Did You Need to Breastfeed at Least 6 Months Before Significant Weight Loss?

With respect to losing baby weight, a friend once told me "9 months on, 9 months off". This is exactly what happened for me. Like you, most of my weight came off within a month or two of my daughter's birth. The last few pounds came off much more slowly, but I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight after 9 months. Try to be patient. :)

My situation was similar to previous posters. I lost everything but 10 pounds right after a few months. I did work out but was eating EVERYTHING. I was ravenous when I was breast feeding. When I stopped around 1 year, I lost 10 more pounds.

Good luck, it will happen.

It’s all quite individual and depends mostly one one’s genetics, I’m sure (look at the women in your family). I nursed my son for 2.5 years. I was down to below my pre-pregnancy weight within the first month after he was born. Even though I could have taken after one of my grandmothers or aunts, this was identical to my mother’s experience (she only nursed for three months).

I nursed for 1 year, ate healthy, exercised regularly, and could not loose weight. When I stopped nursing I fought with my weight for the past 4 years, but it just wouldn't go down or stay down. Now that my daughter is 4 I am finally able to loose weight and keep it off, but it has taken a lot of work! Before I had her I could loose weight so easily and quickly and keep it off without doing much. I feel like I live in a completely different body now! I am down to my pre-preggo weight, in excellent shape, but it sure doesn't look the same (and not as good).

My point: Your body will do what it does and the only thing you can do while you are nursing is treat it well, eat healthy, exercise, and hope that you are one of those lucky women who drops the pounds. If not, you will have to put the extra work in. Good luck!

i nursed my daughter for over two years and i'm still 15-20 pounds more than pre-pregnancy. i eat extremely well and i exercise. i don't think our bodies are supposed to look the same. we're moms now.

good luck but don't stress about it. who cares how much you weigh? love your body and your baby and stay healthy.

Here's something I learned *after* I weaned my first at 16 months-some moms stay about 5-10lbs above their pregnancy weight while breastfeeding! I could not for the life of me figure out why I couldn't drop those last 10 lbs! I think it's our body's way of making sure we have enough while we are making enough for baby.

Besides, it took 9 months to gain the weight. It's only been 3.5 months. You are doing great!

Congratulations on doing the best for baby and you by breastfeeding!

I nursed my second son for a year and didn't loose any significant amount of weight. I think it all depends on your genes and metabalisum(sp?).

wait until you hit the 10 and 11 month mark.....then you should notice another weight loss (as long as you are also watching what you eat) to give you an idea I will tell you my weight loss after having my second daughter and yes I nursed her until she was 13 months. I am 5'3, my starting weight was 115 and I gained 27 pounds total. After having my baby I lost 16 pounds in the first 6 weeks. Then it did slow down but by the time she was 6 months old I was back to 115. So it took about 5 months to lose another 11 pounds. But after that I continued to shed more pounds which I can say had to have been because I was still nursing. By the time she was 10 or 11 months (i can't remember for sure) I was down to 107! I lost another 8 pounds. The weight lose does slow down but I'm not complaining as long as the weight was still coming off I was happy.

Hi,
I think that you should be very happy that you lost 23 pounds already! That is awesome. I also think that everyone is different, and for some, the pounds seem to come off instantly, while others have to struggle with it. But, either way, my suggestion is to be patient....your baby is only 3.5 months old. Speaking from experience, it took me a whole 2 years to be even close to my pre-pregnancy weight...no joke (and oh - I am just weaning my toddler now). I'm not saying that is what you should expect, but I just wanted to give you some perspective.
I have heard that breast feeding burns so many calories, it helps you lose weight, but I have also heard that breast feeding keeps you body in a different state, and can cause you to keep the pounds on....as usual, there seems to be no right answer, and varying opinions. Good for you for getting in a 2 mile daily walk! If you keep that up, I think you'll be losing some extra pounds in the coming months....just be patient. You're doing a great job!
S.
mama to an almost 3 year old girl

I was a Breastfeeder with my last son. I too heard that breastfeeding can help with weight lost. This is not a result everyone gets. I lost weight while breastfeeding, however it was later discovered that I suffer from Hyperthyroidism and the weight loss was from my condition and not nursing. My sister breastfed her son as well, the results for her was that she actually gained weight instead of losing. I believe it is different for each mother. Child birth takes a toll on your body and hormones. I would just really focus more on the bond of that mother and child connection and before you know it with good diet and regular exercise the weight will shed by itself!!

With both my kids, I only lost 10# initially of the 25-30# that I had gained while pregnant. Then at 4-5 months postpartum, I finally started sleeping better and the weight slowly came off over the next 8 months at the rate of about 2#/month. I breastfed exclusively. I think the added sleep and higher nutritional needs of the baby were the main reasons for the weight loss although I also exercised this whole time as well. You burn about 20kcal per ounce of breast milk you produce, so it WILL happen. Hang in there!

I breastfed for 6 months, but didn't notice easy weight loss until 3 months after that. I truly think my body was not letting me lose any more weight during the 6 months because it needs extra fuel to make milk. Be patient. Giving your baby a healthy start is much more important than losing that last few pounds. I even was smaller at my son's first b day than I had ever been before being preggers!

-- GOOD LUCK!

I think that the most drastic weight loss was right after my son was born. Then it decreased, but it was slow and steady. Just keep doing what you are doing and it will come off. I think it was about 6 months where I say, "Wow, they were right!"

I nursed for 6 months and felt that I didn't loose everything until I stopped nursing!! I think you body needs to store some stuff to make the milk!!

It sounds like you proly just hit a plateu and maybe need to shake it up a little. That can happen with weight loss. Maybe you could walk an extra mile a day, or try jogging a little bit. You could also try throwing an exercise video in, or even taking a class once a week. Just something to shake things up a bit! I know it is easier said than done! When I had my youngest I walked with her in a baby sling and it gave me extra weight to carry around and that def helped get those extra pounds off! Good luck and I hope I could help a little!

i had hungry babies, I guess, but in about 6-8 months, i was down below my pre pregnancy weight. I always had people worrying about me. But I loved being that skinny. I ate like a pig and was always eating, and just lost weight rapidly, I quit nursing my son earlier and my weight leveled out and I had to try to reduce my appetite so I wouldn't gain weight

When you are breastfeeding you burn 500 extra calories a day (or so, this obviously depends on the individual). So it's a matter of balancing intake and calories used. Many women feel like they don't lose the last 5 or so pounds until they are done nursing, but there isn't really a biological reason- it may have something to do with the fact that nursing makes a lot of people feel hungry:)

It took me about 9-10months of BF before I was back to pre-pregnancy weight. It might take some time but it will come off. For me I had to keep reminding myself that I was not pregnant anymore when I reached for extra snacks that I really didn't need. I also walked everyday just enough to get my heartrate up.

I nursed 3 kids for 2 years and never lost anything,,,,

I was not a woman who lost weight while breast feeding. I am still nursing my almost two-year-old (I am planning on stopping very soon), and my doc told me I'm likely one of those nursing women who won't lose all the weight until I'm done nursing. I work out, run almost every day, go for walks, etc., but I'm still a solid 15 pounds over my pre pregnancy weight. I have noticed the less I nurse the better my pants fit... it's crazy.

Good luck, but don't stress too much about it. This time in your life will be over soon and you will have given your baby such a great start in life. A little extra weight is a small price to pay for a healthy baby.

Everyone is different. I had a significant weight loss after birthing my twins, and they nursed for 15 months. I'd lost all but 7 pounds by the time they were two months old, and by the time they were one year I was 26 pounds under pre-pregnancy weight. However, a friend of mine lost all but 10 pounds, and she nursed for 7 months. It takes time. You should be eating right anyway, but once your little baby starts moving, you will have to, also. The weight will come off with sensible choices and moderate exercise.