pumping to help weight loss...good idea or not?

[DaisyRose144]

Without going into too much detail, I will not be able to breast feed or pump due to the medication I am taking. Doc advised that if I wanted to breast feed then I would need to stop my medication, which I don't feel is right for me at the moment.

However, my midwife did tell me that pumping helps to lose weight after birth. So, I am considering pumping and throwing the milk if it will help my weight loss and health.

Does anyone have any experience of pumping making a difference to post baby weight loss or is it a myth?

I don't know about losing weight but pumping to keep supply up can be quite stress. On top of looking after a new born, sterilising and making up feeds. Pumping isn't easy for everyone and takes a while to get the knack. I honestly wouldn't have stuck to it other than it was to feed my children, I think I'd have very easily given up if I was using it to loose weight.
You can give it a go if you feel it would help but it just sounds like unnecessary stress at a very stressful time in your life.

On a side note your body is preforming a miracle by creating life. Please do not worry about your weight as you're doing the most beautiful thing In The world.

Dont know about pumping to lose weight. But have you checked with Wendy Jones specialist pharmacist for the drugs in breastmilk service from the breastfeeding network. Doctors are in my experience very poorly informed about meds and breastfeeding and often day not to when it's safe to.

I breastfed my DD and can promise you (while I now some loose weight) but it made me super hungry and I actually gained weight the first 3 months (evened out as I lost weight during pregnancy) but I could of eaten a small cow while feeding and pumping 🤦‍♀️

It’s a myth! If you are producing breastmilk then your body will want extra calories to make it with. I breastfed exclusively and at six months postnatal I weighed almost the same as a week after giving birth. Pumping is a hassle and there’s no way I would do it if it wasn’t to feed a baby. The leaking (had to sleep on a towel the first six months so I didn’t ruin our mattress), the sore nipples, the blocked ducts... not worth it.

It'll work for some and not for others, in the same way that breastfeeding itself causes some to lose weight and doesn't others. I was "lucky" you might think, in that breastfeeding doesn't make me hungry, so eating how I'd normally eat including plenty of treats and takeaways along the way, I still lost all of my baby weight (3st) quickly and then another 1.5st more slowly in the months since. I'm the lightest I've ever been as an adult, but I wouldn't say I'm at my healthiest. I have to consciously put effort into eating to try and maintain this weight and even then, I feel like I'm bordering on skeletal in places. I don't want to stop feeding my son until he's ready, but I'll be glad when he does eventually stop so I can hopefully regain a bit and get back to my "happy" pre pregnancy weight. There are plenty of ways to lose weight healthily post-baby, including a healthy balanced diet. I wouldn't express for the sole purpose of losing weight when you don't even know how effective it'll be for you personally

Expressing is a ball ache. I certainly wouldn't even entertain the idea of doing it on the very unlikely chance it might help weight loss.

Definitely check with the breastfeeding network for up to date advice about your medication.

I echo the advice to check whether you can feed on your medication. I was told I couldn’t and that was nonsense.

I hadn't really considered the impact of pumping if I'm honest. So thank you for all of you that have said that it is an effort. Most likely wont want the extra stress when trying to learn how to look after a baby, as this is my first baby.

I will look into my medication and if I 100% can't breastfeed as I would like to. It was the consultant at the hospital who told me I would need to change medication if I wanted to breastfeed and I would like to think she said that with some knowledge, but obviously that's not always the case.

Check the drugs in breast milk Facebook page. You can pm them with your medication and a pharmacist will respond. Much more reliable than a consultant.

Please don't pump to lose weight. Your weight is not your worth.

It's taken me a long time to realise this but truly,
Your weight is not your worth.

I didn't lose anything and fed / pumped loads.

A random stranger on fb who may or may not be a pharmacist is more reliable the the OP's consultant at her hospital?? Get a grip @Amazing

Definitely don't do that! Pumping is hideous and it's only worth doing if you can feed the baby with the milk! Even if it were true that pumping helped weight loss (which I don't buy) it still wouldn't be worth it

It’s a right faff. I could never stay on top of it when I was actually looking after the baby. It was ok when he was in hospital. I suppose you’d be actually pumping for 15-30 minutes, plus cleaning equipment time. If you wanted to mimic fully breastfeeding they had me doing this 2 hourly in the day and once overnight to maintain supply whilst he was nil by mouth initially. Could get away with less later. If you’re double pumping then your hands are kind of tied and either way you’re attached to a machine for this time. And it may or may not work for you - see replies above. If I were you I’d use that time for going for a walk instead!

I hated pumping, to keep up any kind of supply that might burn calories, you’d need to pump every 3 hours for 24 hours a day. As per a baby would feed.

I formula fed & lost all 3 pregnancy stone pretty quickly with some effort, maybe 6 months or so. The first 1.5 stone fell off in 10 days.. so water/baby I assume! The second 1.5 stones was sensible eating. I gave myself 6 weeks of eating what the heck I wanted & then spend the rest of the time watching my calories. I soon knew what 1800 calories a day equated too & I got out walking a good couple miles at a quick pace everyday with baba in the pram! I lost a pound a week.. & i def still ate cake & enjoyed lunches with my new mum friends etc! I just made sure to eat loadsa veg to fill me up & sensible portions!

Actually @AmazingGrace16 has a point, many consultants give incorrect advice about medications safe, or not safe, for breastfeeding. The Drugs in Breastmilk factsheet is by Wendy Jones, a pharmacist with an MBE who specialises in breastfeeding.

@BrandoraPaithwhite
I have plenty of "grip" thanks.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/dr-wendy-jones-the-breastfeeding-networks-pharmacist-awarded-mbe-in-queens-new-years-honours-list/

OP. As I previously explained the drugs in breast milk page is run by a pharmacist. This pharmacist has an MBE and works for the BfN. Info in the link above.

@BrandoraPaithwaite

I'd also add that consultants are not specialists in drugs. That's why we have pharmacists.

I was told I could not breastfeed due to the drugs I take. It was total bollocks based on outdated research but the information given to me was from a well-meaning consultant.

The breastfeeding network drugs helpline, which I think is the Facebook page referred to above is an amazing resource. Definitely consult Wendy Jones.

If you cant feed, dont bother pumping and dumping. It's an awful faff, and my weigh didnt drop at all til I stopped feeding at 14 months.

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I lost precisely nothing until I stopped breastfeeding after nine months.

Expressing is very hard work. Sometimes you can breastfeed fine but not get anything by expressing, that was my experience with DC2.

It can help your uterus contact back to its normal size post-partum. I remember breastfeeding and pumping was actually quite painful initial because every time my tummy would be really painful. It did help me look less pregnant more quickly I think but breastfeeding didn't make me lose weight as I was so hungry all the time.

Agree with above views. It was my consultant who incorrectly advised me not to breastfeed and the BFN who gave me proper, factual advice.

@Amazing Potentially more convincing now you've specified an expert and her credentials. Your first post didn't, and seemed to encourage OP to believe Facebook over her doctors. Which some people do.

I would still think very carefully before ignoring medical advice on the strength of something online.