Birth Control, Working Out, and Nursing

I have to agree that the ergo carrier is an excellent way to shape up the butt, hips & thighs! I have used one with my daughter since she was that age (now 18 mos.). They are the best carriers on the market~no stress at all to your back! A bit pricey up front, but worth it since they can be used until 40lbs I think. Overall I wouldn't worry too much about the extra weight...it will come off eventually if you continue to nurse. It took me about a year to get back to my pre-baby size. Don't be too hard on yourself~focus on enjoying your baby because they grow faster than you ever imagined! I'm not sure about the low milk supply thing~always thought it was a supply demand thing where your body produces on call. There is a great tea out by Traditional Medicinals called Mothers Milk that helped me greatly when I began nursing. Good luck with everything!

I had the same issue! Just one day of not eating enough or drinking enough water - or a bad night's sleep & my supply was affected. It's hard, and I felt like everyone was losing weight...and my scale was stuck on one number. Yoga has helped "tone" as well as walking whenever we can. He started solids, and sleeping better around six months. That has made a huge difference! I have more energy now, and slowly have seen a change in my shape. Good luck!!!

Walking is the best way to help you tone up and not use as many calories.

Hi R.
I have an IUD (Mirena) form of birth control and love it, was wary at first but a true fan now. I had it inserted at my 6 week follow up visit (postpartum) and breastfed my son for one full year with no problems. I still have it and it has been 3 1/2 years. I did not start working out until after i stopped breastfeeding but I have friends that do both and seem to do so easily. Good Luck.

From what I have read/been told/experienced a woman's breasts will make enough milk for the baby as long as they continue to nurse. Exercise and eating right to lose weight shouldn't have a negative effect on the milk. As a vegetarian who doesn't eat many fatty foods it took me 9 weeks to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I nursed exclusively for almost 6 months and my child was totally weaned at 11 months old. We both had a clean bill of health and no issues regarding my milk.
(I'm a work from home R.E.Broker too!)

I'd say as long as you keep taking your prenatal vitamin supplement (it's why nursing is sometimes called "the fourth trimester") and getting adequate nutrition (especially protein and calcium), it's a fine idea to squeeze in a mild exercise routine. Exercise is good for you, and it keeps your bones strong, which is important for nursing mom's.

Check with a midwife to get the inside scoop on IUDs. There are new and different kinds on the market now than when our mom's were young, and sometimes they can work well for mothers. Also, I think octoxynol can work for those who are allergic to nonoxynol.

And the suggestion from one of the other moms about the nursing tea is right on, I loved that stuff! I, too, did not produce copious milk, and I think that tea really helped, and it also seemed to cut down on colicky gas for my baby.

Good luck!

I have the exact same question and issue! Bring on the advice people! :)

Hi R.. You probably have already gotten this advice, but just in case.....
pump after each feeding to increase your supply.
eat oatmeal as it has been shown to also increase milk supply.

I am a fitness trainer, and I suggest doing some pilates. It is GREAT for toning without all the bouncing and sweating, etc.
Another great way to shape up is to so isometric exercises (exercises where you just do one and hold the position for x number of seconds). For example: plank, ab plank, wall chairs, bridges, crunches, static lunges, and the like.
I hope this helps!
Feel free to email me as well.
~G.