Postpartum weight gain

[candelabrasatmidnight]

I’m three months post partum - didn’t put on a ton of weight during pregnancy and felt pretty ok after giving birth aside from usual stomach going down etc. About a month ago, I went on the mini pill for a week or so (previously used it for hormonal contraception) but instantly felt like shit emotionally so stopped taking it. Since then I’ve been bloated, massively up and down emotionally and have put on 8lb - I’m only 5ft so this is a lot! I feel even worse. I think I’ve messed up my hormones and I’m breastfeeding so probably even worse. What can I do to sort myself out???

I was going to ask if you’re breastfeeding before you said it.

I never gained much weight during my pregnancies but the weight gain post partum has been nuts. I was constantly hungry the first few months of breastfeeding which is what caused the actual weight gain but it seems that for some women, whilst the weight drops off when feeding, for others, their body holds on it. Apparently it’s much easier to lose when you stop breastfeeding but as I had an overlap of breastfeeding and my second pregnancy, I’ve not had a breastfeeding or pregnancy free period for four years to know if there’s any truth to that!