Your cart is currently empty!
Breastfeeding Doesn’t Always Make Baby Weight Disappear
I put on over 40 pounds during my first pregnancy—not just baby weight or water retention. When my little one arrived, I still had a solid 25 pounds clinging to my 5-foot-2-inch frame. I wasn’t thrilled about it, especially since I was nursing and had been told that breastfeeding would help me shed those pounds effortlessly.
A few years earlier, I had a conversation with my friend Lisa, who was nursing her daughter. “I burn 500 calories a day just from breastfeeding!” she exclaimed, looking fabulous just weeks after giving birth. She was practically a poster mom for the “breastfeeding melts the weight away” theory.
But my experience was a different story. I had the same ample bosom, leaking and spraying milk like a fountain, yet the weight stubbornly lingered. Not to mention, I was ravenously hungry—like, I thought my pregnancy cravings were intense, but breastfeeding cranked my appetite up to eleven.
Zero baby weight disappeared in the first nine months—not a single pound. Honestly, I wasn’t putting in much effort because I felt lightheaded if I didn’t munch every few hours. Exercise? That was limited to short walks to calm my fussy baby. I assumed the weight would magically vanish.
It wasn’t until my son started solids and nursed less frequently that the scale finally budged. I made a conscious effort to cut back on calories and incorporate some exercise, and gradually, around the time he hit 18 months, I ended up thinner than I was pre-pregnancy—still nursing, mind you.
Since then, I’ve worked with countless breastfeeding moms, first as a volunteer counselor and now as a lactation consultant. I can tell you that while weight loss during breastfeeding isn’t just a fantasy, it varies widely among women. Some moms can eat whatever they like and still shed pounds, while others, like me, have to wait until their little ones are older before they can consider calorie cutting and exercise.
Then there are moms who actually gain weight while breastfeeding, often not seeing changes until they wean or their babies grow older. The reasons for these differences boil down to biology—how each woman’s body responds to breastfeeding hormones and the nursing frequency of their babies. Stress, sleep, and diet also play significant roles.
If you find yourself losing or gaining weight excessively, consider getting your thyroid checked. A condition called postpartum thyroiditis can occur after giving birth, affecting your metabolism.
For those who, like me, need to make lifestyle adjustments to lose weight, know that most changes are safe while nursing. Just steer clear of extreme diets or anything too restrictive, and remember that gradual changes are key. Your body needs nourishment to keep milk production strong.
Above all, remember that every mother’s journey is unique. If you’re struggling to lose weight while breastfeeding, you’re definitely not alone. Eventually, it will happen. Plus, breastfeeding offers many benefits beyond weight loss.
And let’s be honest—having a bit of softness for your baby to snuggle against is pretty wonderful. Those squishy bodies are perfect for little ones, and trust me, your baby loves you just the way you are. In the end, it’s the love and memories you create that really matter, not the number on the scale.
For more on home insemination and pregnancy resources, check out this excellent guide from UCSF. And if you’re looking for tools to assist with your journey, Make a Mom is a great authority in this space. Or, for tips on navigating the insemination process, visit this blog post.
Summary:
Breastfeeding doesn’t guarantee quick weight loss for every mom. Individual experiences vary greatly due to a myriad of factors, including biology, lifestyle, and breastfeeding frequency. While some women effortlessly shed pounds while nursing, others, like the author, find it takes time and effort, often waiting until their babies are older. Each mother’s journey is unique, and the emotional bond created during breastfeeding far outweighs the temporary fluctuations in weight.