2nd time Mom's who breastfed,

JulySpark05 · February 2012

if you were able to lose all the weight you gained during pregnancy, how long did it take you to lose it?

I breastfed DD until she was 6 months old but when she was 3 months old, I had to stop ebf and go to breastfeeding, pumping and topping up with formula since I had supply issues. After I stopped breastfeeding, I dropped like 5 or 10lbs but still held on to 10lbs and so never went back to my pre pregnancy weight.

I was 5"5 and 135lbs when I got pregnant and gained 46lbs. Yikes, I know! But I did have lots of fluid retention so I'm sure that accounted for some of it.

Obviously, I know if doesn't necessarily have to do with breastfeeding or not when it comes to losing the weight but I do believe breastfeeding probably helps in dropping it faster. I really want to try and breastfeed longer this time if possible and so I'm wondering if I do it longer then 6 months if my chances of losing the weight will be better? TIA!

Sawyerplus1 · February 2012

I BF'd DD exclusively for 6 months but then stopped due to supply issues and switched to formula. I had got back to my pre-preg weight by then (though not necessarily shape, of course...)

stever · February 2012

I EBF'd for 1.5 years. I dropped to below my pre-preg weight within a month after giving birth, but then the weight crept up again and I was about 5 pounds heavier when I got pregnant this time than I was last time.

doxgirl · February 2012

Once I returned to work, I had to pump and had to start supplementing around 9 months or so. I breastfed for a little over a year. I never did anything to try to lose weight, but I was back to prepregnancy weight at about a year. I am 5'4 and gained 38 lbs, so similar to you. I do think breastfeeding helped me lose the weight, since I ate whatever I wanted and didn't really work out much (not like I did pre-pregnancy).

Tash13 · February 2012

I BF for 13 months. I gained 45 lbs through my pregnancy, lost 20 or so during the first year but VERY slowly. I lost an additional 20 during his second year after I stopped breastfeeding but it seemed to come off faster after I stopped. Every person reacts differently but I don't think breastfeeding helped me lose weight at all.

Daisy22 · February 2012

With DS1, I gained 31lbs and dropped 20lbs within the frist week. DS1 was 9bls 12oz and I had a lot of fluid retention from 13wks of bedrest. I nursed/pumped for 6 months. By 6 months pp, I was back down to my pre-pg weight. Then I got pg with DS2.

With DS2, I gained 21lbs. I lost 13 within the first 2 weeks. I started running at 8wks pp doing the C25K and kept it up. By 6-7 months pp, I had lost all the weight plus another 20lbs. I only nursed DS2 for the frist 12wks then went to exclusively pumping for him.

Personally I think my main thing was finding the right exercise that helped my metabolism and that worked for me. Running was the key to my success.

MamaNikita · February 2012

i'm 5'0 and was 116 prepregnancy. i gained 50 lbs during pregnancy and it took me 10 months to lose it. i didn't really exercise - all i did was breastfeed. at 9 months postpartum i went on a low-sodium/high vegetable diet and lost my last 5 lbs that way (in a month's time). i quit dieting when i hit my prepregnancy weight but was still breastfeeding and lost an additional 7 lbs. i didn't wean until last month. i'm also almost 37, so the weight might have come off faster if i were younger (just guessing).

pinkcallalily · February 2012

I gained 46 pounds while pregnant and lost it all by the time my son was 9 months old. I lost 25 of it within the first couple weeks, and another 10 within a couple months. The last 10 took a while, especially the last 5. I didn't do anything at all except breastfeed. I injured my knee when my son was 8 weeks old and wasn't able to exercise until I finally had a surgery when he was over a year old. I breastfed my son until a few weeks ago and I really think that is what helped me lose all the weight.

dangerkitty102 · February 2012

Gained 30, and it was all gone by my 1 week postpartum visit.

And then I had to lose 35 MORE in order to fit into my pre pregnancy clothes. I'm still stumped over that one.

I'm now the exact size and look basically the same (just flabbier belly skin) at the beginning of this pregnancy as I did at the beginning of the last one, despite being 35 pounds lighter. Sigh.

judahsmommy1 · February 2012

I breast fed for a year and my body stubbornly refused to lose weight until he was consistently getting nutrition from somewhere else as well. When my son was 9 months old my body started being willing to lose the weight. I started a strict diet (healthy foods, consistently hitting within a specific calorie range) and started dropping a pound a day. While I stuck to that diet, I lost a pound a day. (I started out very overweight.) I would take breaks from that diet frequently but managed to get back to my pre pregnancy weight when my son was about 13 months old.

irer · February 2012

I gained 25 lbs while pregnant with ds and lost all the pregnancy weight by 6 weeks after his birth. After that, I had to eat a lot to maintain my weight so I didn't lose too much. After he started solids at 6 months, I didn't have to eat as much to maintain my weight. I am still breastfeeding (albeit 2x a day very briefly) but now gaining weight normally (thanks to db #2).

nopegoat · February 2012

I was 145lbs when I got pregnant with my first. I was so sick I lost a ton of weight and by the time I delivered I was 155. I immediately lost 30lbs after delivery. I BF for 13.5 months and in that time I lost 5 more lbs and was able to keep it off even if I ate like crazy. My son was about 25lbs by the time he was 1 so I think me carrying him all the time kind of served as a mini workout lol which helped keep it off as well.

butterfly1979 · February 2012

Breastfeeding did not help me lose weight AT ALL, in fact it was quite the opposite!! My body didn't want to let go of the extra fat ( I gained about 45 pounds). I exclusively breast fed for 6 months when we introduced solids, and my daughter continued to breastfeed until she self weaned at 18 months. I barely lost any weight with just breastfeeding. I had to really watch what I ate and work out in order to lose anything. It didn't really start coming off until she weaned, so it took almost 2 years and then I got pregnant again.

JulySpark05 · February 2012

Thanks for all the replies! Nice to see the different responses!

I will still try to breastfeed longer no matter what since I want to, lol, but I wont hold my breath that it will make the difference in me losing all the baby weight. I might just have to work harder after this baby so I can try to lose it all!

WiFeY 4 LiFeY · February 2012

I am 5'7.5" and before DS1 I was about 125, and when I had him I was 147. I BF for 13months and I lost all the weight within a few months and held a good 117-120 until this baby

margaret_howell · February 2012

I gained 44 lbs during my last pregnancy. I would say it took a month or less for me to lose all of it. And then over the last 2 years I gained back 20lbs :P

I breast fed for 8 months. I could have gone longer, but since I was working I had to pump and that messed up my supply. I was sad but my Dr. was pretty impressed that I was able to breast feed that long.

pixieprincss · February 2012

I am still nursing (DS is 14 mo this week). I was within 5-10 lbs when I got PG when DS was 11 mo. (I gained 50-55 lb when PG with DS.) Because BFing burns calories, it certainly can help the weight drop, but some moms also have their body hang on to the last 5-10 lbs probably as self-preservation while feeding two. I think a great adage is 9 months to gain it, 9 months to lose it. I was not one of those who magically had the weight just drop off after 3 months simply by EBFing.

sarahandeddiejune212008 · February 2012

I just fully weaned DD last week. She is 17 months and BFing did nothing to help me lose weight. I'm hoping it helps this time around though!

byrne15 · February 2012

I know they always say that if you BF you will drop the weight faster...

but for me, I lost 24lbs (out of the 29lbs gained) in 7 days. I never BFed....however, I plan to try with this one.

Asquared · February 2012

the weight came off like crazy w/ my first (bf until 15 months), dropped maybe 20 lbs w/ my second over the first few months, but 10-15lbs stayed (nursed her till 20 months-not soley breastmilk by that age though). Still had extra 10 lbs when I got pregnant again.

I've heard two polar opposite things- 1- it helps you lose the weight because of all the extra calories you are burning and 2- you retain some of the fat because you need it to insure survival of your young... so I guess I had both happen!