weight loss... or lack of... while nursing

Heather - posted on 01/07/2009

I with you ladies! This is my second and the weight didn't come off right away after I stopped bf with my first. I'm way more active now and have a7 month old. I haven't lost any weight, but I'm eatting well with maybe too may sweets, but I'm not worried. I'm tired of being like this but I have realized that even though I weigh the same as I did leaving the hospital my body looks decent (clothed). SO working out hasn't made me loose any weigth but it has transformed my body quite a bit. The hopefully when I decided to stop bf It will shed. Hang in their...I'm trying to stay positive. I know it's hard. I'm ina swimsuit 2 x a week and am about to start lifeguarding. SO I'll be in it a lot. I look like a sausage right now. It really reminds me of how bad I really look. I may feel great then I catch a glimpse:(

[deleted account]

I didn't lose a pound (after the inital 20 in the first week) until my first was 8 months and we started solids mixed with breast. I really dropped when I got pregnant with my second though. I lost 15 pounds before I was 10 weeks preg and I was still nursing my almost 11 month old. Same story for the second baby I still have about 15 extra pounds and we just started giving him solids. It must just be natures way of ensuring we give our babies what they need or maybe I just need to start working on another baby. . .

Judith - posted on 01/04/2009

you can do weight watchers while nursing- i do ww online and you can select "new mom" or nursing mom or something, you get, liket 7 or so extra points per day...but, i haven't even lost wt doing ww....maybe we're being impatient, it took more than 3 months to make a baby, it'll take more than 3 to lose the wt...

Emily - posted on 01/05/2009

Personally, I've always lost all baby weight within the first few months... but I was slightly overweight when I got pregnant with my first.

I know several women who kept all the baby weight until baby was one year... then suddenly it melted off. These women all said the weight loss stopped as soon as they weaned (sometime between 1 and 2 years).

I think it's one of those things that's different for everyone and different for every kid.

Jennifer - posted on 01/01/2009

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I know A LOT of people that have trouble losing weight even while nursing. One thing that works great is Weight Watchers becuase they make sure you get the correct amount of nutrition. If you're getting frustrated, I would encourage you to check Weight Watchers online. I actually did it for about 3 months (while nursing) to help lose pregnancy weight and it totally worked!



I know people are nervous about dieting while nursing...I certainly was, but Weight Watchers really isn't like dieting...they make sure you get enough calories because they take into account the fact that you're nursing. They'll ask you for your age, height, weight, what kind of activity your job requiers, and if you're nursing. It's very safe for nursing moms to try!!!

Mommy - posted on 10/05/2012

Yaaay!!! I am not alone!!! I have only lost 26lbs and 22 of them were the first week...my son is almost 4 months old now.....maybe when he is 6months and starts to east some solids with breast milk maybe then I will start to see more weight come off!!! Fingers are definitely crossed, Lord knows I have tried everything else (within reason :) Good luck to you!!!!

Brie - posted on 01/08/2009

I am in the same boat! I was looking forward to dropping the baby weight quickly, since I am nursing. I now have a 5 month old, and am still 10 lbs. heavier than I was pre-preg. In fact, I weighed less the DAY I delivered than I do now! I am nowhere near the same pant size I was before I had my daughter, which is a little depressing. I do have milk supply issues too, so I always wondered if that had something to do with not burning enough calories while nursing. I guess some women are just different.

Leah - posted on 01/08/2009

I dropped it and then some. After fertility treatments, I was 150 when I got pregnant. Gained 28 lbs with the twins and eight months after giving birth, I am now down to 115. I don't eat dairy (lactose intolerant), wheat, or yeast. I exclusively breast feed.

Tracy - posted on 01/07/2009

Oh the old "you'll lose weight like crazy while breastfeeding" myth! I have a ten month old and have only lost 5 pounds since she was born. I have breast fed from the begining ands still do. I was soooo dissapointed! And since you cant diet, it's even worse. Just last night though I was reading  a baby nutrition book and it said that after 9 months, a nursing mom needs only an extra 50 calories instead of the 500 extra calories that is needed for nursing before that. I never watched my calories, but ate what I always ate (which probably was 500 extra calories than i needed to begin with). So now I think I can cutr back on my calories (though keeping the ones i do eat very healthy) and might have better luck. Good luck with you, though I'm glad to heart I'm not the only mother out there not losing weight!

Jenna - posted on 01/04/2009

I've had a different experience with each pregnancy (I have three little girls) I gained weight and craved more with my first baby, My second I lost a little but still craved strange things (worse than when I was pregnant). This time around I joined weight watchers. It is not a diet, and they add extra calories and nutrients for nursing mom's. I've no dropped 35 lbs since my daughter was born 7 months ago. She is breastfed and over 22lbs, so my weight loss has not affected her at all. If you're concerned, you can always try to lose the weight after she is weaned.

Joanne - posted on 01/04/2009

same here always had/have trouble losing weight with all three of my kids. I noticed that it is just harder for some people(like us) Hang in there cause we are all beautiful!!

[deleted account]

This has all been so interesting and helpful to read. Thanks for sharing!

Kim - posted on 01/02/2009

Yep, while nursing helps you shed the first pounds faster, your body will hang on to the last 10-15 pounds. Your body is doing this incase you can't find food and start to starve. It will come off after you stop nursing.

Angela - posted on 01/01/2009

I am in the same boat! With my hormones I struggle with weight and nursing is not the miracle for me either :(

Emily - posted on 01/01/2009

we are all different. I lost mine fast with my first and a bit more slowly with the next two.

Shay - posted on 01/01/2009

yup I cannot drop the last 15 ibs after my second son...its been 8 mos and its not coming off. So frustrating since its not healthy to diet...

Tina - posted on 01/01/2009

i am right with you. i have nursed 4 now and every time it is harder for me to lose the weight while nursing. i lose it quickly after giving birth but hang on to that 10 pounds after a couple of months. so you are definitely not alone.

[deleted account]

Me too... a book called "outsmarting the Female Fat Cell" says your body hangs on to it while you're nursing. I've never been into dieting anyway- I prefer to sweat it off and that's exactly what I'm going to start doing! At least I will have built a lot of muscle by the time I stop nursing so that should help w/ metabolism.

Lisa - posted on 01/01/2009

Same here.... I'm trying not to think about it since I know it'll happen after we wean.

Shannon - posted on 01/01/2009

I believe you can still do Weight Watchers while nursing... I would talk to your lactation consultant and WW themselves about it. I am pretty sure I did with my daughter since I was in the same boat as you... could not lose any weight after her. My son now is totally different!! I weigh in less now than I did when I got pregnant with my daughter 6 years ago... so good luck, and make sure that whatever you do, drink plenty of water!

Patricia - posted on 01/01/2009

I am the total opposite of what I expected! I actually gain weight while nursing! I think it is from sitting so often to nurse and not being as active, but I've been told that it is common to keep the weight on. Something about a survival mode the body goes into. When my daughter stopped nursing the weight came off pretty easily. I also was going to weight watchers. Now I'm on number two and tried weight watchers because they have a program for nursing moms and I actually gained weight the second week. Once he is done nursing I'll go back to WW. Good luck!!

[deleted account]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one:) I'm not considering stopping breastfeeding to lose it by any means. I don't mind... as long as I know it's not permenant. Even if it is, at least I have 2 beautiful gifts out of it!! I was just wondering what others experiences were too. Happy New Year to all!

[deleted account]

We have 2 daughters, and I've had a different experience with each - with our 2 1/2 year old, the pregnancy weight came off super quick with only nursing to thank, but with our 10 month old, I have yet to shed a lot of those extra pounds. I don't know why this is - a metabolism change, perhaps? - but many of my other mom friends have shared both of these experiences. I suppose that sometimes your body hangs on to the extra pounds for the sake of producing enough calories for you and the baby...why this doesn't happen all the time, I don't know. You are totally right to not want to "diet" while nursing, and if you're generally eating well and staying active, I don't think it's anything to be worried about. Good luck to you and your growing family, Sara, and God bless!

[deleted account]

same situation here... it's frustrating, but i try not to dwell on it too much... i think i would rather have that bit of weight and breastfeed than not...

Carrie - posted on 12/31/2008

I don't have a real answer for you... other than I am in the same boat. This is my first, and he is now 4 months old. I have not been able to drop all the preg weight although everyone said it would fall right off with nursing. I am hoping it will drop once I stop - even though that is so far away! I have always had trouble with my weight, so I really I just figure I am doomed to not lose the extra weight without a lot of sweat and dieting (which I don't want to do until I am done nursing).