Breastfeeding makes me retain weight

[Babynamechangerr]

Looking for advice - four weeks postpartum with dc3 and breastfeeding.

Breastfed both other two dc for a year and found that contrary to what some people find, where breastfeeding helps them shed the lbs, I find the opposite - I retain weight until I stop breastfeeding, despite pretty intensive exercising (eg swimming /2-3 classes a week, as much as I can manage with kids) and healthy eating (ie using my fitness pal so I know portions are not huge etc, and eating mainly decent non processed food).

This pregnancy I've put on more weight than previously (about 2 stone) so body confidence is zero at the moment,and bit depressed about the idea of looking like this until I stop breastfeeding.

I'm just wondering whether anyone has been in the same boat (where they retain weight whilst breastfeeding) who found a way round it?

Thanks in advance.

Yes. I was a stone over my ideal weight each time till I stopped breastfeeding at about 14 months. This time I'm 2 stone over! I did put more weight on though and am now also over 40. She's down to one breastfeed a day so I'm hoping I can start to shed at least a stone.

Yes I put on weight too whilst bf but have PCOS so I put weight on easily anyway. I do seem to lose it once I've stopped it. I have read though that we often mistake our body's thirst signals for hunger so I drink a glass of water first then if I'm still peckish, try to have healthy snacks like nuts, dates, roti etc.