Losing Weight After Pregnancy: the Flip-side

I really think the big part of you still losing weight is breast feeding. I lost a lot of weight while breast feeding for two months but then my little one had problems with the breast milk so she has to go on formula. About a week after I stopped breast feeding I stopped losing the weight, I am still trying to lose the finally pounds 14 months later. I really think breast feeding plays a huge part in weight lost after a pregnancy.

You could increase the healthy calories you are eating but just remember that once you stop breast feeding to step back the calorie intake appropriately.

If you are still worried about the weight lost talk to your doctor, express your concerns and ask for advice. They will help ease your worries.

If you are below weight for your height/frame then I would defently talk to your doctor about good foods to eat. Here are a few websites that helps so a healthy weight for height/body frame:

http://www.loseweightslow.com/weightandheightgraph.html
http://www.weightwatchers.com/health/asm/calc_healthyweig...
http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm
http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

here is a good one for kids...
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/weigh...

Everyone has a little different say about the lows and highs but it should help give you an idea of where you are at.

calorie intake websites, I do not have one that has a space for breast feeding (which would be helpfully):

http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/cooltools
http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm
http://www.csgnetwork.com/caloriesfemalecalc.html

Hope this help. Best wishes on your healthy adventure.

1 mom found this helpful

I would have your thyroid levels checked, this happened to me with my first baby, usually post partum thyroiditis resolves itself, but it is worth looking into it so you don't encounter other health issues.

I was having the same problem(my name is ashley, brads wife by the way lol) and I am eating an extra small meal about 500-750 calories, not fatty just healthy but more than regular and I stopped dropping finally. I am still not to my pre pregnancy weight but close now, I am not really gaining any weight but I am not losing anymore at least. I have cheese and crackers with dip and sliced meat alot or a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of juice and a granola bar and stuff like that. My entire family has a great metabolism and that with the breast feeding was doing me in. You have a great day!

i have the same problem and have recently not only been eating more often during the day (and at night), but have also been eating high calorie foods and snacks. full fat yogurt, dried fruit, energy bars, almond milk...

also you may need to eat before bed or even in the middle of the night if you wake up to nurse.

I too quickly lost weight after my pregnancy and kept losing weight. On the advice of my sister, I asked my doctor to check my thyroid function and found out I had postpartem thyrotoxicosis. In other words, my thyroid was overactive, causing me to lose weight and making me feel anxious. My thyroid eventually normalized but I did have it checked every 3 months for 2 years. Postpartem thyroid abnormalities are relatively common.

Hi S.,

The same thing happened to me, and I understand how strange it can be and the strange comments you sometimes get. Even my sister asked me if I had been eating (implying an eating disorder, which couldn't have been further from the truth -- I eat like a horse.) I actually asked my doctor about it at one point, and he said it was fine and just "one of those things" that sometimes happens.

Eventually my weight leveled off, but I continue to be about 10 pounds lighter than I was pre-pregnancy. I don't know what happened -- some sort of metabolic shift. So I just enjoy it, eat healthy, and try to exercise when I can. Who knows what will happen after another pregnancy, so I figure just enjoy it while I can! :)

Let me know if you have any questions, and best of luck with your new baby!

K.

S. - Same thing is happening to me right now. I work full time, breast feed and pump at work. My son is 10 months. I went see my doctor when my son was 4 1/2 months and my doctor told me to eat as much as I wanted while breast feeding.

I would check your blood and thyoid levels just in case something is going on medically. If not, enjoy it!

Good Luck.

Postpartum thyroiditis is what is sounds like to me...I had the same problem. It happens in about 5% of pregnancies. You should see your doctor because when it does slow down it becomes underactive and you start gaining weight. That typically corrects itself, but with each pregnancy you are more likely to have a reoccurance (of postpartum thyroiditis) and more likely to have a permanatly UNDER active thyroid. No big deal, but you may have to go on a thyroid supplement to fix the problem.

When I was a dietitian I had a patient with difficulty loosing too much weight. I put him on grape juice snacks as it is higher than most juices for the voume in calories. Within a month he was gaining weight. He needed the snacks for his high metabolism.

I nursed too. It requires more calories to nurse.

I really wish I had your problem ;) I don't know a lot about why you might be losing weight but have been doing a lot of research lately on nutrition and nutritional supplements for myself and my family, and I found one I have been very impressed with. I have a 9 month old and am still breastfeeding and this supplement is safe for breastfeeding. It is called Reliv. If you would like more information on it you can contact me. ____@____.com.

Wow I would like to have that problem lol. I started out overweight before I was pregnant & then as a result of breastfeeding lost 65 lbs over the course of 4 years. I am still currently breastfeeding my 2 YO but it must not be enough to continue losing the weight mine has stabilized. Apparently you must just not be eating quite enough. Just add a little more healthy foods with healthy fats to your diet like avocados, nuts etc. Listen to your body's hunger cues.
Brekka

I would check with your doctor, but it may be that you're doing a lot more than you were before you had the baby. I breastfed our son and shed the pounds rather quickly. When I returned to work I was 10 pounds lighter than my prepregnancy weight. I've stayed at that weight since then. I think the nursing just helped me be at my proper weight.

I also lost a lot of weight after both of my children. I breastfed/pumped for 8 months with my first one and 11 months with the 2nd one. I definitely had to increase my calorie intake by 300-500 calories a day or else I was losing weight too.
I think in order for you to maintain a healthy weight for you while breastfeeding, increasing your calories is important!!