Breastfeeding and Losing Weight?

I didn't worry about working out or losing weight while breastfeeding. My main concern was feeding her and staying healthy. There is time later to lose the weight and get back into shape. As soon as she weaned herself and started walking, I never got a chance to sit down or finish a meal and the last few pounds were gone in a flash! Thent he desire for running and working out came back strongly.

I would recommend backing off on the fitness routine, drinking more water, and feeding your baby. There is lots of time for the "hard stuff" later.

I would talk to a lactation consultant or doctor. Make sure you are drinking enough water. I had a hard time balancing too - but on the other end...I ate too much :-P

You want to make sure your baby is getting enough nutrients. It is common for women to lose baby weight rapidly while breastfeeding, but I would think it would be a concern if you are dropping below your pre-pregnancy/normal weight. Talk to someone who can help you out with the nutrition balance you need...

This might not get a lot of support, but my MIL, husband's stepmother, and my Mom all recommended having a pint of dark beer in the evening. The Wheat/ hops are believed to help with the milk production. The ped gave it a thumbs up too. Might help with your sugar cravings, and help boost your supply.

Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

I did weight watchers while breastfeeding. I thought it was great. My supplied stayed up, I got a huge increase in points/calories because I was nursing, and the weight still slowly came off.

Make sure you're eating well and being active and let the weight worry about itself. Or if you're really concerned about the weight join Weight Watchers-- they can help you figure out the exact number of points you should be eating while nursing and being active. Then try to use those points on the best possible foods....

Oats naturally boost supply and can be very healthy-- when those sugar cravings hit try a bowl of oatmeal or some oatmeal raisin cookies or even lactation cookies if you're really worried about supply. http://www.food.com/recipe/peanut-butter-lactation-cookie...

Haven't read all of the responses but my supply did that as well. Turns out my cycle started back. I am one of the unlucky ones who still gets a period while nursing. During the time that my cycle starts, my supply goes down. Be sure to drink lots & lots of water (might try the flavor packs if you are craving sugar) and try to pump. That helped build my supply back up.

If you can wean yourself from the sugar, you will stop craving. I love sweets, so I have frozen raspberries with a drizzle of honey. The cold turns the honey into a caramel texture. It satisfies my craving though.

Also, I remember a LLL meeting where we all agreed that later in the evening, we were ravenous. Eat ~ and drink plenty of water. Rest is important. So often we feel guilty taking a power nap or just sitting for a time because we have so much work undone. The truth is, is that is our work as breastfeeding moms. All work has priority and that is more important than the dirty bathroom ~ ugh! Good luck. PS. the weight will come off.

My thing was I ate a light breakfast a heavier lunch and a med/light dinner and never ate dinner after 5pm and no snack which usually consisted of fruit or something healthy. Pre baby I was over weight at 175 and delivered at 205. I was down to 145 by 6month post partum and still slowly losing a little bit at a time and she is now 15months. I thing was I used stairs every time I could at work and drank nothing but water. I only nurse in the morning and now at bedtime.
The water is the big thing to keep your supply up. Also it is normal to make more milk in the morning then at night. My supply did the same thing heavy in the morning and gradually went down throughout the day.
If you are concerned about supply you might try Fenugreek. I have heard wonderful success stories about it.
Good luck!

I totally agree with Sue W. on this! I didn't really lose weight with my first until she weaned, and then I lost it all in about 8-9 months. I'm currently nursing my 10 month-old. While it's frustrating to me to hear all the comments of "breastfeeding is the best diet ever!", I've come to realize that my body just doesn't work that way. But I wouldn't trade my success with nursing my babies for anything. It's a short, short time in a momma's life...enjoy it while you can. :)

If you like oatmeal cookies, they my help with your sweet craving & oatmeal helps to boost milk production... may help you with a few of your problems.

Also, how does hard work outs effect milk production? I know you are burning calories & if you are sweating a lot you are reducing the fluids in your body - which both calories & fluids are needed for milk production.

Also, remeber you are still to get extra calories and drink extra fluids when nursing, just like when you were expecting. If you are dieting - you might not be getting enough... I lost a great deal of weight just by walking the kids to & from school and nursing. My diet didn't change much other then I drank a few extra glasses of water & ate oatmeal cookies instead of chocholet chips.

Do you have PCOS, by chance? I do. I actually lost weight during both my pregnancies (which I had plenty of weight to lose) and then gained weight while I breastfed both babies for a year. My sugar cravings were soooo bad that I actualy wanted to get a spoon full of sugar to eat (never did it, but thought of it several times!). I actually took metformin while I breastfed the second baby for a couple of months to level off my sugar needs.

Have you talked with a lactation consultant? Mine was my best friend at different points. I wonder if with all the hard work you are dehydrating yourself. Regarding your nighttime supply, how much nursing are you doing at night? Maybe you should try to pump (or hand-express) a couple of times after the baby goes to bed, just to keep the stimulation going.

We focus so much on losign the baby weight because we think that we have such a small window before it settles on us and becomes the new normal. I guess that's the case for some. Because my weight gain happened the other way around, I'v ehad the luxury of not worrying about it right now. When I got off the pill years ago, I started gaining weight. I couldn't figure out why because there was other stuff going on. When I got pregnant, all that weight went to the baby. I was svelte and energetic (except for when sleep just hit me like a ton of bricks, even when I was driving or sitting at my desk at work) throughout and for a few months after. Then, my hormones "balanced" back out, and the weight came back. Ugh! After two years with no period, it finally came back, and I got a burst of energy. I am convinced that once I stop nursing (baby is 14 months, and I am so far committed to letting him wean himself), I'll start feeling a little more normal. I might even get back on the pill, just to help get myself going. I don't feel helpless, though. I don't feel like I have to be a permanent fatty.

Of course, you do what you have to do to feel good, but I think that you should slow down a little (maybe just some hardcore walking) and just up your calorie and fluid intake. Did you eat any particular way to maintain your calories during pregnancy? If so, try that again. ...And don't forget to take your pre-natal vitamins! Mine say one a day, but two feel so much better.

oh I feel for you! My doc said I needed at least 1700 calories while nursing, like I could absolutely not go below that bc I needed 1200 for me and 500 to nurse. It was hard! I about to do it again bc I am so fat right now, I just saw myself in some pics and YIKES! You are doing really good with your activity level, go girl! I am going to start here pretty soon and go with 1800 calories, good luck!