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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Weight loss while bf'ing?
How much is normal? Have you heard of people losing a lot of weight, just through bf'ing?
I have done basically no exercise (bad me!), and weigh a little less than I did at about my all-time lowest and 10 lbs less than when I got pregnant. It seems like I keep losing weight, which should be good, except that I need to be watchful for "unexplained weight loss." When should I consider it "unexplained" and talk to my oncologist?
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Re: Weight loss while bf'ing?
I lost a ton of weight just BF'ing, but if you have something else in the picture that may be causing you worry I'd at least call and talk someone and see if they think it is something you should be seen for.
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.
I've brought it up to my oncologist, and I don't really feel like anything is super wrong, but I just can't help but worry, you know? Also, it's hard in my case because my oncologist knows cancer, but not normal post-partum stuff, and my OB is the opposite. I think I just need reassurance that some people do lose a lot of weight bf'ing (although I totally know that it doesn't do that for everyone).
ETA: And thanks for the reassurance so far :-)
If everything else about your "feels" normal, I wouldn't worry as long as you still have a healthy BMI and are healthy otherwise. The moment your weight drops to an unhealthy number or you catch a cold you can't get rid of, I'd go in to be sure you're okay. Seriously, I was so excited to be breastfeeding because everyone said I'd get back to my pre-pregnancy weight so fast but I weighed the exact same at 6 months pp as I did 6 weeks pp!!! So.not.fair.
I usually have a really hard time losing weight, and I'm currently 3 lbs. under my pre-pg weight without doing any exercise and not really eating the greatest (hello girl scout cookies!). I have to attribute this mostly to BFing, but I also attribute this to the fact that I had more muscle pre-pg and I I've lost alot of tone since I've not been great about keeping up my exercise routine.
Combine those variables with less sleep and more running around trying to keep all of the balls up in the air, and that about accounts for all of my so-called weight loss.
But given your medical history, I'd be raising any and all concerns to the appropriate health professional. Never hurts to mention it.
My friend kept losing until she was about 30 lbs less than her pre-pg weight. However she had that weight to lose.
Especially if you didn't gain much while PG or if you are small, you might need to take in more calories. BFing burns 500-1000 calories a day and if you're not making them up somewhere (i.e. stored weight) then you need to eat more. Bring on the buffets!!
I was lucky BFing, I dropped just under my pre-pg weight after about a year of BFing and most of my pants were too big. After I stopped, I added a few more pounds back on to be about where I was before DS and then I got pg again (confused?). This was with very little to no exercise.
I don't think it's abnormal to lose weight when BFing, but make sure you are getting enough liquids and calories too. You should be drinking and eating similar amounts to while you were pg, maybe slightly less.
my read shelf:
I drop weight fast after giving birth. Right now I'm 15 lbs. below the weight I was when I got pregnant (although I weighed 5-10 pounds more than my average weight when I got pregnant with DS). I've lost about 40 pounds since giving birth to DS, I dropped about 35 pounds after having DD. No exercise really, mainly just BF'ing. I also had to cut out dairy because it makes DS gassy, which cut out a lot of fat from my diet.
I would probably bring it up, but it's definitely not unheard of to lose a lot of weight while BF'ing. You might also gain some back after you wean, I gained about 10 pounds back after DD weaned.
Mama's Gonna Buy You A Mockingbird