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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

OK - the truth - did you lose weight breastfeeding?

148 replies

Mirry71 · 19/03/2009 18:48

Sitting here with DC wondering if I am ever going to be my pre-pregnancy weight again - did breastfeeding help you lose weight? and if so how long did it take?

I have heard such mixed views and need consoling that I won't be in maternity gear for ever....

OP posts:
PortAndLemon · 19/03/2009 19:51

With DS initially, yes -- but he had whooping cough and was throwing up most feeds so it was like feeding twins or triplets. After a few months, when he bf less the weight loss slowed right down and once he was on solids and cut back on feeds it eventually reversed as I'd got used to being able to eat whatever I wanted and still lose weight.

With DD it didn't seem to help much.

wuglet · 19/03/2009 20:04

No - put it on with both of mine

(but then lost nearly 2 st each time I was preg so was only getting back to where I was)

DiamondHead · 19/03/2009 20:07

I've never gone back to pre pregnancy size until I've stopped breast feeding but I have gone back to pre pregnancy (x3) size.

tinierclanger · 19/03/2009 20:11

Yes, bucketloads, am skinnier than I have been for 10 years. Which is not a good thing.

Have done a lot of walking with the pram though so that is also a contributory factor!

whomovedmychocolate · 19/03/2009 20:12

Yes and very quickly too - but it didn't start with DD till she was 10 months and then I lost it all within a month - with DS I've recently lost 20lbs in a month and he's 8 months.

Bellebelle · 19/03/2009 20:14

DD1 - gained about 4 stone while pg (stuffed my face), lost a bit while bf but lost heaps once I stopped.
DD2 - only gained about 2.5 stone, back to pre-pg weight just this week while still bf (DD 7mths) but have big old roll of fat around tum and hips. Hoping it will go once stop bf.

From what I've observed with friends the ones who 'snap' back after 6 wks or so didn't put on much weight in the first place, the rest of us struggle with it I'm afraid but the way I see it this is one of the only times in your life when you've got a decent excuse for carrying a bit of extra weight. You'll soon loose it once running after DC so just enjoy this time with all the cakes

Ronaldinhio · 19/03/2009 20:15

No, not at all. But once I stopped it dropped off.

rempy · 19/03/2009 20:16

I kept about a half a stone on whilst breast feeding. Lost it after I'd stopped both times.

But both times I caught a nasty d and v which might have helped shift it....

Blu · 19/03/2009 20:20

Weight droped off me while I was bf. (DS was exclusively bf for 4 months, then 80%, and we carried on for a long time).

But I ate quite a lot too.

The trick is to stop eating so uch as soon as you stop bf.

Hmmmm.

feralgirl · 19/03/2009 20:22

I WISH I hadn't eaten like a sty full of pigs for 9 months and gained 3 stone, saying the whole time "it's OK, I'm going to BF, it'll fall off coz the midwife says so...!"

MarlaSinger · 19/03/2009 20:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BonsoirAnna · 19/03/2009 20:26

I lost loads and loads and loads of weight breastfeeding....

MarlaSinger · 19/03/2009 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

broguemum · 19/03/2009 20:29

shed loads! mind you, i also lost loads in the first 5 months of pregnancy. taking this into account i put on only 2 kilos with dd and only 6 with ds. wish i could do something about the muffin though.....

fishie · 19/03/2009 20:31

not a gramme. i have lost weight but not because of bfing, from eating less.

am almost 4 years in now and interestingly my breasts (and the rest of me) are the same size as pre-pg, have not got smaller as i believe is usual after pg.

but they were never particularly swollen during early bfing or during pg so maybe there won't be any difference when ds finishes.

Meglet · 19/03/2009 20:32

no. But I am usually very very active, so bf made me feel very lazy and i was climbing the walls. Weight has come off since I stopped as i am out and about more and have time for the gym now.

Bainmarie · 19/03/2009 20:40

With dd weight loss was very slow until I stopped bfing. With ds1
lost most of the weight fairly quickly, but hung on to a few pounds that didn't shift until after I had stopped. With ds2 again most of it has gone, but have developed a serious cake habit, which may be why the last few punds remain.

Lizzylou · 19/03/2009 20:42

I lost weight once I stopped BF, at 6mths, with both boys.
It sort of stuck (I did loes about 1.5 stone, but I'd put on 4!!!) until I got my first period (about 6 weeks after I stopped BF)

MariaCC · 19/03/2009 20:43

No.

I got really skinny when I was pregnant (that's seven months of morning sickness for you). When I was breast feeding I got the HUNGER and stuffed myself. Piled it all back on.

Blarbie · 19/03/2009 20:44

No. 9 months on, 9 months off.

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 19/03/2009 20:45

no - lost 3 stones whilst pregnant - gained 3 stones whilst breastfeeding (both pregnancies)

Pannacotta · 19/03/2009 20:47

Yes esp with DS1, I was back in size 10 jeans and down to 9 ish stone within about 4 weeks of giving birth.
But wasn't so easy with DS2. For some reason I got much wider/broader when pregnant the second time and have found it hard to shift the last half stone, (DS2 is 22 months and breastfed), and am stuck on 9 1/2 stone. Am hoping the extra weight and saggy belly will go at some point soon...

preggersplayspop · 19/03/2009 20:48

Yes, I lost loads of weight really quickly and ended up looking quite scrawny despite the fact I was/am eating full fat everything, cakes, chocolate etc. I was doing loads of walking though as well so it probably helped that I wasn't stuck behind a desk at work.

Pregnant again now but still bf, and I can't stop eating. I have a feeling I am going to really pile the weight on this time and it won't be lost quite so easily.

mamadoc · 19/03/2009 20:49

Yes- loads. My mum kept asking if I was eating enough.
usually size 12-14 but size 10 was hanging off when I stopped at 14mo. Put a bit back on now (DD 23 mo) but still less than pre-preg.

It was gradual weight loss though only got comments from about 9mo.

StudentMadwife · 19/03/2009 20:51

No, felt constantly hungrey breastfeeding and didnt start losing the weight till i stopped