Weight Watchers while breast feeding?

[gingerkirsty]

Hello ladies
Has anyone done WW while BF?

DD is 6 months old and I have actually put some weight back on after losing most of my baby weight! So it's time to go back on WW.

However there is no way I will go to a meeting - I did it online before and loved it, but they don't allow for BF.

From Googling, it seems that you just allow an extra 10 points a day (which seems like loads to me) - is that right? And as we are now doing baby led weaning, although DD is currently taking virtually no solids in, as she gradually starts eating more, she will be BFing less - how would I adjust points to allow for this?

Any advice would be much appreciated before I take the plunge and sign back up!

I would think it's absolutely fine. I actually did that for a while while BF & it was all good, no problems at all. Why would it be a problem, after all? If you're adding 10 points a day at first, and losing weight, and eating reasonably healthily, that's all fine.

I think there's a lot of misinformation about the amount of food & quality of food women need to be eating while BF in order to be producing good milk. The body makes good quality breast-milk even in malnourished women (which you won't be on WW).

Good luck!

Brilliant thank you I shall go for it then!

I've just started WW whilst BF this week (DD is only 3 weeks but breastfeeding is well established so I'm just following it at home).

It's 10 extra points for full breastfeeding or 5 extra points if only partial breastfeeding - if I was you I'd start with 10 and then reduce down if the weight isn't shifting.

As long as the points are being used on sensible food rather than just lots of cake I don't think there is any really problems with sensible weight loss while breastfeeding.

Good luck

Thanks Jamie that sounds sensible - I think some food is going in now judging by nappy contents so will give it a couple of weeks and then reduce down if no loss. Ten extra points seems like loads considering I am only allocated 18 in the first place! Congratulations on your baby and I hope it all goes well for you. :)

Have since decided to only add on the 5 points, she MUST be taking in SOME solids at least, plus I am FF her dream feed, so I think partial BF covers it. However DH went and bought kettle chips this eve so that was prob the extra 5 points anyway!

DD is 6 months and have been doing WW since she was 2 months, fully BF until 2 weeks ago when we started weaning and mixed feeding her. Have lost 21lb so far :) (another stone to go though, I, ahem, ate my bodyweight in chocolate ate a little bit too much when pregnant).

If you are breastfeeding exclusively you can have an extra 10 points a day, the minute you offer something else even if it's just a bottle a day or they are only eating a small amount take it down to 5 extra, when you have stopped breastfeeding completely it's back to your normal points allowance.

ginger, I did it when ds3 was exclusively bf, allowed 10 points extra and lost seven pounds the first week! I allowed 5 extra points once he was on some solids and dropped it to 3 extra points when he was 1.
Worked very well.

Did fall off the wagon and put it all back on again but that's another story!

I lost 3 stone successfully on WW a few years ago, so knew it would be what I used to lose baby weight.

I wasn't 100% sure about doing it while bf, so I waited until dd was 9 months and only really having 3 feeds a day - and quite soon after that, only two - so that I knew she wouls be getting most of her nutrients form food anyway. She was eating well and gaining nicely, so I didn't worry.

I have to say, I was a bit wary of doing it before that - but actually, it was prob more that I was enjoying all that cake! (Hence the need for WW in the end). And going back to work has certainly been a huge motivation...

Having said that, I am not trying to criticise people who did it sooner - I think WW is a gift!

Oooh hello, sorry I didn't realise anyone else had posted, how rude of me!

Thanks ladies, I should def only be adding the 5 points then. Tis a bit of a PITA really tho as the site obviously records everything for me EXCEPT those 5 extra points.

I am considering working out 5 points worth of stuff i can have every day without adding it to my tracker - otherwise my tracker shows me as being over my points every day IYSWIM. I guess i could use the extra points for cake or wine...

I can't remember how much I weighed when i started WW in the first place (maybe 11.5 st?) but i got down to 9.5 just before i discovered i was pg. Would like to go down to 9 in the long run but maybe just 9.5 while still BF. I am 5' 4" btw. Does that sound sensible to you?

Gingerkirsty

I am doing WW online and I was able to adjust my profile to allow for my breastfeeding.

I had used WW online after I stopped BFing DD and I was allowed 20 points which went down to 19.

I decided to start again while I am still BFing DS and when I logged in again, I think I was able to get into my profile to adjust my stats and it did have an option to state whether you are breastfeeding or not. I am now on 29 points as I am still exclusively BFing.

It is worth playing around with it and seeing if you can change your settings as it makes all a little easier.

Haven't read the whole thread as need to get DS out of a cupboard!

I did WW online when breastfeeding and there was an allowance for that. I think I was allowed 26 points when partially breastfeeding (didn't start WW until DS was about 9 months - will be a lot sooner this time)!

lol @ "need to get DS out of a cupboard"

imissmyjeans I will have a play around with that now, thank you!

imissmyjeans you are a STAR!!! How easy was that?! If only WW actually told you how to do it in the first place! Brilliant, thank you very much indeed. :)