Slimming whilst bfeeding: an urban myth?

[happyspider]

I have put on over three stones with my pg, ds is nearly 2 months old now and a real cutie, however he was tiny at birth and most of the weight has stayed with me

I am now (according to the charts...) classified as obese. I have been bfeeding for the last 2 months, but not only I haven't shifted any weight, I am actually putting on more pounds.

I just wanted some support and to hear that I will loose the weight eventually, and also wanted to hear from you if lost weight easily breastfeeding or if this is only an urban myth...

I bf for 12 & 14 months with both DSs. 1st time round, I put on 4 stone whilst pregnant, 2nd time 3.5 stone. However, with DS1, I lost 2 stone in under 7 days - he was a 10lber (similar story with lighter DS2). After that, I steadily lost weight until I stopped feeding - both times I was about 6 lbs under my start weight of which I put back 4 on stopping bf.

I guess I can never be sure whether it was bf that made me lose the weight but I certainly put no effort into dieting or consciously losing it. (sorry evryone!)

I think one of the problems can be that you get really hungry when bfeeding. I've also read that your metabolism slows down, to conserve calories if you're breastfeeding.

The only thing that has helped me lose the excess weight with ds, bizarrely, is being pregnant again - I seem to have steadily lost weight everywhere except my bump. I'm 41 weeks + 3 days, and a friend actually said I was looking thin.....explain that if you can!

I put on 2 1/2 stone with DS. I had a stone to lose after I had had him and it didn't shift for a long time as I was breastfeeding and eating for England (didn't put on weight..just stayed same).

Then after 6 months of b/f the weight just fell off (I think due to the fact that DS was so big and feeding so well from me that my body went into super efficent mode!). I think I got back to pre-birth weight shortly after I stopped feeding at 10 months.

I then had to do Weight Watchers to shift a further stone which had always bugged me but that was alot slower than the weight loss by breastfeeding!

So basically at 2 months after birth like you are I hadn't lost anything and I thought it was a myth as well but for me it happened when breastfeeding an "older" baby so I am really pleased I kept going!

thanks futurity for giving me some hope.
however I do think that it's a lot to do with your genes too, in fact I was a size 12 before getting pg, but I had to work very hard at it...
The expression "the weight fell off me" never applied to me, that is why I wonder if I am going to stay this weight unless I do something about it VERY SERIOUSLY...
soupdragon, maybe you are one of those naturally thin people?

I'm a slim build and don't put on much weight in pregnancy-all bump IYKWIM. But I've breastfed two now and both times I put on weight while breastfeeding and look a bit 'rounded'. Am still breastfeeding with no.2, but with no.1 I lost the excess when I stopped breastfeeding. I'm convinced nature keeps us a little bit plump to feed our lovlies in case their is a famine!

happyspider - I ate lots of cake during my pregnancy, although I don't actually know how much weight I put on. After two months' breastfeeding I was fed up of still wearing my maternity clothes, but had to buy clothes two sizes bigger than I'd had before I got pregnant, so I don't think I'd really lost any weight by then. After eight months' breastfeeding, clothes that are one size bigger than my pre-pregnancy clothes are slightly loose, so I'm getting there. I haven't actively tried to shift the weight, although I do walk around a lot.

agree with others, weight loss seemed to happen after around 8 months of feeding. Lost loads then- was thinner even than b4 preg and (wonder of wonder) even had smaller boobs for a while. This is not a gloat as hasten to say was temporary thing!

I guess I was lucky as I lost all of my pregnancy weight while breastfeeding and ended up thinner than I had been before I got pregnant. Haven't stayed as thin though since then have gradually gone back up to my pre-pregnancy weight.

AFter my mum had my brother she developed an underactive thyroid. I don't want to scare you you worry you unneccasarily and I don't know how old my brother was when that developed in my mother. But if thyroid probelms run in your family it might be worth mentioning to the Dr just in case.

If not don't worry I'm sure you'll lose the weight all in good time, everyones body is different.

I managed to loose 1 stone the week after I had ds, but then the mw put me on a "breastfeeding diet" because I was not producing enough milk:
English breakfast, cakes, bread, meat and fruit and mainly whatever takes my fancy.
9 weeks down the line I haven't lost any weight, maybe I have put on some. Don't know as I have stopped weighing myself, it's not worth it

I lost all the pg weight by about 8 weeks, but would like to lose the 10kg I had been hoarding before I got pg. I am hoping that bf until 1 year will do it, together with the twice weekly post-natal aerobics (we're a sight, 15 post-partum mums - eat your heart out Jane Fonda ) Or will I have to diet instead of eating whatever I please 'because ice cream is full of calcium goodness...'

have not read other replies, but I gained lots of of fat despit bf and eventually joined weightwatchers while breastfeeding and lost 2 and a half stones.

I lost weight fairly well initially then didn't because I stuffed my face with chocolate

Happyspider, I can assure you I'm not a naturally thin person I was a size 14 before pregnancy but can now get into a 12 if it's cut generously around the bum! (Or a size 8 if it's from Gap)

I was around a size 12 before pg and put on around 3 stone and breastfed afterwards. I lost all my weight practically straight away and was strutting around going, ha, hard to lose not, AND THEN put about a stone back on! HOW? I was eating for england so maybe it was that or metabolism changed, no idea. I have around 1/2 a stone to get rid of which will not budge and it all seems to be stuck to my stomach and waist. Must do sit ups must do sit ups must do sit ups.

Breastfeeding requires a lot of sitting down initially, when your baby is more efficient and quicker that will give you more time to move around, go for a power pram. I think the exercise combined with the breast feeding, combined with being outside should all help you feel better.

I've lost heaps of weight, but that's more to do with having a serious digestive problem following some antibiotics for mastitis. People always tell me I look fantastic, but I felt fantastic heavier when I had more energy. It's really unhelpful that people judge how you are doing as a mum by how quick you get your shape back.

It took you 9 months to put on that weight, its not a competition, and you should give yourself a break while you gradually take it off.

Good luck

A friend of mine lost stones while breastfeeding - but then put most of it back on afterwards. I never lost an ounce, despite feeding until 14months. Now at Weightwatchers having been on a holiday where I didn't wear a swimming costume once and refused to have my photograph taken because I knew the results would plunge me into gloom. I think it very much depends on your personal hormonal response and the effect on your metabolism. However, you can diet sensibly while breastfeeding. Studies show it has no effect on how much weight your baby gains. I think the WW diet for breastfeeding mums allows you zillions of points so it might be worth a try. I know some mumsnetters have done it successfully.

Aloha - there is a WW diet for bf mums?!?!?! I thought I wasn't allowed to restrict my food. Please give me a clue or two!

Happyspider, I haven't lost weight, but the 'rather less than 100 sit ups a day club' thread has helped me get into trousers a size smaller than before I started, and two sizes smaller than post-birth (still a size bigger than pre-pregnancy, and 2 sizes bigger than ought to be, yes I too am classified as obese )

It's a bit of myth that normal dieting affects milk supply. There have been several proper studies done that showed that even when mothers lost weight, their babies gained weight at exactly the same rate as babies of non-dieting mothers. The ww diet for breastfeeding mothers allows you nearly 30 points a day IIRC (didn't do it - just read about it here) and you still lose weight. I'd definitely do it if there is a next time!

I didn't lose any weight while b/f - but that could be something to do with the fact that I ate for England!

Hmmmmmmm not sure about that, I was told not to diet whatsoever whilst bf as the baby nicks all your vitamins/energy etc. I was so hungry when feeding her as well, so this seems to make sense. Good excuse for cakes also.

Oliveoil, no, honestly, that is an urban myth. This is just one of the studies - there are lots more. The idea that dieting will 'spoil' or reduce the 'quality' of your milk has been thoroughly discredited.
This is just one reference.
McCrory and her colleagues from the University of California at Davis studied 67 breastfeeding mothers who had given birth 2 to 4 months previously. The team's goal was to determine if weight loss by dieting, with or without aerobic exercise, adversely affected lactation performance.

The breastfeeding mothers were split up into three groups. One group dieted, another group dieted and exercised and the third was a control group.

The study, which was conducted over an 11-day period, found that women in the diet-only group lost an average of 4 pounds. Women in the diet and exercise group lost an average of 3 ½ pounds, and the control group lost less than half a pound.

Change in milk volume and composition, energy output and infant weight did not differ significantly among the three groups.

Although the results of this study appear to indicate that a combination of dieting and aerobic exercise is a safe weight-loss strategy for breastfeeding mothers, McCrory and her team note that longer-term studies are needed to confirm these findings.

I did say normal dieting, however. I think between 1,500 and 2000 calories a day produced weight loss when breastfeeding.

You do realise you have now ruined the excuses of millions of breastfeeding women?

I do feel a bit guilty about that, actually
However, I waited and waited for all my baby fat to just melt away when breastfeeding and felt so cheated when it didn't happen!