Postnatal weight loss (c-section)

[Awkwardusername]

I had an emergency section 14 weeks ago (FTM) and can’t seem to lose weight! Does anyone have any advice or words or wisdom? It’s starting to really get me down.

For context, I’m 5’9 and was 10 stone exactly (size 8-10) pre pregnancy.

I gained almost 3 stone during pregnancy.

Two weeks after my c section, I was back down to 10 stone 6lbs, and have gained weight steadily since then.

I walk EVERYWHERE with my daughter in the carrier or pram (averaging about 18k steps a day) and I EBF. In terms of meals I eat pretty much what I ate prepregnancy, which is relatively balanced and healthy (ish!).

I can’t for the life of me work out how I’ve gained weight, and I feel like shit about it!

Any advice? Thanks!

I think it's a myth that bf helps you lose weight because as far as I'm aware it changes how your body stores fat because your body is working so hard. Plus the bf hunger is unparalleled- I was ravenous constantly especially in the first few months. You're only 14 weeks past a MAJOR operation. You have a tiny baby. I'm sure you're getting very little sleep which raises cortisol levels which in turn affects weight loss. You need to go easy on yourself- your body has just been through something massive and it takes a lot of time for your body to adjust and settle. If you push too hard you could affect milk supply and possibly injure yourself so going slowly is very important here. Its still very early days. You could do something like join slimming world if you wanted as it's very aimed at gradual loss and I believe they make the necessary adaptions for bf women as well? But honestly, I think you're putting a lot of pressure on yourself. It takes 9 months to grow a baby, it takes about that to fully recover from one and everyone's body adjusts differently. For example my shape is different now even though I weigh less. Not taking into account the changes in breast mass and milk etc, muscle being built carrying and lifting baby etc. Just keep doing what you're doing and enjoy your new bub. Things do settle in after a while and you might find it gets easier then.

14 weeks is nothing OP. I hadn’t lost that much weight in such a short time. I still looked pregnant 4 months PP! I started as a size 6-8 and I am
back to my old figure now, since about 6 months PP. Maybe there are improvements to your diet that can be made, as you said it’s ‘healthy ish’. Be aware of hidden calories like milk, butter, olive oil, mayonnaise, and some healthy foods like avocados, nuts, yoghurt, bread, bananas etc are very high in calories. I cut down massively on meat and carbs, and increased my portions of fruit and veg. The weight dropped off me in a few weeks. I was working out 40 mins a week, too, but that was more for regaining strength and helping my diastasis recti. Good luck OP, but it sounds like you’re very nearly there already 😊