Nursing and Weight

Losing weight while nursing is only true for some people. For dr.'s to say that it is true for everyone is speaking purely from paper and theory and need to be slapped with the reality of womanhood! I did not lose any weight breastfeeding 3 cutie pies, I think that while I was breastfeeding, my body felt that it ws still pregnant in a way, and held onto everything. I looked at it this way, what I was doing in nourishing this life that we made, was way more important than my weight. When I was all done with that, then my body was again my own. For me, hormones rule, and fighting them is too exhausting and fruitless. LEt gok and enjoy the breastfeeding. FYI, it tok me 6-9 months after stopping breastfeeding for my body to go back to it's pre-pregnancy state. patience, patience, patience.

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I also have nursed 3 munchkins (first 2 for a year each , 3rd for 6 months due to a medical issue)
Here's the difference with me...
I would walk in to the hospital weighing (lets use the 3rd as an example) 190, give birth to a 10 lb. baby boy, and walk out weighing 185... hmmmm,,,,, does that make sense? Not to me... Over the next year I would maybe loose 10 or so pounds... But then nothing.
I watch what I eat and am physically active 4 or more days a week (aerobics, weights, walking)
I link it to how cold it has been this winter and like when I had #2 as soon as it warms up the other 30 or so pounds will come off quickly...

I look at nursing as being a way to help keep you from GAINING weight as you really do feed 2 people and have the hunger to go along with it...

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I had the same experience as you. All I can say is please be gentle with you during this precious time. You are using your body to nourish a special child that, until very recently, was contained in that same body. Our bodies know what they need to do to sustain life and nourish that same life. I have to wonder about any doctor fussing about being within 10 pounds of pre-pregnant weight while still nursing. I think that you are doing just fine. Keep up the great work of being your kids' mom!

Do you think part of it is the extra weight from the boobs??

Honestly I feel like I lost the weight really well the first year.. the pounds just fell off even though I was eating a TON of food. Now though (yes I'm still nursing my 2 year old. : ) I'm gaining weight it seems like and definetely not losing. It's frustrating a bit, but I know I'm also eating more junk, nursing much less and not exercising cause my schedule with a 2 year old is more crazy than with a baby.

when I was first nursing a newborn.. I was ridiculously hungry... maybe even as hungry as I was when I was pregnant..

I thinkthe hunger while nursing continues and you do tend to eat more to feed the babies..

my kids are only 18 months apart- so I never got rid of the weight before I was pregnant again.

I am going through the same thing. My son is 11 mths old and I still have 10 lbs to lose. I have been struggling with the same 10 lbs for months. They just don't want to leave. I don't plan on weaning him anytime soon, so I hope if I up the intensity of my workouts it will help. Maybe I will just be stuck with the 10 lbs until I am finished nursing. I have been doing Weight Watchers and working out 5 times a week. The leader at WW told me that I should have no problem losing the weight because of nursing. I'm giving it 2 more weeks with higher intensity workouts, and if that doesn't work, I'm just going to keep doing what I am doing, quit WW, and accept that it is not going away until we are done nursing. Good luck to you, and let me know if you find anything that works.

I had the same experience with my first. I hit a plateau months 3-8 1/2 postpartum. After he weaned himself at 8 1/2 months, I quickly lost the last 10 pounds (and more importantly regained my pre-baby shape!). This IS normal for some of us. I have friends who swore they couldn't do anything to lose the weight until they were done nursing. I expect it to happen my second time around now, too! Good luck and happy nursing!

Hey J.---It's been awhile since I've had my last baby, but if I remember correctly, I think that what you are experiencing is your body's need to keep itself lactating properly. You probably still have extra milk glands and then the weight from the milk you are producing. All of that requires a bit more 'weight' than you would have otherwise. I like how another mom put it, "you just can't fight those hormones!"

In the meantime, be sure you are eating mostly fruits, veggies, whole grains and legumes. These foods are nutrient rich and low in calories. Because you are nursing, however, you will need to eat more of these foods more often to get enough calories for nursing. Use animal proteins/products sparingly. These mostly offer calories and saturated fat. You can get most of your needed protein and calcium from plants.

I am taking a Wellness Class and will receive my certification to be a wellness educator from a Naturopath who has her PhD in nutrition. I have a number of files and articles that I can share, both to support my suggestions and to help further with your health goals. Feel free to contact me with any questions. It would be my honor to help. In health, D. ###-###-####

My son is 6mths and I have lost all my weight and I am actually 7 lbs smaller than before I got pregnant. I still have a small stomach pouch though...Im scared that when I stop BF I will start gaining but I hope not!! Thix is my 1st baby...

I have always said that I am one of those women who can't lose that last 10 lbs until I stop nursing...well I have not really had a chance to test that theory because I have been either nursing or pregnant for the past 6 years!

When I stopped nursing I GAINED 20 lbs!! I had to work hard to get it off. I did a bootcamp.

I think some of it has to do with age too. Each time it seemed to be a little harder to lose the weight and after my third one (all were breastfed) I had a much harder time with that last 5-10 lbs.

I think the key here is "3rd child". For me it was that way. I did lose most of the weight, but I still have 10 lbs more than baby #1, but I've been the same for 14 years, so that's better than the yo-yo. I do eat right and exercise "enough". But age matters and I'm trying to lose some fat now. I just read a book called the Abs Diet for Women that has a whole section on baby weight. Its too bad your Drs say things like you "should..." I've never found them very helpful on things like healthy living. Not the details of it anyway. This book sounds good so far. You eat 6 times a day to keep your body nourished, and has weight exercises for weight loss, not just aerobic. You may just need to alter your routine to maximise what your already doing. Good luck!

Hi J.,
As others mentioned, I have two children and both were nursed until 1 yr old at which time I weaned them to start on cow's milk and both times lost all pregnancy weight except the last 5-7 pounds which I struggled with after I stopped nursing. I have hyperthyroidism which started after my first pregnancy and usually you lose weight when it is hyperactive, however, I haven't been blessed with that side effect LOL. But, you might want to have your thyroid checked considering the amount of exercise you do and your eating habits mentioned I would think it would have been long gone by now. Good luck and let me know. Thanks :) H.

J. -
I have nursed my 2 babies and you described EXACTLY what my experience had been. I would lose everything while nursing except the last 5-7 pounds which did not come off until after I stopped! I think it is different for everyone as I know some people to get below their pre-pregancy weight while nursing. However, most of my nursing friends have had experiences similar to both of us. I agree with the previous post....nursing really prevents you from gaining any weight. Hope this helps!!

I totally agree with you!!! I think you initially lose weight faster while nursing, but I am convinced that your body holds onto the last few pounds of pregnancy weight to insure there is something to dip into in case you can't eat one day. I have an 8 month old and I've given in to the fact that I am going to work my hardest and lose about a 1/2 pound every week or 2 until I'm done nursing...then I will try to get some form of my pre baby body back. Good luck to you!!

i lost even more weight after i was completly done nursing, how how is your baby? i wouldn't worry about weight, it took 9 months to put on it takes time to take off too.

I had a similar situation! I lost a bunch of weight right away, but the last 10 lbs was stuck on until I stopped breastfeeding. I was just SOOOO hungry all the time when I was breastfeeding too!! i thought I should lose it too, but not until I stopped :(

I lost almost NO weight while nursing my son. I lost about 20 lbs in a month or so once I stopped.