolate - how have you gone about the weight loss? sorry to hijak but 20lbs!

whomovedmychocolate · 30/01/2009 20:37

Paul McKenna CDs there is a thread about it...hang on....

whomovedmychocolate · 30/01/2009 20:37

here

Mimsy2000 · 30/01/2009 20:38

omg - really?! i'll have a look.

RiaParkinson · 30/01/2009 20:39

still bf and NEVER lose it till i stop
makes me miserable actually

ShowOfHands · 30/01/2009 20:42

DD is 20 months. I have worked very, very hard and lost 2 stones. I exercise 4/5 times a week, am active and eat well. I cannot lose the last half a stone. It won't go. I'm the fittest I have ever been and my weight has just plateaued.

hellymelly · 30/01/2009 20:43

I am in the second camp too.I was about eight and a half stone pre-babies but I am about ten stone five at the mo and I hate it but I am starving hungry all the time,and although I am keeping the weight level or lowering slightly by trying not to overeat,it is hard and I am hoping it will come off when I stop bf.I am an older mother and I had been pretty thin all my life until I got pregnant .My dd is twenty months and I am planning on feeding her for some time yet so I guess its another fatso summer for me.

Wallace · 30/01/2009 21:05

Honestly, don't let it get you down. At least we have an excuse reason that we are carrying extra fat.

Show of Hands - me too, I recently ran a Half Marathon so I know I am fit enough and doing enough exercise. And I know the weight will (mostly) come off when I stop bf

SweetEm · 30/01/2009 21:45

I carry extra weight when bfing - lost 7lbs very quickly when I stopped feeding dd (but never got down to pre-preg weight). Still bfing ds and hoping that, like last time, some weight comes off when I stop. I think some of the weight bfing women carry is extra fluid and breast tissue as well as some fat reserves. In my case, it is also because I eat too much (might as well while I still have an excuse )!

sweetkitty · 30/01/2009 21:53

I am in the first group sorry

10 stone pre DC
9 stone 8 weeks after having DD1
fed her for a year pregnant with DD2 when she was 9 months
8 1/2 stone 2 weeks after DD2 was born

DD3 is 6 months and am 8 1/2 stone again

I call it the 3 under 5 diet I never sit down except to BF (and MN)

fledtoscotland · 30/01/2009 22:26

thank god for MN. i never knew that some women keep their "baby weight" until the stop BFing. I lost about 1st when DS2 was born but i've stayed the same since and he's now 22 weeks. I know i eat too much chocolate but i'm on the go 18hrs a day so am certainly active with 2 under 2 and two dogs.

guess i fall into the 2nd category