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Original poster

Putting on weight after childbirth.......how to ?

29 replies

mozhe · 13/07/2007 13:31

...I am 5ft 6ins and 7st 10....I had a baby prematurely 2 weeks ago,( at 27 weeks...I had put on about 4 pounds altogether during the pregnancy...that is not unusual for me as I put on very little weight normally during pregnancy ),and have lost 6 pounds since then.....Despite eating for England...I am still breastfeeding a 1 year old...I follow a vegan-ish diet, and have done all my life.
Dietician here in France is next to useless as all she says is..'if ONLY you ate meat...'
Suggestions please ? Ideally I'dlike to be 8st 2-6 lbs...that is my normal weight....I don't like being this much under 8 st...

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 13/07/2007 13:34

Does 'vegan-ish' turn out to mean 'very low fat'?

MrsBadger · 13/07/2007 13:35

Not casting asperisons on being vegan-ish, just that it can be v hard to find calorie-rich vegan food and the stress of a preemie plus tandem feeding is damned hard work for anyone.

Avocados? Cashew nut butter? Tahini?

magnolia1 · 13/07/2007 13:37

I am a huge meat eater yet baby #5 is 7 months old, still b/f and I am losing weight more each day
I am usually 8st at 5'6" But 7 st 9 at the moment
I eat for england to and eat lots of carbs, protien, fats ect.... nothing puts the weight on.
I don't think being Vegan is the whole reason to be honest.
No advice though sorry xx [snile]

maisym · 13/07/2007 13:38

would get your thyroid checked out.

magnolia1 · 13/07/2007 13:38

I don't know what snile is

MitfordSisters · 13/07/2007 13:39

hi mozhe

I've just posted on the pregnancy board about putting on too much weight!!

You say veganish - does that mean no cheese or dairy ever?

If you don't do so already, have afternoon tea everyday. Toast or cake, peanut butter with bananas on toast is a great highcal healthy snack.

If it's difficult for you to eat, remind yourself of your goal and try to sit down and focus on your food - use nice china etc.

Good luckx

Piffle · 13/07/2007 13:43

If you are diary excluding can be very hard.
If it is not based for ethical/religious or cultural reasons is it possible you could add one or two fullfat items
I have also lost a lot of weight, I am not a vegetarian eat well but cannot consume enough to maintain my weight
So I eat icecream
tis an awful chore

lailasmum · 13/07/2007 13:50

I have a similar problem. After having my daughter I lot all my baby weight plus about another stone and a half really quickly. I am 5 ft seven too, not quite as light as you though. For some reason these days I find it incredibly hard to put weight on. Under 8 stone is incredibly light for your height so must be even more frustrating for you. I can't say I know why this happens at all as I have just put up with it. I don't think it has much to do with being vegan but I kind of came to the conclusion that it seems a bit to do with stress and tiredness. My first daughter is 3 now and my weight has plateaued at 9 stone 4 for the last year or so and I think this is because I am getting more sleep and support, but if I have a busy week or travel a lot and generally get tired my weight will drop lower.
I am pregnant at the moment so will be interesting to see how things go this time weight wise.

Original poster
mozhe · 13/07/2007 13:59

No not low fat.....Advocados, yep ...nut butters, yep....Tahini, yep.....maybe just try like mad to eat a lot more...
Thyroid fine.
Think will eat some dairy...and load on the ice cream.
Not tired or stressed really....a bit anxious re: special care DS....but only normally so...
Will try afternoon tea as an add on....as they don't do that in France....
Thanks all.

OP posts:
Judy1234 · 13/07/2007 14:32

How is the baby?

On the food have you find if you eat more calories than you expend you don't put on weight or is it just that you don't eat many calories?

Original poster
mozhe · 13/07/2007 15:03

He is fine Xenia....though taking things very, very slowly....but no major health problems, and it's 2 weeks in.He is still ventillated...so that is next big hurdle, as is getting over 1kg...
I am eating loads...and not doing much so don't really understand why am still losing weight ?? I am going to try and add in 2 extra snacks...and eat calorie rich stuff.
I am back at work on monday...so will be charging around more and that worries me that I will be burning up more calories...hmmm.

OP posts:
kittywits · 13/07/2007 15:08

Mozhe, many congrats on no.6. Have you had your thyroid checked?

Judy1234 · 13/07/2007 15:11

I'm glad. I was wondering if I should even has asked as 27 week is quite early.
I've never had any trouble putting on weight but that's because I could easily eat chocolate as snacks all day long or whatever. I can even eat a pack of 12 rice cakes at one go or 6 bananas. Some people do just lose weight when they have children. I know Victoria Beckham and her mother apparently did. May be it's partly genetic.

Presumably there are milkshakes for after lunch 600 calories a glass that people give anorexics trying to put on weight that you can try if it's a serious issue.

Original poster
mozhe · 13/07/2007 15:12

Yep...and it's normal.
Tbf I am the sort of person who is naturally thin and doesn't put on weight easily....but this is lowest I've been since I was a teenager. Although do tend to have a massive weight loss straight after delivery...I don't want it to go any lower.
Dietician is useless as she is convinced carnivore....and that is never going to happen

OP posts:
Original poster
mozhe · 13/07/2007 15:15

I don't like chocolate..but yes those vile tasting supplements might do the trick...will add those into the 2 extra snacks.
Will be doing a lot of to-ing and fro-ing over next few weeks so am trying to be prepared..

OP posts:
compo · 13/07/2007 15:18

My sister was vey underweight as a teenager.
The doctor told my mum to give her things like peanut butter on toast just before bed so you could give that a go?

Original poster
mozhe · 13/07/2007 15:26

Oh I'm the peanut butter queen.....

OP posts:
winegumss · 13/07/2007 15:40

Dear Mozhe, many congrats on having baby no6. I hope he is progressing well. It must all be quite stressful for you at the moment, with such a big family and a little one in hospital. Can your work not give you some extra time off - it seems so early for you to return. Being a vegan makes it difficult to pack in the cals and put on weight, you must be very strict on yourself. Try loads of baked beans on jacket potato, lots of hearty soups and hot chocolate like drinks, leave water out for a while, just juices and shakes, lots of honey, hearty dense breads and lots of cereals with extra nuts and dried fruits, flap jacks and croissants and jam. you need a good home made shepherds pie - made with tofu! You must be very tired indeed, try to rest if you can too. Some would say you are lucky being so thin, but as you say, you do with being a little heavier. Take care and all the best with the little one. What name did you choose? ( i read your thread re names)

Mercy · 13/07/2007 15:46

Mozhe, the same thing happened to me when I had ds (my second).

I had my thyroid tested and all seemed fine but my doctor has been useless too. 3 years later I still haven't been able to regain the weight I lost. (I'm naturally thin too)

I've just registered with a new surgery so hopefully I'll get some better advice.

Can you get a second opinion?

Judy1234 · 13/07/2007 16:28

..and thyroid things are notoriously hard to get right in terms of treatment and analysis I think.

Original poster
mozhe · 13/07/2007 17:24

Winegums....it is Tristan ! Hope you like it... I am not too tired, mainly because there is not THAT much to do....I have a fulltime live-in Nanny, my p-in-ls are staying for the next month,( they are lovely and v.helpful...lucky there )...DH works in London during week but is here in France at weekends....and Tristan is sleeping for England !!! We have an aupair starting next week too.....the choice to go back to work,( I currently work in a university...)is mine. The baby is in the hospital on the same campus so it is v.convenient...no students as they have broken up.....it's the life of riley for mozhe
I think I moght just get a second opinion on the thyroid actually,( though has been checked n times, now and in past as have always been very light...but no harm in checking again..)
I like all those diet ideas winegums....I'm just going to have to make a big pig of myself.....

OP posts:
Highlander · 13/07/2007 19:20

With both DSs I went through a stage of being very, very skinny. With DS2 I was a bit more chilled out about it and knew that the weight would go back on. Right enough, he's 9mo now and I can see I've got hips again!

I wouldn't try any special diets or anything - it just stresses you out when you don't see results.

winegumss · 13/07/2007 20:34

Mozhe, you sound like you are completely incontrol and a cool cookie! I think if I were in your situation I would be very stressed, then the help you have sounds very good. Lovely name too I do like it. Perhaps your metabolism is a bit mixed up, expecially after giving birth so early, maybe your body thinks its still running for two? Hope it all settles soon. A few glasses of lovely french wine wouldnt go a miss too - oops you are breast feeding, a few sips then!!XX

Original poster
mozhe · 13/07/2007 21:10

Actually you may have hit it on head !! Maybe am not drinking enough ?

OP posts:
lou031205 · 13/07/2007 21:44

Mohze, a bit hesitant about posting this, 'cos I know your line of work, but having worked in SCBU (in UK) don't underestimate the subconscious energy you are using thinking about Tristan, not to mention your other DCs.

You may find that you are pushing your thinking to the 'back' of your mind, so don't realise the amount of energy you are using. Also, watching an incubator for several hours a day is just exhausting.

Sounds like you are doing a great job. Hope Tristan continues to plod along without great drama.