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Shrinking mom:(

Kristin - posted on 12/14/2010 ( 1 mom has responded )

46

19

I know lots of mothers struggle with losing the "baby weight". My problem is keeping weight on...I am shriveling up. All my family is worried about my health, they think I need to stop BF so I can put some weight back on. I agree I look pale and scrawny...I have extremely weak spells, and struggle with my blood sugar daily. I have always been hypoglycemic..but it seems much more severe now that I am so tiny. I feel fine most of thee time...then I will feel like death all of a sudden and have to eat or I will pass out. I eat well and do not have an eating disorder. I am not a drinker/smoker. I have 1/2 a cup of coffee in the mornings and only drink water and some juice throughout the day. I have a beautiful healthy 15 month old who I am still nursing often (teething right now). She sleeps 12 hours a night and she stopped her night feedings when she was 8 months old.

Pre-prenancy - 128 lbs
Full term- 179 lbs ( I GAINED 51 lbs while pregnant, lost it all within 4 months)
Present weight- 118 lbs
I'm 5'7

I really want to continue BF until she self weans...but I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

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1 Comment

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Jennifer - posted on 12/26/2010

8

31

Kristin,
I believe you when you say you are eating well. However, are you replacing the additional 500 calories a day that you lose while breastfeeding? If you are eating normally but not accounting for the additional calories lost, you will lose weight. This is fine for most women, who are anxious to get the baby weight off (I personally have lost 60 pounds breastfeeding). However, at some point, when you reach your goal weight, you need to start replacing the calories burned by breastfeeding, or you will continue to lose. I'm actually getting to that point myself... I have dropped to a size 2 and my dad said the other day that I'm looking too skinny, so I think I'm going to have to eat more.

With that said, there is always the possibility that there is something else going on too. Have you had your thyroid checked? I have a hyperactive thyroid, which can cause unwanted weight loss and other undesirable side effects. I have to keep it monitored to make sure it doesn't cause more severe problems. I have heard that women can often develop thyroid conditions after pregnancy due to the hormone fluctuations. You may want to see a doctor and get your thyroid levels checked, just to be on the safe side.

I wish you the best and hope that you can keep breastfeeding. Is is SO rewarding. Just make sure you are healthy for your precious baby too, ok? Blessings to you!

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