Did you lose weight by breastfeeding your baby?

Frogletina

quietheart wrote: »

I felt breastfeeding made my uterus go back to normal quicker I could almost feel it happening! so my stomach flattened quickly but I definitely carried a good half stone until I stoped feeding each time. the feel good hormone rush you get when it's working is better than any weight loss though!

Uterine contractions are caused by the hormone oxytocin which is released when breastfeeding. I remember feeling the contractions each time I fed my children in the first couple of weeks, and my stomach went back to it's pre-pregnancy state very quickly

clairehi

I would have done if it wasnt for all the biscuits I ate while bfing :rotfl:

hitchins

Never breastfed and was back in skinny jeans within 3 weeks.

msb5262

got-it-spend-it wrote: »

I lost weight even though I was eating lots and lots. I don't think it's a weight loss miracle, but it certainly does make a difference, although you get hungrier too.

I've just stopped feeding my son, and I weigh less than before I got pregnant.

Hello OP,
I was exactly the same with each of my three. It does work but make sure you eat good quality food rather than stuffing empty calories down...
HTH
MsB

skintchick

quietheart wrote: »

I felt breastfeeding made my uterus go back to normal quicker I could almost feel it happening! so my stomach flattened quickly but I definitely carried a good half stone until I stoped feeding each time. the feel good hormone rush you get when it's working is better than any weight loss though!

What she said. I was back in my skinnies within 7 days of giving birth but that was probably genes, but it does help your uterus contract, and the feelgood factor is FAB! I am feeding DD at 16 months tomorrow (gone so fast!) and still get that rush of happiness when she feeds.

You just have to remember you don't need loads of cake when Bfing, otherwise you'll put weight on. But you do need to eat regularly and drink loads of water.

Bronnie

I breast fed but didn't particularly lose weight, I was pram-pushing and walking everywhere, but I was always hungry too and was very conscious of eating really well.

hitchins

I persionally think it's a myth, cunning ploy used by the health professionals to tap into a woman's insecurities re: baby weight.

CL

My sister was a size 16 before she got pregnant and breastfed her son. When he was 6 months old she was a size 10. She breastfed him until he was 1. When she stopped she crept back up to a size 16 within 6 months.

SkintGypsy

I have lost half a stone, and I was skin and bone anyway. My BMI is 17? and underweight, and I really didn't think I had anything to lose. The boy has quite literally sucked the life out of me.

money_saving_diva

The first few days breast feeding does help your uterus contract. So I think that really helps.

I'm a size 10 and always try to eat a balanced diet, this is my experience-

I only managed to bf my ds for a week. I then gave him formula. I didn't put much weight on during my pregnancy - I was all baby. I found I was in my normal jeans without trying to activly lose weight within 3 weeks after birth. He is very active so after running around after him I ended up lighter and thinner than ever!

I then had my dd. I was all baby with that pregnacy too. I weighed myself and I put on about 2 stone during the pregnancy. I weighed myself the day after the birth (just to see how much of the weight was baby/placenta/fluid etc) and I had lost over a stone just giving birth. So I worked out I only had about 10lb to lose to be pre pregnant weight. I was breast feeding so I ate loads and loads and didn't think about my weight. I asked for more help to bf this time and I was more sucessful. I was in my jeans by 3 weeks again but not in all my normal clothes for about 5 weeks. I am having to eat more than I would usually because of the breast feeding and I watch what I eat. I have weighed myself a couple if times just out of interest. Mt weight has stuck at the same as it wad about 3 weeks after birth. I think this weight is my healthy weight for me and the baby while I breast feed. I think it is holding on to a few pounds as reserves. I think I would feel really weak if I weighed any less while bf.

I think when I stop breast feeding and start eating my normal amount I will go lose those few pounds within a few weeks again.

I think listen to your body while you are pregnant and bf'ing. Your body craves what you need and how much.