Losing Weight After Baby - Minneapolis,MN

Cut out dairy - I did it with both kids (they happened to have milk allergies), and I lost a ton of extra weight - even below my pre-pregnancy weight. You can still get calcium and vitamin D from soy milk and supplements. Even cut out butter and use Smart Balance or something similar. It's hard at first, but the pounds will FLY off!

S., I'm a runner and really worried about the weight with my first baby. I gained 45 lbs. even though I still exercised a lot. I think for us active/low body fat percentage people, our bodies go into emergency fat storing mode when we are pregnant. I had a c-section so it took a while for me to be able to be active again. About 5 months after having baby, I was able to really start running again and that on top of breastfeeding was amazing for losing the weight. It just was falling off and I got down to what I weighed in high school, at age 28, and I was eating constantly too because of burning so many calories w/ b.feeding. I'm due w/ my 2nd one in 2 weeks and have gained 15 lbs. less this time without exercising much at all. Go figure. If you're an active person normally, your body will go back to that weight so don't worry about it. I know it's hard to watch that scale go up every month.

You've gotten good advice here, I'll just throw in that I too could/can eat and eat and not gain, and in terms of your overall health and *the nutritional quality of your breastmilk*, you don't want to lose the weight too quickly. Rapid weight loss will stress your system further, and for me, there was a definite correlation between losing the rest of my baby weight and (I think) the fat content of my milk suffered. There was a marked shift in my son's growth curve at that time, and I don't think it was coincidental since he was still exclusively breastfed, nor do I think it was a growth spurt since we'd made it through several at that point without a growth curve shift. Rereading my original response, (I'm editing now) I don't think it was a supply issue, it was a quality issue... The idea that breastmilk is breastmillk no matter what you eat is just not true. You have to be just as mindful as when you were pregnant I think.

For example, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrion stating that eating organic milk and dairy improves the nutritional quality of breastmilk: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_6245.cfm

Breastfeeding (without supplementation) burns 500 calories a day, FYI.

Worry about the quality and variety of food you're eating and ignore the scale. If you eat good quality foods and don't eat junk the only weight you put on will be exactly what you and your baby need, for pregnancy and nursing, to stay healthy.

Good luck and congratulations!

You probably have nothing to worry about. My weight fell off in the first couple months, and I do have to watch what I eat. (But usually am not good about it!) The only warning I have is that while breastfeeding you will lose alot without trying, and it may come back within weeks of weening off the breast. Be careful then!

Breastfeeding should take most of the weight off. Breastfeeding didn't work out for me and I didn't lose the weight until I motivated myself and took up running. That has been the only thing which has ever made a dent in my weight in the past so I knew it would work this time. I'm due with my second in December and will attempt breastfeeding again but, even if it does work, my busy work schedule won't allow me to keep it up for more than three months, so I'll be running again.

Just try your best not to worry!! I have had two babies!! 22 mos girl and a 4 mos boy. Your body craves what it needs, so don't restrict yourself when you are pregnant (just go with flow and have fun eating). If you are planning on nursing, the pounds will melt off, I did not have to exercise with my first one, and was back to my pre-preg wt in about 3-4 mos. When breastfeeding you tend to loose more wt in the butt and thighs (thank GOD)!! Also 37 lbs is nothing, I gained close to 50 lbs!! You will loose alot the wt @ delivery (water wt ect...) good luck!!

I was like you (am like you) with the exact same stats. I gained over 40 pounds with my pregnancy but I think I put on more because I was considered "underweight" to begin with (according to the charts) I was down to 140 or 135 right away and I actually liked how I looked but I agree with your other advisor: breastfeeding will make you feel like you are starving so if you choose to breastfeed don't worry too much about getting that weight off immediately. I breastfed for a year and it took a good year to get back into my pre-pregnancy jeans. I am back to 125 pounds and still have a high metabolism and don't have to stress too much about my weight (and I'm almost 40). So I am sure your weight will melt away (slowly...don't expect to do it like the celebrities) and I bet you will get rid of the weight and be back to normal in about a year.

Hi S.!
I'm like you--active and pretty much naturally thin, but during both of my pregnancies I gained a lot of weight--50 pounds! It did bother me but I also had to remind myself that it was healthy. I didn't eat too much junk food, but I didn't stay away from it completely.

I nursed my kids, and was fairly active though not like before pregnancy. At the time it felt like forever, but the weight did come off pretty easily just through a healthy diet (not a restrictive diet!) and moving a little every day. Six weeks and six months seem to be the times I noticed significant weight loss. I think I was back in a size 2 by 9 months.

As far as clothing goes, I had to wear maternity for several weeks. Don't worry about it! It will come off, and you had to gain it! Enjoy pregnancy without worrying about your weight. We put too much emphasis on numbers. If you're healthy and your dr. isn't concerned, who cares. I didn't let mine tell me my weight until after the pregnancy.

I wouldn't worry too much; as long as you are eating healthy foods, and continuing to be as active as is safe, you should be fine! I am about 5'-1" tall, and normally weigh about 105. I have never had to worry about my weight, but generally try to eat right. I gained over 40 lbs with my first, and I was on a diabetic diet! I lost it all, had a second child and lost all of that. Your body type will have a lot to do with it. Although doctors like to have you gain 25 lbs, I think each of our bodies are programmed to do what they need to do. I ate right and still gained "too much" weight. Stay healthy and active and enjoy these last few weeks~ Good luck!

Hi S.,

Your description of your weight and eating habits sound exactly like me. I was five three 110 lbs before getting pregnant. I went up to 160!!! (with both of my pregnancies.) My weight was 130 walking out of the hospital. 30 pounds of my weight was baby and water. I didn't diet because I really wanted to breast feed. Still, eating healthy I dropped 10 more pounds without even trying. Once I stopped breast feeding (when my baby was 3 months) I dropped the last little bit with sensible diet and exercise. Once you see your baby, you won't even care about your weight you'll be so in love!!! They say 9 months to gain, 9 months to lose. I had it easier, some never lose it - even if this happens and you weigh more but are healthy so what? Your new bundle will more than make up for it. Good luck and don't stress about your weight. Take time to recover and enjoy your child.

Sign up for a new website called, www.curvesfoods.com. It's new for women sharing ways to eat better and exercise more. They have a community topic just for new moms. (Plus you can get a free sample of the new Curves cereal, which fills you up and is really yummy.) Check it out.

Try to remember that a lot of that 37 lbs is baby and or baby equipment (placenta, amniotic fluid, etc.). Right after you have the baby you will likely still be wearing your maternity clothes from roughly halfway through. It takes time for your insides to shrink back and that will impact the clothes you can fit into. Breastfeeding will help you drop the weight (just remember that it doesn't work for every mom or every baby, no matter what people tell you...trust me I tried it twice and it just didn't take). Anyway, try to get enough rest and enjoy your baby. If you need to buy some clothes to accompany your changed body, then so be it. I guess what I am trying to say is relax a little and don't focus on that aspect so much. Be realistic, it will be a while before you are back in your old size (if ever).

Hi S.,

I too am 5'8 and was about 130 before I got pregnant. I never had to diet, and after I had my first baby the weight pretty much just fell off. I too breastfed and I have heard that helps a ton. Oh- and I gained 65 pounds with my first! The first 35 fell off within a couple weeks and I had to try a little harder for the rest, but it does come off. Unfortunately for me I am on the same tract for number 2- due in 3 months and I have already gained 30- yikes.

I had to buy bigger clothes to wear while the weight was coming off- size 10s mostly and now I have them on reserve as post-baby clothes. I hope this helps and good luck!

I have always had an easier time losing weight than gaining weight, so I might be a bit biased here. As people have said, you have gained a *good* amount and your doctor should be telling you that. So don't worry. I had an issue after the birth and ended up getting transfusions, so when I came home, I had only lost 1 pound and was rather... puffy. After a couple weeks, I lost all the extra fluids. For sure by 3 months after the birth I was wearing the larger/stretchier of my pre-baby clothes. And I think by 6 months I fit into everything else. I didn't do any particular exercising - just carrying a growing baby around the house, all the time, and do what little other chores I could seemed to take care of it. One of my friends who is a teacher lost all her weight and a little extra in the 5-6 months after her baby, but after going back to work she started gaining again - despite a lot of walking and being on her feet all day - because at work people would always bring treats while at home she didn't keep them around.

37 pounds is completely average. When you get to the 50+ mark in pounds to lose, then you have more to worry about. You will be amazed at how fast the weight drops off. I'll bet you'll lose 20+ within one week of giving birth (after water weight has dropped off) and it will continue to drop as long as you go back to your old habits of eating. After 2 kids I am back to my original weight. It all came off except for the last 10 and 6 weeks of Weight Watchers took care of that too, without working out! Having a baby doesn't mean you have to give up your body!

S.,
I agree with the other moms on breastfeeding, it will help. But do not stress, it takes time! DO not under any circumstances compare yourself to models, that is not a healthy way to loose weight. If you gain a total of about 40 pounds, you will probably loose almost half of that to the baby/uterine weight. Twenty is not that much to loose. I would say buy one or two outfits that fit you now(postpartum). I know the expense sucks, but consider it an extenstion of your maternity wardrobe. If you get some cute jeans and one or two tops, you will feel better about how you look, as opposed to you maternity wardrobe. When you feel better about your looks, you are more inclined to eat right and take care of yourself better. Set up a few rules about eating, but not so many that you set yourself up for failure. Set a realistic weight lose goal. Some rules that worked for me but didn't make me feel too deprived: No eating after a certain time at night, no soda, and if I did get fast food, I would go to wendy's where they will switch out fries for a salad. Little stuff like that helps. There are also books out there about fun exercises you can do in the house with your baby, like balancing him on your stomach while you crunch, and kiss his/her nose as you come up. I don't know the names, but if you go to the bookstore I am sure they can help you. Good luck!

S.-

So exciting! Congrats on the baby. It will be a wonderful change in your life :-)

I have put on 50 lbs with each of my pregnancies, and I am not underweight to begin with. As Renee said, about 30lbs came off within the first few days after birth for me. Then, about another 20lbs came off with breastfeeding - I breastfed my daughter for almost 2 yrs. I was back to my pre-preg weight by the time I stopped breastfeeding. Initially after her birth, I exercised twice a day while she napped, took walks (it was June). However, as winter set in and she slept less, that stopped.

I would suggest just eating healthy, exercising but not to excess, and following your body. I have found that some things just didn't snap back - ex, same weight but wear larger jeans size. Maybe you will change your shape after pregnancy, not such a bad deal for the privilage of having a child! However, some people seem to snap back - like some gals in my MOMS Club who run daily and do marathons. Whichever way it is for you, be a peace with yourself, do what you feel comfortable with, and give yourself credit for becoming a mom :-)

Good luck!
T.

remember, it takes 9 months to put the weight on so don't expect it to come off right away. You never know how your body will react. You might lose all the weight right away and you might not. Don't stress about it. At the beginning just focus on feeding your baby. You will be hungrier than you have ever been in your life while you are breastfeeding. In fact you need an extra 500 calories a day. More than when you are pregnant! They say breastfeeding helps you lose weight but I didn't notice. Be prepared to wear your maternity clothes for a while postpartum. I would wait to buy any new clothes cuz you just don't know what will happen to your body. (Plus it's a great first outing out of the house to buy a couple new outfits.) I know people that were in pre-pregnancy jeans 11 days postpartum (not working out or dieting) and it took me about 1 year. I'm 5'1'' and good weight for me is 107. I gained 50 lbs with my daughter but lost 25 of it in the first 3 days. Now I wear a smaller size than I did pre-baby. I know I'm rambling but I also know it must be hard to be the first of your friends to have a baby. That's why mamsource is so great! When my daughter was about 9 months old, I felt good enough to start working out again and cutting calories. the last 25 lbs literally fell off. Then I felt great, now I'm ready for a boob lift but that's a whole nother conversation ;)
Anyway, my point is, don't worry too much, you will figure it out. Enjoy your new bundle of joy, eat healthy, drink enough water and get some sleep! Good luck