Did U Gain Weight When U Stopped Nursing?

Updated on May 17, 2014
J.M. asks from Melrose, MA
14 answers

Or is this a myth? My dd is almost 1. I do eat a lot and barely exercise, so yes, I guess I could do better w food and working out. Still curious of what your experiences were. Thx

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J.O.

answers from Detroit on

Lost.
Fat stores went away.
I exercise like crazy, too.
And boobs shrunk a lot, thankfully. I hate bigger boobs.
So less weight there.

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T.N.

answers from Albany on

Yes, I did. And still am.

:(

2 moms found this helpful
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K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

I did. But that was because I was eating like I was still nursing. When I nursed, I could eat everything in sight and not gain. Take away that extra calorie burning benefit you get when producing milk while still eating like crazy and weight gain will happen.

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D.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

yep!
I was used to using up all those extra calories nursing, and when I stopped, I had to make a conscious effort to change my eating habits.

The 1st time it caught me by surprise almost 10 lbs later, the second time I knew it was coming, and only gained a few.

1 mom found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

Uhhh, yeah, that's what happened...

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M.P.

answers from Raleigh on

I lost weight when I stopped nursing, with both my kids. I am naturally thin so I think my body held on to fat stores to feed the babies. When I stopped nursing, I dropped that last 5 lbs both times within a 6 mos after weaning. I will say that my proportions shifted though. Lost weight in my boobs which shifted to my butt (that has remained)! lol

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A.L.

answers from Seattle on

I gained a bunch. While nursing I had a healthy appetite (read I could eat A LOT) and still lost weight, all the way back to my pre-pregnancy weight by about 8 months. When I weaned I kept on eating... gained 10 lbs back :(.
If you are weaning make sure you adjust your calories and exercise!

Good luck.

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I found I lost weight when I stopped breastfeeding.

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L.M.

answers from Boise on

YUP! But are you speaking of actual weight (lbs.) or the way you look in clothes? I gained a bit, but when everything "fell back into place", I looked like I gained much more than I actually did. Does that even help answer?! :)

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

LOL. I was just telling hubby I've gained 4 pounds since I stopped nursing. I haven't changed my eating a lot, but I have started exercising again, so I had hoped it would balance out. I was barely nursing for the last few months, so I didn't think it would make that big of a difference.

But yes, with all three of my kids, I gained some weight. But when I nurse, I probably weight 3-5 pounds less than my "normal" weight.

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M.C.

answers from Chattanooga on

I didn't necessarily *gain* weight... But it was definitely harder to keep off. I just had to tweak my portion sizes and start exercising a bit more (not drastically) and I was able to maintain my weight. I also lost the ability to snack whenever I wanted. :(

I'm half tempted to get pregnant again, just so I can eat like I did when I was pregnant/nursing! (Juuuust a joke, so none of the snarkier ladies on this board get all bent out of shape...)

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

No but I had three kids in six years so I was "always" nursing, plus I was pretty young (had my third when I was thirty.) The dreaded middle age weight gain started for me in my mid thirties, and now in my mid forties it's an even bigger challenge :-(
So I would say, yes it's a myth, at least in my case. I never struggled with weight until my youngest was around 4 or 5.

I.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

Everyone is different. Some woman hang onto the last 10 lbs until they ween. Others dip below pre pregnancy weight while nursing and then level off to their normal pre pregnancy weight after weening. Some gain lots of weight while nursing and can even weigh more at the end of nursing than they did at the end of their pregnancy. But I think its fair to say that if you went below your pre-pregnancy weight while nursing, you should expect to gain a few lbs back after weening.
With baby # 2 , I worked hard to lose it then dipped below my pre pregnancy weight after the first year. I Got pregnant before weaning. I will be curious to see what happens with #3 that I am still nursing.

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A.K.

answers from Bloomington on

With my 1st BF baby, I don't remember but I was 24... Still quite young , so probably not. My 2nd, I worked out & was always more thirsty, than hungry while nursing & had lost most of the baby weight . I gained 20lbs, after weaning , despite working out & kinda watching watching what I ate. I was consuming quite a bit of beer , after weaning, though. Currently , I'm nursing my 12 month old. I'm starving, eat constantly & haven't been able to drop baby weight. I'm so worried about what's to come, when we're through nursing. I have a feeling it's going to be a tough battle , especially at 35.

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