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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

why oh why am i regaining weight while bfeeding?

26 replies

Vmama · 27/05/2007 18:45

i'm so depressed and please don't tell me it doesn't matter because it does.

i gainec 3 stone while pregnant -usually 9st went up to 12 and am 5ft4

i lost a stone at birth and a few pounds in the first 2 wks after having ds (now 14wks)

but my weight has stalled between 10 and half and 11 st since then. I'm bfeeding and typical day's food is cereal, salad for lunch with seeds, feta cheese and balsamic dressing or salad with cous cous then maybe pasta for tea and then quite often i do eat chocolate.

i'm bfeeding and everyone told me that would help me lose weight but its not and my boobs are horribly huge previously 32dd i am now 36g.

am about to start exercising again after a c-section and have been swimming a few times already. my friend whose babe is 5wks younger has lost most of her weight after c-section so i know you can do it but i can't start dieting while bfeeding can i?

i'm cutting out choc from this wk but even with it i don't feel like i eat enough to still b so big

help!

OP posts:
belgo · 27/05/2007 18:49

It took me more then a year of bfing to finally regain my prepregnancy weight. I didn't diet - quite the opposite - I ate lots of chocolate, and excercised lots.

I think you can start dieting while bfing, but I didn't becuase I don't agree with dieting.

You're doing fine, congratulations on your baby, and well done for bfing!

pinkdolly · 27/05/2007 18:56

Hi, my dd is nearly 11 months. And I am still not down to my pre pg weight. I am the same height as you and was also 9 stone before I got pg. Gained 2 stone, lost a stone after the birth and havent lost anymore since. sometimes a few pounds here and there but they always seem to creep back on. My weakness is also chocolate and since I have been breastfeeding I have a super sweet tooth. Still I have heard that some women dont lose any weight whilst b/fing but it just drops off afterwards...I so hope thats true!

Try and look at it this way. You are doing the best thing you can by b/fing your lo, if the weight comes off thats a bonus. But try and relax. I admit I did get upset when my weight wasn't shifting. But dd so enjoys to beastfeed and it's not going to be forever. I have lost the weight before and I know I can do it again.

Of course that doesn't stop me from trying, have just gone and brought a trampette to bounce some pounds and flab away (hopefully).

Original poster
Vmama · 27/05/2007 19:59

i hear what you're saying but 2 stone seems such a lot of extra weight to be carrying -I'm not used to being so big. DH thinks bfeeding programs your body to store extra weight to nourish you and the baby while you're feeding -what do you think?

I keep trying to ditch the chocolate but then caving because it's sometimes the only thing that can cheer me up at the end of a tough day. Am planning to try agin this week.

OP posts:
belgo · 27/05/2007 20:10

bfing helped me lose the weight around my hips and tummy, along with daily sit ups and daily walking. I found it a far more effective form of weight loss then any diet. The weight loss was gradual over the first year,then fast.

I know many women who have been thinner while bfing then before their pregnancy!

It's still very early days - just 14 weeks - the weight will come off but it may take a little longer!

If you do diet, I suspect the weight will come off a lot faster, but I wouldn't recommend this as it may make you feel tired and grumpy, and this is exactly the time when you need a lot of energy for your new baby.

pinkdolly · 27/05/2007 20:11

vmama- u sound like me with the chocolate, i have tried to give up several times. But find myself craving it-especially when I am tired, run down and feeling low.

I have heard it said before about your body storing extra weight to nourish both you and the baby. Tik tok or mears would know more about that but i'm inclined to believe it's true.

And I do get down about my weight at times. Especially when I think that I lost weight a lot quicker with dd2 (but then she didn't get the benefit of b/fing due to problems).
And of course i'm thinking summer's nearly here and i'm all out of shape. This time last year I was 8 months pg so wasn't bothered.

In the end it came down to a choice with me. I knew I could lose weight easier if I stopped b/fing, but i'm so glad i didn't. I love it and the bond that me and dd3 have is stronger because of it.

I just keep telling myself that when she is weaned I will be a size 10 again. I have faith that I can do it, and you must to.

You are doing an excellent job, and the pounds will come off, just give it time. It might not be what you want to hear but just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one.

Pink

BrummieOnTheRun · 27/05/2007 20:15

IL think it's natural to feel big for the first few months...and having what feel like huge boobs can really affect your body image.

personally i wouldn't ditch the chocolate unless you're eating your own body weight in the stuff! but make it really GOOD 70% cocoa chocolate.

have you tried ditching complex carbs in the evening and sticking to protein?

tortoiseSHELL · 27/05/2007 20:17

I'm someone who can't lose weight for love or money when b/feeding. It does seem to come off afterwards, I particularly noticed that with dd. WIth ds I got pregnant the month after stopping b/feeding so that wasn't so easy to measure. Trying to wean ds2 atm, but he's not well atm, so leaving it till he's better.

NappyValleyMum · 27/05/2007 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Celery · 27/05/2007 20:24

Yeah, it's a myth, this breastfeeding helps you lose weight crap. I'm sure it does for some women, but for just as many, breastfeeding helps you retain or put on weight. I bf my second child for 18 months and didn't lose a pound. Stopped bf and lost a stone in a month, without doing anything. Don't let it put you off bf, however long you do it for - be it 6 months or 2 years, it's still a comparitively short space of time, and chances are the weight will drop off once you've stopped.

Original poster
Vmama · 27/05/2007 20:43

thanks everyone -i know you're all right and it's the only thing that keeps me going when i feel down -looking at his little face and knowing that he's thriving because of me and my ginormous boobs!

have just supped a mug of cocoa to stave off the choc cravings hope it works

might try the no-carbs thing as i have lost weight that way before

OP posts:
BrummieOnTheRun · 27/05/2007 21:57

if cutting all complex carbs is difficult, just quitting wheat may have a dramatic effect. porridge instead of wheat cereal, oatcakes instead of bread, rice not pasta, etc...

potoroo · 27/05/2007 22:12

You can diet while BF, but do it sensibly - no crash dieting! You do need extra calories than normal while BF so take it slowly.

Incidently I am also 5ft4 and went from around 9st to nearly 12 st when pregnant. I was horrified!

But I went to WW and lost it all (WW does take BF mums into account in their plan - you get extra allowances). I had stopped BF around the same time, but I think that was co-incidental. Cutting down on chocolate, cheese and reducing the amount of pasta/potatoes/rice (not cutting out, just reducing) was the biggest factor.

fishie · 27/05/2007 22:16

vmama don't give yourself too much of hard time. i don't think bf makes much difference to weight, it is more to do with activity, which you can't do much about while your baby is small.

yes you can diet, but pregnancy does bugger about with your body. i didn't really start getting back to normal until a year, (ds 2 and i am continuing to bf), have lost a stone recently. my friend didn't lose any weight till her ds was 18m and she stopped bf at 9m.

ruddynorah · 27/05/2007 22:20

it isn't a magic thing. you will lose weight if your calorific intake is less than the amount you burn up. that's the entire crux of the matter. if you eat more than you burn off then you will put weight on. bf is an easy way to burn up calories by just sitting there feeding your baby. is it something like 500 calories a day ish with a new born? something like that.

i lost weight through bf simply because i was marooned on the sofa with a suckling baby unable to get to any food to eat it!

Otter · 27/05/2007 22:26

i dont lose it till i sop - then it drops off hth

Tangfastic · 27/05/2007 22:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Vmama · 28/05/2007 19:23

tangfastic you sound just like me -normally i just get active at the gym/spinning etc to shift the poundds but cos of the section i can only just start exercising and only gently to start with.

I think having such huge boobs makes me feel bigger than I am as nothing fits me (36G) but am hoping these will go as soon as I stop feeding.

you're right about the rewarding yourself thing and i will cut out the choc during the week and see what happens. I also think am going to limit carbs in the evening as last time i did that the weight just fell off.

Just feel like i have a mountain to climb and am terrified that i won't lose the weight before returning to work meaning I'll hve no clothes at all to wear.

OP posts:
Tangfastic · 28/05/2007 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

luciemule · 28/05/2007 22:29

Hello - your DH is right in that your body will store useful fat around your chest, boobs, arms and shoulders whilst you're producing milk.
You're doing a great job for your baby and your diet sounds fab and very healthy.
What chocolate are you eating? If it's milk, try swapping to dark as you don't need very much to satisfy your choccie craving and the extra iron is good for tiredness/milk production.
I really would not try to diet - I did that by eating not very much at all in the first few weeks of BF and the midwife said I was bonkers as the weight would only really start to come off once I stopped BF. I also stopped producing as much milk and felt dizzy and faint an awful lot.
Your baby is only still very young and once you get into a really good routine and don't feel as tired you can start walking more or go to the gym etc.

CGOmum · 28/05/2007 22:41

Snap - don't eat much chocolate but I gained weight whilst breast feeding all 3 tines. HV said that any extra calories etc from what I ate would go into breast milk - crap it went into my hips and bum etc. Stil not pre-pregant weight from dd1 who's just turned 4yrs. Keep going the weight is now slowly coming off as I've stopped breast feeding and started a diet ds3 nearly 8mths.

takefu · 01/06/2007 13:42

Happy to hear that dark chocolate has iron in it!

I'm feeling the same way- lost about a stone when DD was born but now I'm stuck at a stone above where I used to be. And my tummy is a big wobbly jelly belly! DD is only 12 weeks- it's good to read all the advice here. I guess its more important to provide nutrition for our babies than it is to lose weight!

luciemule · 01/06/2007 13:46

Your baby is only 12 weeks - blomey - you've got ages yet before you need to start worrying about your tummy! Chill girl and eat the chocolate!!!
Saying that, my tummy is still wobbly/jelly 2 years 8 months after 2nd!!! Whoops - a bit too much dark choc I think in my case!

Shrinkinglily · 01/06/2007 13:56

I put on 3 stone in pregnancy and 11 weeks on have two stone to lose.
I am eating LOADS of chocolate!
I don't mind losing WEIGHT slowly but not losing anything is depressing so on Monday I'm giving up chocolate!
I do lose half a stone when I stop breast feeding and feel as if my body wants to hold on to the weight at the moment sort of thing...

luciemule · 01/06/2007 14:08

I meant to type Blimey, not blomey!

Shrinkinglily · 01/06/2007 14:14

I meant to type weight not WEIGHT

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