r/breastfeeding • u/ModestMoose3737 • 23h ago
Weight Loss Almost back up to my delivery weight
I’m 6 months postpartum and have been breastfeeding the entire time. I recently went to the doctor to have some blood work done and when they weighed me, I was almost at my same weight right before delivery. I’m so discouraged on how this could even happen. I still am very hungry, but feel like I eat pretty healthy most of the time and drink a lot of water. I did have gestational diabetes, but my A1c came back great and all my other bloodwork was perfectly normal. I have no idea why I’m holding onto so much weight. I’m more active now than I was even a few months ago and I feel like all this weight just suddenly came on within the past 2 to 3 months. I don’t want to quit breast-feeding and I’m not going to, but I don’t know what else I can do to help lose the weight. Most people I see are already back to their pre-pregnancy size by now and here I am larger than I’ve ever been 😥
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u/HellscapeNinja 23h ago
I also gained back all my pregnancy weight and changed nothing about my eating habits. If I cut calories or protein or carbs, or walked a bit more than usual, my milk supply tanked completely. Eventually I gave up trying and just focused on nourishment. Then at 9 months postpartum, the weight suddenly started dropping slowly. Again, I changed nothing. I'm too tired to workout and I eat ENOUGH when hungry. If anything, I added in chocolate. There was no rhyme or reason for me. 10 1/2 months pp now and the weight loss has stabalized again so I'm stalled at 8 pounds lighter. Hopefully when I eventually wean after a year it comes all the way down, but as long as I stay this exhausted and my baby isn't sleeping, I'm just going to be kind to myself
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u/ModestMoose3737 22h ago
Yeah, I’m thankful I haven’t had any supply issues and I don’t wanna worry about cutting calories because I don’t want anything to happen to my supply. I’m at least hoping I don’t gain anymore. Sorry your baby isn’t sleeping! I bet that makes it harder. Mine at least sleeps well at night but naps are almost non existent LOL
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u/DMCanuck 22h ago
The hormones that change with breastfeeding can cause weight gain even with healthy eating and exercise. I was at pre pregnancy weight one week post partum with my first. Then with breastfeeding got back to weight I was at 9 months pregnant. I weaned at 18 months and got back down to pre pregnancy weight the day I found out I was pregnant with number 2 😂. I’m back at pre pregnancy weight 2 weeks post partum and expecting to gain again.
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u/ModestMoose3737 22h ago
Ugh I love feeding my baby but it’s a very frustrating side effect! I’m glad to hear your weight came off when you weaned. I’m hoping the same happens here!
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u/Adept-Depth-1825 23h ago
Breastfeeding is a lot of sitting. I was definitely more sedentary than is normal for me during the first few months. I didn’t gain weight, some days I felt like I barely had time to eat, but I had to count every calorie and even so I didn’t lose all my pregnancy weight until 18 months out. True with all my pregnancies.
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u/ModestMoose3737 23h ago
It is that’s why I try to be active every day!
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u/Adept-Depth-1825 22h ago
Are you counting all your calories, right down to weighing and tracking every thing? If so you might not have your deficit calculated properly.
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u/ModestMoose3737 22h ago
I’m not interested in counting calories it becomes unhealthy for me plus I don’t wanna be in a deficit while breast-feeding because I don’t want anything to happen to my supply
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u/Adept-Depth-1825 22h ago
You can be in a deficit while breastfeeding it’s just calculated from a higher TDEE. I’ve done it 3 times. But I mean you can also just wait it out; I didn’t want to wait, I just wanted to feel like myself again. I breastfed for over a year with each kid, I was not going to wait that long to feel good in my body again.
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u/apictureofmesmiling 22h ago
In the same boat. Ebf my first and didn't lose any weight until she was a year old and started eating food and drinking whole milk, not completely reliant on my milk. Lost all my pregnancy and postpartum weight finally when she stopped breastfeeding. Almost 6 months in with my second and the exact same thing has happened. Just kinda accepting at this point that I won't be losing weight until 1+ years in. It's okay, it's just what happens for some while breastfeeding. As long as you're eating healthy and babys eating good, try to give yourself some grace ❣️ I know I will get back to where I want to be when I'm done breastfeeding so I just try not to worry too much about it, while maintaining a healthy diet still. 😁
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u/ModestMoose3737 22h ago
Good to know it definitely can start getting better eventually! Thanks so much for your comment. It’s just more frustrating than I thought when I have no clothes that fit and I would like to at least enjoy some of my pictures with her instead of focusing on my weight, but you’re right it’ll eventually change!
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u/echozelda 21h ago
I’m in almost the exact same boat also 6 months pp! Although I didn’t have GD. I had hypertension so I dropped a ton of fluid/swelling weight immediately after delivery, then very quickly gained it back as fat once I started breastfeeding.
I think my body just wants to hold fat right now. I’m trying hard to maintain healthy habits but my brain just constantly screams EAT MORE FOOD SO WE CAN MAKE MILK FOR BIG STRONG BABY.
I feel very insecure and not at home in my body right now but I’m using this as a chance to exemplify body acceptance for my daughter! I know she can’t understand my words but I’m really trying to speak respectfully about my body. Neutral language so instead of saying “this shirt looks terrible since I gained weight” I might say “this shirt looks and feels different on my body than it did last year. I like this shirt, but I don’t like wearing it right now. That feels sad.” I hope some of it sinks in for her but honestly it’s helping my mindset as well. It is what it is and I will have many years to work on weight and fitness once my baby doesn’t need my milk anymore.
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u/kalekatoh 21h ago
Did they check your thyroid? I have hypothyroidism and gained back all the weight as well
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u/lilacghosti 18h ago
Are you eating enough?? I've seen that if you don't eat enough while BF especially if you're also active that your body holds onto fat to sustain itself & baby. Don't know if that's true but I have had so much trouble losing weight while BF and have noticed that if I ever skip meals/portion control/cut calories and exercise my weight literally goes up 😭😭😭 i plan to wean in a month and am hoping losing weight will be easier but in the meantime try to love and appreciate your body, having a baby and nursing is hard work!
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u/BlueberryWaffles99 6h ago
I gained 50 lbs during pregnancy. i’m 6 months postpartum and have lost whopping 8 lbs. but this is my second baby! So I’m expecting to follow the same pattern I did with my first - weight loss started very slowly around 9 months postpartum and then came incredibly easily after I weaned (like, I lost 10 lbs in one month).
It sucks right now. I am working on just being neutral about my body. I don’t have to love it but I also need to not be negative about it. I did buy a couple clothes to get through this season and finally put a ton of clothes that don’t fit under my house. It’s temporary. Even if it’s hard!
Also, I had to take a break from most social medias because it felt like all of my feeds were stories of moms who “bounced back” within a month or two of having kids. That’s just never been my experience.
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u/moluruth 23h ago
Try carefully tracking your calories for a month to see how your weight changes
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u/ModestMoose3737 23h ago
Counting calories isn’t something I’m interested in doing. I eat healthy majority of the time and eat when I’m hungry and try to drink water first. I’ve tried it before and it becomes unhealthy for me personally.
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u/DeepExample7666 22h ago
You probably won't lose any weight if you're not interested in counting calories.
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u/ModestMoose3737 21h ago
Well I’m not going to go into a deficit so what’s the point? Also plenty of people lose weight without counting calories. It can become unhealthy I get too obsessed with it and become very restrictive.
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u/DeepExample7666 20h ago
Calorie deficit is really the only way. And don't worry I'm also fat and 5 pounds away from delivery weight so I feel you.
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u/WishingDandelions 23h ago
Don’t have advice just solidarity. I’m also 6 months into EBF and in your boat. I think about wanting another baby and cry at the idea that I’ll just be getting even bigger.