Ebf and weight loss

Larak2013

I've been ebf for a month now and I was wondering when or if anyone experienced weight loss? I know this is one small perk to breastfeeding and was hoping this would help dissolve some pregnancy weight. Thanks!

Welshgirl12

I only put on 25 lb while pregnant... lost 10 by the time I left hospital, another 8 in the first few weeks and now have eight or so that I haven't shaken... that said I def have been indulging in plenty of holiday food oops.

I think it def depends on your metabolism, were all different.

mysticl

At my 6 week follow up I weighed less than I did at my first prenatal (so over 20 pounds).  However, I had gestational hypertension and was somewhat swollen so some of that dramatic loss was the water weight.  

 

jesuisfatiguee

I was holding on to about 8-10 lbs until I had to go dairy-free... at which point I guess I ate every carb in sight and gained another 5 lbs. *sigh*

SnoopyLuv

It really depends. I have a hard time losing weight but with both pregnancies I only gained 28 lbs. I came home the same weight and when all the water weight dropped I was down 18ish lbs. I lost the rest slowly and now I hover about 3-5 lbs above PP weight, which if it's like last time is where I'll stay until I wean.

flummadiddle85

I gained 50lbs while pregnant, lost 30 by my 6w PP visit without trying. I wasn't skimping on meals or anything either. I'm still BF, but I think I'm still holding on to those extra pounds, but I also haven't tried too hard to lose them, plus I've been bad over the holidays.

musicalmama5

I've heard lots of varying experiences in this department. Some women say that they can't lose the last 5-10 lbs until they're done BFing. I've lost all the weight and then some; I'm actually thinner than I was prepregnancy. 

I think it depends on a lot of other factors too.

kelli&dave

Before pregnancy, i weighed 135. My highest weight (the day i had my son) was 175. Left the hospital at 164. By 6 weeks pp i weighed 144. I guess I attribute some of that loss to breastfeeding.

However, now I am 12 weeks pp and I've recently gone back to work and I do a whole lot of walking on the job. I'm more active now than i have been in months. I expected those last 10 lbs to just melt right off, but no such luck. I am still stuck between 144-147. Several friends I have talked to didn't lose much weight at all until they weaned.

Everyone is different. That being said, the big reason you gain excess fat during pregnancy is to produce milk once your baby is born. And you can't argue the fact that it takes energy (calories) to make milk. I guess just make sure you are eating plenty of the right foods and staying away from the wrong ones (this coming from the girl who ate half a bag of peanut butter m&m's while sitting on her couch all day today. lol)

mysticl

theresat858 said:

Never.
If I tried to lose weight, my supply dropped.

Sorry, but that myth isn't true for some women.

It's not a myth, some women do lose weight breastfeeding.  It just isn't an across the board automatic thing for every woman.  

slh6363

I lost weight pretty quickly the first 6 weeks I would say, but then started to put it back on. Im assuming partly bc of trying to eat more calories for the fear of my supply really tanking since I was already having low supply.

desiree1988

I gained 37 pounds during my pregnancy, lost 20 in the first 2 weeks. I still have about 17-15 to go to be prepregnancy. I think it all just depends on the person.

lolob45

I didn't start losing weight until I l started making healthier eating choices and working out 4-5x/wk. I also felt like I hit a plateau quickly. I've been actively trying to lose the weight for 5wks and have lost 9lbs.

But ... There was a girl in my breastfeeding class last week who is now 10lbs smaller then her pre-preg weight.

I think everyone is so different...

mb314

I am 16 months pp, and I EBF for the first 8 months because LO didn't like solids for a while.  And I still have 20 of the 40 pounds I gained to lose.  I am still breastfeeding.  I need to focus on eating better and exercising, because for me, breastfeeding isn't enough. 

drcolleen

I don't remember details, but started at 125 then after DDs1&2 I ended up using FitnessPal starting around 3mo PP because I couldn't loose the last bit (I am not an exerciser) and ended up 120 = 5# lighter by 15mo after DD1 and 116=another 4# lighter by 14mo after DD2.  Today, 2mo PP, I am 131=15# above that lowest weight and started FitnessPal this past week because I like my cookie dough/brownie mix/etc and need to portion control/guilt myself a bit.  I'm hoping to loose the weight faster this time since I am transitioning out of the military and want to buy clothes that will continue to fit, bottoms at least, but history has a way of repeating itself.

msjanet02

i gained 25 lbs with pregnancy. a few days later i was 13 lbs less, so i guess that is what i lost during delivery. at my 6 week pp visit i was only 4 lbs over my pre-preg weight. i'm now 3.5 months pp and i look and feel how i did before i got pregnant. i am jealous of myself because i have a feeling it won't be like this with my second (which i hope to have within the next 2 years). i attribute it not just to EBF but mostly to genetics (thanks, mom and dad!) and the chinese herbal drinks she made me take. 

mysticl

lindszachary said:

At my 6 week follow up I weighed less than I did at my first prenatal (so over 20 pounds).  However, I had gestational hypertension and was somewhat swollen so some of that dramatic loss was the water weight.  

 

Exactly the same as this for me. Especially the hypertension.

Now, I did continue to lose weight without doing anything other than breastfeeding until about the 6 month mark when I stalled out.  I was really hoping to lose more.  With the recent holidays I started to go back up even though I am still breastfeeding so it's time to actually put some effort into it.  

opheliainwaders

theresat858 said:

Never.
If I tried to lose weight, my supply dropped.

Sorry, but that myth isn't true for some women.

This is me. Can't drop my calorie or fat intake, or I can't maintain supply. My mom was the same, just hung on to about 10lbs until we weaned. I just "invested" in some stretchy jeans and am living with it ;-)