Gaining Weight While Breastfeeding

Updated on March 21, 2008
B.M. asks from Houston, TX
6 answers

I was just wondering if it's normal to gain weight while breastfeeding. I'm have 4 month old twins that I'm breastfeeding and pumping every 3-4 hours and I'm gaining weight. =( I weigh more now than when I left the hospital and I'm active and eat an extremely health well balanced diet. I don't even have snacks or junk food in my house, so I'm at a loss and just wanted to know if anyone else experienced something similar. Thanks

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K.W.

answers from Corpus Christi on

Maybe you should have your thyroid checked, it might have gone out of whack as a result of your pregnancy.

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A.E.

answers from Austin on

I definitely gained weight while breastfeeding. As soon as I stopped, the weight started coming off. I always heard it was the other way around, but for me, it just kept the fat on. :) It is a year and a half since I stopped breastfeeding and I have lost all my baby weight except maybe 3 pounds or so. The only thing I can think of that has changed in diet is that I stopped drinking soda. ??

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G.F.

answers from Houston on

I gained weight while breastfeeding too. I am trying to lose it now but it is so hard. Good luck with the twins!

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C.B.

answers from Houston on

LOL! Sorry.

I never had twins...but....

Each of my pregnancies I got "yelled at" because I just wasn't putting the weight on. I thought I was doing alright...I always ended up at least 20 pounds heavier than I started.

BUT, the weight really piled on WHILE I was nursing, and no matter what I did, wouldn't come off until I stopped.

I started my "motherhood" out at 115 pounds. By the time I ended, I was 250 while not pregnant!

I typically would loose all the pregnant weight during the first month, but within the first 3 months had gained it all back plus a 30 extra pounds (total of about 50 - 70 pounds while nursing). Then I'd get 20 - 30 pounds off, and be pregnant again - never having gotten back to pre-pregnant weight after the cessation of nursing.

I am in the process now of finally getting the weight back off (but I've also got thyroid problems that were diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago, and now have diabetes and heart problems). The process is going really slowly, and there are many plateus along the way. I seem to loose 5 - 10 pounds, gain 2 - 5 back, then loose again, or stay there for a month.

Since June of last year I've gone from 240 down to 215. Not good, but it is better than I was. My goal is 125 - 130.

Good luck. Don't let the weight gain trouble you too much.

Oh, I also really like the weight watchers diet for pregnant and nursing moms. It does allow for snacks, and when I was able to afford that, I maintained instead of gained during my nursing phases of life.

C. B.

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D.G.

answers from Houston on

I have gained weight breastfeeding. (though most of the people I know do the opposite!). I was hungrier, not sure if was due to the caloric drain of nursing or wonky blood sugar levels that can come with sleep deprivation. So I basically ate more to compensate- I wasn't always reaching for healthy snacks though.

If you are active and eating right and still gaining you might want to get your thyroid checked just in case. Pregnancy can trigger or unmask a thyroid problem for some women.

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A.K.

answers from Austin on

i don't gain, but i have a hard time losing. i lose the first 25 lbs and then i'm stuck (i gained about 40-45 lbs)
you're body can hold onto it more b/c it is such a drain calorically that your body may think it's starving. i would agree with possibly having your thyroid checked if you're having other issues (like very exhausted, cold all the time) if there is still no change by 9 months. that seems to be when my body finally lets go of the weight. i figured it took me that long to gain it, it will take that long to lose it.
good luck and congrats on twins! i have a 4 month old as well (and a 2 1/2 yr. old)

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