Did breastfeeding really help you lose weight?

Question

I could only breastfeed my daughter for 3 weeks, and I did lose a bit of weight in that time, though I figured it was because I had given birth hehe. I REALLY want to successfully breastfeed my next baby (due in December) and the weight loss thing sounds great, assuming its true. So tell me, did you lose weight breastfeeding? I am currently 50kg heavier (like110 pounds) heavier than when I got pregnant with my daughter 3 years ago and I need to lose it for my health and self esteem (and wedding)

Answer 1

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Answer 2

I think it definitely helps with the weightloss, as someone said- as long as you're not still eating like you're pregnant. The calorie burn varies from person to person, and depends also on how much milk your body is producing.

I gained 32 pounds with my pregnancy, and it took me 4 months to lose it all, but I have to admit I have still been eating almost like a pregnant person. I also exercise 5x weekly. So with the nursing and exercise combo, I've still been able to lose weight even with eating a little on the piggy side sometimes :-)

Answer 3

I know it doesn't for everyone, but for me it has.  I've lost 50+ lbs breastfeeding my twins.

Answer 4

I suppose it did, but that's not why I breastfeed. (All of the benefits for the mother are just an added bonus for me. I'm doing this for my daughter.) I gained about 30 pounds when I was pregnant. (When I got up to the 190s I joked that I might see 200 again, a number I hadn't seen since high school.) I started out at 170 when I was pregnant.

In some ways, it did take about a month for me to quit eating like I was pregnant, but I still eat a lot. (Pregnancy taught me more about good eating and not "depriving" myself.) I learned to eat what I want when I wanted, something I still do now. At two months, I was still wearing pregnancy pants and my bigger shirts. (I was probably still wearing a maternity shirt or two, but was getting bored with them and wanted to go back to my regular clothes with more choices. Although, I was small enough during my pregnancy that I could still wear a few of my bigger shirts.) By five months, I could just barely squeeze into my favorite jeans, a size 12.

Now, my daughter will be elven months old on Sunday and I weigh about 153. I'm quite skinny, for my six feet of height. Yet, I probably consume a few thousand calories a day. I don't exercise, though, which is not good. However, I do eat whole, real foods. No meat or animal products (obviously). Nothing with corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, enriched flour, partially hydrogenated oils, hydrogenated oils, artificial colors and artificial flavors and anything else that looks fake. For me, "junk food" is opening up the carton of chocolate soy "ice cream" or an all natural organic granola bar. Basically, I don't care about calories, as long as it's healthy, or in the case of the "ice cream" remotely so.

My 12s are now loose and I've even bought some new shorts and pants, all of them size 12, in the hopes that I grow in to them. I suppose I'll gain some weight when she is fully weaned. (She nurses fully at night before bed, during the night if she wakes up, in the morning if she gets up before nine, and I try to nurse her after her meals, but she doesn't always do so.)

Anyway, she's up and my husband needs some help. So I hope I've been of some help to you.

Answer 5

Absolutely I did!  Breastfeeding burns an average of 500 calories a day, so as long as you are not making up those calories by still eating like you're pregnant, you will lose weight.

With my first, she had reflux and spit up nearly everything she ate, so she'd be hungry again right away.  I was pretty much nursing around the clock.  I gained 41 lbs (doctors orders to gain 35-45 because I am thin) during my pregnancy, but I was back in my old clothes when my daughter was just 5 weeks old.

My other daughter had jaundice and didn't nurse much during the first couple of weeks, she'd rather sleep.  But still it only took about 2 months to get back in my old clothes.

My sister (who is a very big girl) lost 50 lbs in about 4 months by nursing her twins.

Unfortunately, after the twins stopped nursing as much, she continued to eat the way she had been and gained it all back.  When the baby starts nursing less (usually around 6-8 months - when you start solids), you'll be burning less calories, so you'll need to adjust your diet at that point to avoid regaining the weight.

Answer 6

Breastfeeding really helps with losing the weight, but in some cases it doesn't happen overnight and you may not be able to fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes right away or in 2 months or in 6 months!!! It really depends on your metabolism, your baby, how and what you eat and if you exercise.

Before I was pregnant, I was mildly overweight, but the lbs really started packing on despite my best efforts. I gained 42lbs in total. After the birth I had lost 12lbs, another maybe 5 lbs in the next 2-3 weeks, and that was it for the next 4 months!!! Not a pound more! Had I not been determined to breastfeed my baby for a lot of other reasons, I would have weaned him during that period. After 4 months, I started losing a lot of weight(along with my hair too ha ha), at the rate of 2-3 lbs a week, then it tapered off. My son is now almost 7 months old, and I only have about 10lbs to go, all with eating healthy but not dieting and not exercising(unless you consider going up and down the stairs 20 times a day exercising).

So don't expect miracles, give yourself at least 1 year to lose the weight and don't give up breastfeeding for at least 6 months(2 years or more is ideal), do it for yourself and for your baby, no formula out there equals breastmilk. You can also safely diet while breastfeeding, be sure to check with your doctor though. Weight Watchers has a program suitable for breastfeeding moms.

If you have trouble breastfeeding a Lactation Consultant can offer priceless assistance. So can your local La Leche League, you might be able to find other support groups or breastfeeding drop-in centers in your area, ask your hospital for a list of resources. If all else fails and your baby just won't take the breast, it is far better to feed him/her expressed breastmilk in a bottle than formula, and you'll still get the weight loss benefits. In this case, invest in a high quality double electric breast pump(Medela Pump in Style is awesome, so is Medela Freestyle which gives you a hands free option, excellent when you are pumping exclusively); cheaper brands of breast pumps just don't work. The pump may cost $300-400, but it pays for itself in 2-3 months because you won't be buying formula. Also for the first 4-6 weeks consider renting a hospital grade pump if your baby has serious trouble latching, to build up your milk supply. Some private health insurance companies may cover the cost of renting/buying a breast pump.

Also give away any formula samples you receive and don't buy formula "just in case". It's very easy at 3 am when you're exhausted and the baby won't stop crying to reach for the formula can if it's there, and even one bottle can affect your milk supply and the baby's latching.

Good luck with your new baby and congrats on your wedding! Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Yes, but be very aware that eating habits need to change after you stop breastfeeding.  I also gained weight after I stopped.  I can't say I lost all my baby weight.  I gained a lot (68 lbs) but lost a good portion by just breastfeeding.  Looking back I wish I would have ate better and exercised (going to do it with the next one)

As far as breast feeding the next one, hang in there.  The first 4 weeks were the hardest for me but we made it the full year.  

Answer 8

I lost all of my baby weight when I was breastfeeding.  I only gained twenty seven pounds while I was pregnant.  I had to stop breastfeeding at two months due to a severe infection.  As soon as I quit, the weight started coming right back on.  Not all of it obviously, but I would say five to seven pounds.  I was disappointed.