That old chestnut - losing weight when breastfeeding (mum, not baby)

[motomoto]

I have a big baby (over 98th centile) excl bf till just before 6 months, eating solids now, but I am still over pre-pregnancy weight and it just isn't shifting! especially round the waist! is it ok to knuckle down dietwise now bub on solids?

how did you lose weight when bf? thanks

I lost loads of weight from breastfeeding and ended up 1/2 stone lighter than I was before I got pregnant by the time DD was about 6 months old. However when DD was about 13 months she cut back on the frequent breastfeeding and only fed 3 times in 24 hours and I put a stone back on ...I guess I should have cut back on the biscuits when she cut back on the milk

I know it is safe to diet sensibly whilst breastfeeding though. As long as you are not malnourished it won't affect your baby at all.

I didn't loose weight just by bf - after DD1 i was well over a stone overweight and stayed that way after i stopped bf. When DD1 was 11 months i joined weight watchers and shifted it. However, i found it was very easy to lose weight while bf if you make a bit of an effort - in my experience it wasn't much of an effort at all. With DD2 and DS, from about 6 weeks after birth i followed the WW plan during the week (not at all on the w/e), but allowing 10 extra points per day for bf. Both times the weight literally fell off and i was back to normal size by 3 or 4 months after birth.

I think I will start weightwatchers...I would like to lose 3 stone, how soon might I lose all that weight? seems SUCH a lot

I'm below what I weighed before TTC DD now and it's all down to bf 9mo DS. Before I had him I was 3 stone heavier than I am now and although I didn't gain in pregnancy this time which made things easier I have lost loads since I had him. I eat well, but try to cut out refined sugar when I can, although I'm not angelic, not even close. I am more active now, and lose chunks of weight when I walk more. If I try to diet I get pretty rundown but lose huge amounts of weight - 7lbs a week, so I don't bother since that can't be healthy. It all stays off too.

wow, 7lba week is mental - because you are bf-ing it's that much????

breastfeeding is on average a good way to regain pre-p weight.

i find it is the first time in my life i can eat breakfast, lunch & dinner and not gain wait.

but whatever works for you - i found working & BF = no time to eat more, with extra drain on body energy.

I have lost majority of babyweight at five months, but this is because of breastfeeding two, eating healthily (with odd treat, natch!) and also I don't own a car, so lots of walking (esp. with a double buggy - bus drivers are evil and can't do steps either!).

I would suggest NOT dieting as you need the calories for the milk production as well as energy to be a mum! Perhaps now not the time to introduce another source of braindrain/stress?! I reckon just try to make sure what you are eating is healthy as possible and increase gentle activities, such as walking.

You mention most of the weight is sticking around the middle - could it be that your abdominal gap isn't closed yet? I still have a 2cm gap which makes it look like I have a thick waist. I've found that yoga/pilates-style exercise have helped it reduce down (still a way to go tho!) You can get your GP, a physio or a good personal trainer to check this with you.

More than anything, we need to give ourselves a break! It took 9 months to get to the point we could give birth, so we should allow at least as much time to regain our bodies, surely? Try to trust that you will get back to your normal self, it will just take time!

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