What are you having? She's already 5 weeks old... Gaaah! Safe weight-loss while breast-feeding?

[peacefuleasyfeeling]

I see there is a lot of wisdom and expertise in this topic, and I think I need some of both.

DD2 is 5 weeks old today. I just popped into my local Co-Op with DD1, and the woman behind the till cheerily asked me "Do you know what you're having yet?", gesturing toward my post-pregnancy tummy (she's been asking the same question every week since she learnt I was pregnant). I feel so upset, given that I apparently, at 5 weeks post partum, still look 9 months pregnant!? Wtaf! I didn't really care until this lady made her comment. But I have put on so much more weight this pregnancy, and 15 kg are still hanging around (pre-pregnany 65 kg, now 80 kg on a 173 cm frame). With DD1 the extra weight just dropped off within a couple of weeks... I came back from the shop in floods of tears, now I feel so embarassed and sad to have cried so much in front of DD1.

I've been lucky enough never to have to think much about weight-loss, so am not that clued up on how to go about it. As I'm breastfeeding I don't want to go on a strict diet as such. I notice pretty much straight away if I'm not getting enough calories, as my milk supply goes right down. But surely I don't have to lug this extra weight around?

I have limited opportunities to exerise, so wonder what advice you can give me regarding

a) safe calorie reduction while breastfeeding; is it possible, or even worth it?
b) clever ways of exercising with / around 2 small DCs (in addition to the obvious looong buggy walks); do exercise dvds actually work for instance?

I'm not getting much sleep at the moment, with a newborn and a 3 year old sleep refusnik, does that have an impact on weight?

I'm looking forward to getting a bit wiser and motivated if anyone has any ideas to share. Apologies if this has been extensively covered elsewhere, I'm just too tired and weepy to look properly.

Daft woman (her not you!)
Be a little kinder to yourself - it takes time and your body needs to recover
How about low carbing? No calorie counting, lots of lovely food and good fats

No no no! You should not even be thinking about reducing calories until at least 3 months post partum. You're bf & I doubt your milk supply is established yet so any fiddling around with calories now is likely to be detrimental to your milk supply.

Far better to do gentle exercise like walking or swimming (gets you out of the house too!). I actually put on weight after giving birth as was so sleep deprived I just had to eat sugar to keep me going! 10 months down the line & I'm not quite a whole size bigger than pre preg so I'm happy with that. I go for an hour (or so) walk each day with dd & when she was 8 mo I started c25k. I do not watch what I eat, but nor do I go crazy either - home cooked food all the time, but I do have cake/biscuits every day.

Congratulations on your new baby too!

Hi my little one is 11 weeks now and ebf and in the past 5 weeks I've lost 13lbs using my fitnesspal just counting calories. My milk supply has been fine. The app gave me a target of 1200 cals / day and I add 500 as 'cardio' activity for the bf, I'm eating healthy meals and enjoying lots of chocolate snacks - just mini ones. I also swim for 30 mins once or twice a week and go for walks when I can, so not crazy.
I understand the need to get back to normal, ignore anyone who says you can't do it while bf - I'm proof it can be done and my little man is thriving. Good luck!

Weightwatchers works while breastfeeding but don't think you can start before 6 weeks. You get 14 extra points a day if ebf then 7 if combi feeding or weaning.
Did it first time and it didn't cause any supply problems and had so many points I could still fit in a creme egg (or two) a day and still loose weight!

DS is 16 weeks old and I also have a three year old. I'm smaller than pre-preg and have done the following:

1. monitor calories using MFP. Ignore the 1200 calories they recommend - it is far too few. I have set my target to 1500+500 more for BF. I don't stress if I go over this on occasion.
2. I started C25K when DS was 9 weeks old. I do it either first thing or when both kids are in bed (DD is a sleep-refuser so it is sometimes late).
3. Shredding when possible (it's only 20 min so squeezes in easily)
4. lots of walking with pushchair/chasing both kids around!

TBH though, at 5 weeks post-partum I think you should eat what you want, when you want and rest as much as humanly possible. At least wait until your doc check before doing anything.

Fairly - I'm sorry, but your plan sounds madness - 1700 calories whilst bfing is far too few. Fine it worked for you, but I don't think you should offer that up as advice for other new mums.

Hi OP, I have a 4 week old DD and feel your pain - she is my third DC, and after the first two the weight fell off quickly but this time I think I put on more and have two stone hanging around. I just want to feel and look like myself again, am a bit shocked at how slim I look comparatively in DS1's baby photos! I don't see that there's anything wrong with aiming for a healthy weight loss while bfing. I think I am going to start weight watchers in sept as they have meetings at the end of my road. Don't have any time to exercise with 3 under 5! Also had a csection so can't start for a while. I think looking half decent by Christmas is a reasonable aim and can't wait to get some nice winter clothes!

Forgetful - OP asked for advice on weight loss, you told how you actually put weight on, so in terms of useful advice I'd suggest the old faithful of using up more calories than you expend will result in weight loss, you just have to find your limit.

I've a post CS tummy and baby is eight weeks. I hate it!

I get very very hungry too, so I've opted to eat sensibly (so not eating an entire Jamaica ginger cake or huge bar of chocolate every day!), drink enough water and start the couch to 5k as exercise (once I have a good enough sports bra!).

After my older daughter turned one I started low carbing but found it did impact my (very well established) milk supply - I know others who have been fine - so be cautious. Overall though I do find cutting out bread helps the bloat.

Why not come onto the lose weight by Christmas, variety of methods but one goal in sight - to look fab and confident by Christmas

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/1806116-Two-stone-by-Xmas?

Fairly - 1700 calories whilst bfing a small baby (when your BM hasn't fully established itself) is too low. Also if you read my post I said I had to eat sugary things to keep my energy up as I was so sleep deprived. I believe the op also mentioned sleep deprivity so I don't think we need to suggest to her to drop her calorie intake low like that.

Op - recommended calorie intake for bfing (especially young babies like yours) is 2500. That coupled with light exercise like walking is really all you need to be concerned about atm. Remember 9 months on, 9 months off

Forgetful - 2500 is quite high for a lot of women, where did you read that recommendation? La Leche League recommend around 500 above your usual diet, as well as following a healthy diet. Their tips are pretty sound I think. Fresh, unprocessed food, balanced variety of veg, protein and wholegrain carbs and plenty of it.your milk supply should be fine and the weight will come off gradually. Sugary stuff is tempting but if I were you that's where I'd cut the calories. If you're eating lots of nutritious and filling unprocessed stuff then your energy levels should stay fairly constant.
My BIL is a dietician, and rather than calorie counting he always says that you should have 3 meals a day, take a normal dinner plate, fill half with veg, quarter protein + quarter carbs. Don't smother it in creamy stuff or fry everything and that's a healthy plate of food.

Ok apologies, I had been told 2500 by various bfing counsellors, but can't find any evidence of it online. this might be helpful though

Good morning. Thank you so much for your advice and ideas, I'm feeling a bit more level headed about it now. I realise that I really have no clue, so have had an interesting time finding out about C25K, shredding routines and low-carb eating. I'm going to chat with my GP about it at my 6 week check up next week and see what she says (pretty sure she'll prescribe lots of cake and a thicker skin...). It also occurred to me that how I look, regardless of the extra weight, might be partly postural; I developed a real hollow back in this pregnancy and still have quite pronounced lordosis, making my tummy stick out more noticably. I could probably do with doing some core strengthening exercises (now these I do know about, thankfully), again after GP checking over my stomach muscles.

I do eat a very healthy basic diet; we've been eating mainly from the allotment since DDs birth, so lots and lots of veggies with grains or pulses but like Forgetful I've been "supplementing" with sugary foods, just to keep awake, stuff like jammy toast and ice cream! I think I might find myself a calorie counting tool somewhere to see what I'm actually consuming as I really don't know. I have odd stuff like a pint of spinach and broccoli smoothie for breakfast everyday, which I assume is low in calories but might contain loads (made with 1/2 a banana and 2 tbsp yoghurt). The idea of a low-carb diet is very appealing, sounds yum.

Again, thank you all for your kind advice. Wish me luck!

It's a long time ago now, but when dd was a bf baby, I followed Slimming World's diet, on the basis that so much of it is unlimited (meat, fish,eggs, fruit, veg, cottage cheese etc on "red" days) that I would be just eating healthier and not having a substantial calorie reduction; and I could always eat more if I felt hungry, and not feel like I was "cheating"
Plus not having to count calories etc made it all more relaxing/less stress.

Good luck op! Hope your check goes well too

Hi, my baby is just about to turn 9 weeks old and I felt just like you but had a 4 stone to lose! I spoke to the Dr about it the week following the birth and checked my plan for a diet. I don't offer this as advice as I am not an expert, just what I have done and do say check with your midwife/ HV etc. However I was told sticking to under 1500 calories as a day was fine as long as I didn't cut out any food groups completely and made sure I didn't go hungry. Hence I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables which fills me up, drink lots and lots of water, and have some meat and carbs. I use a website to track my calories. Alongside this I walk for about an hour each day with baby and have just started running. I have lost between 3-4lbs each week. I ebf my baby and haven't had any supply issues. So far I have lost 29lbs and feel good.
For me it was important to start the weight loss journey as I felt so unconfident in myself and the loss already has made me feel much better.
Like I said though I have spoken to my Dr and HV, I think each case and everyone is different, so do advise you speak to someone before making any drastic changes.

OP find yourself a post natal DVD - Shiva Rea does a great one. Then give yourself a break - I waited till 8 weeks to start exercising - have 13 week and 4.5 year old DDs. I use an exercise bike and when DD1 was at school jog with pram. I'm not calorie counting - as I'm breastfeeding too. I'm going to just eat heathily and if I keep fit then when I stop BF any extra weight will fall off. I think you keep about 10-20% of pregnancy weight gain while breastfeeding which makes sense.

peaceful I'd definitely recommend a calorie counting app. I was horr

...horrified when I realised how many calories I was 'drinking' in smoothies and fruit juices. It's also shocking what a portion of some foods is actually classed as!

I use MFP and, as I said, I've lost all my baby weight + extra in 16 weeks. I've still had plenty of cake and chocolate though!

I recommend My Fitness Pal too. I eat a balanced diet sticking to 1500 calories (I would be HUGE if I ate 2500 calories!) a day. DS is 8 weeks and ebf. I have stuck to under 1500 calories since the week after he was born and he has put on 1-1.5 pounds each week so milk must be ok!
The beauty of tracking calories is you can eat whatever you want so nice and flexible when you are tired and have a new born. Good luck with it. Know how you feel.

Thanks again for your messages. I have got myself a MyFitnessPal account and have logged my eating and erm... exercise for two days -interesting.
I have felt so encouraged by the spirit of "can do" and "relax about it" you all seem to convey, that I confidently bought two pairs of jeans in the sales yesterday, in my normal size!
And just paying more attention to my posture does also seem to be making a difference.
Thank you all!

Try to concentrate on quality rather than being obsessed with quantity....

Eat well - good nutritious food, and get some exercise every day, even just a short walk with the pram/buggy but more important, get plenty of sleep or rest

If you're tired and sleep deprived, and anything like I was, you'll survive on caffeine, sugar n chocolate to offset tiredness....

Get your rest, eat as much as you want so long as its good nutrition, some fresh air and exercise and don't worry about calorie counting....

And cuddle your little one lots

Thanks, Put, you have of course hit the nail on the head there; I look into her big round eyes and in the context of how incredibly amazing it is that I have this beautiful newborn baby, I just can't see why I let it upset me so.
And as for sleeping, I'm now trying to get to bed pretty much as soon as whichever of the two DDs who is last to sleep (still experimenting with finding the most effective bedtime routine for two) has dropped off, and it's been such an improvement the last couple of days.

Hope you're feeling more positive today OP. Be kind to yourself, you did just have a baby! And congratulations .

I started low carbing when my dd got to three months. She is ebf and I've had no issues with supply, I was quite careful to keep an eye on that but I've been fine, luckily. That was three months ago, and I'm now two stone lighter! I'm lighter now than when I got pregnant, but I've still got three and a half stone to lose. I also don't do any exercise other than walking with the pushchair, but I'm aiming to take up a Pilates class soon to strengthen my pathetic core and tone up a bit.

one of the best things about low carbing is that I don't get what I call "food tired" - my blood sugar is always on a level, so although I'm up in the night with the baby and tired from that, I don't have all the peaks and slumps you get from carby food on top of that.

Just an update in case anyone searches for weight-loss and breast feeding and happens upon this thread in the next couple of months before it's wiped.

I just had my 6 week post natal check up, and to my horror, my GP found a 6 cm abdominal split (diastasis recti). I am so gutted! It does rather explain why my tummy is bulging so, but the outlook, according to my GP, looks grim.

I am a bit puzzled as I saw a physio about my SPD while pregnant who suggested I might have diastasis recti, but didn't really explain what it was or emphasise what a pain in the butt it is, more just mentioned it in passing as a thing to review post-partum, so I forgot about it. When my midwife tested my abdominals at the 10 day check, she said I was just fine. I have an awful, nagging suspicion that perhaps I was fine, but that I made it split by being really active (and I mean really active) in the weeks after the birth... Could that have happened?

So, those of you who advised me to wait until the 6 week check before exercising, thank you so much, as my GP seems to think that just about everything I do at this stage carries a risk of making it worse, and is more or less advising me to sit on a chair for the rest of my life, doing Kegels... I'm getting a second opinion tomorrow and hopefully a physio referral!