Hey all! I am a new mom (8 weeks!) and loving it. Trying to lose weight from BEFORE the baby... and after.

I was exclusively breastfeeding for the first 2 weeks and I was very committed to doing so. It wasn't easy for me and I wanted to give up a few times, but stuck with it because I know the benefits are great for both my son and for myself.

When my son was only 2 weeks, I had to go to the emergency room and get my gallbladder removed. I had an inflamed gallbladder and several stones. The doctor said this is not uncommon for women who are (1) pregnant and (2) overweight... (BTW -- the pain of having gallstones is MUCH worse than labor pains. I can compare because they were so close together.)

Although I brought my medela pump (which seems weaker than when I first bought it - anyone else have this issue?) to the hospital with me and was pumping at least every 6 hours. But despite all my hard work, I was not able to get my supply back up to what it was in the beginning. I tried taking Fenugreek tablets, which seemed to help a little, but not enough.

The thing is -- it's so much easier to bottle feed.. I am really frustrated because I can barely pump 2 or 3 ounces at a time.

Any advice??? It's very frustrating and discouraging...

By the way..... I noticed you all talking about slings earlier. Is it easy to wear a sling and do other stuff like working on the pc? Just wondering if I can multi task by breastfeeding and doing other stuff. One of the reasons why breastfeeding has been so hard to get back into is because I feel like I'm spending the entire day doing nothing but nursing! (He's a slow eater and likes to take lots of breaks)

BTW... I admire all you moms who have more than one. It's hard enough being a mom to one! Kudos to you all.

If the baby wants to nurse all day, then let him. This is nature's way of getting your supply back up. Also, don't worry about only pumping 2-3 ounces at a time. When you are pumping, you are actually actively doing it...whereas when you breastfeed, you are more relaxed. Almost all women are actually giving out more milk when the baby is nursing, rather than when they are pumping.

Don't let what you are pumping guage how well you are doing. Instead, go by the baby's wet diapers (plenty, yes?) and his weigh ins at his dr. visits.

I had a similar situation happen with my middle child-a hospital stay when the baby was about 5-6 weeks old caused the exact same thing to happen.

Also, at 8 weeks old, a bottle fed baby wouldn't be eating 6-8 ounces at a time yet-so don't fret about only pumping 2 or 3, that actually doesn't sound too bad.

In the first couple of months, babies eat less at a time, but more often. As they get older, they have larger feedings (more ounces) but they are spaced out further. So, a newborn may eat every hour or two, but a 6 month old baby can go a few hours in between many of the feeds.

Hi Gracenote!
Welcome to our group and CONGRATULATIONS on that baby boy!
I want to encourage you to hang in there. It gets so much easier and very soon it will be easier than formula feeding (I think).
One thing that kept me going that first couple months was the thought of all the calories I was burning just by making breastmilk!
I never mastered nursing in the sling, but I did learn to type one-handed and can nurse at the computer pretty easily. Of course, now that my daughter is 9 months old, she is always reaching for the keyboard - but I did it for several months.
Some of the things that really helped my supply -
Learning that you don't feel as engorged and don't leak as much the longer you breastfeed and it doesn't mean you have less milk.
STAY HYDRATED! I think Mother's Milk tea works wonders - it keeps me hydrated and the herbs really boost my supply. I drank 2 cups a day most days. I found a cup at bedtime really boosted my morning supply and kept me hydrated.
Oatmeal - eat it for breakfast or have it in cookies - it is a big booster.
Learning that you do not pump as much as the baby can get out - Aphil is so right on about that. Don't bother trying to compare the 2 - just go by number of wet diapers.
Rest - even at 9 months if I get really sleep deprived it will hit my supply.
I LOVED taking a nursing day or weekend and just spend the day in bed with baby napping and nursing. It would boost my supply like nobody's business! I had a c-section, so I had good excuse to do that a few times when baby was little. Your gall bladder operation is a good reason too.
The first 3 months of baby's life is really the "4th trimester" as Dr Harvy Karp (Happiest Baby on the Block author) says. I really thought it all changed a lot after about 10-12 weeks. Baby gets more interesting, your hormones settle down, everybody sleeps better, nursing gets way easier.
Hang in there. Post often and let us know how you're doing!
Kim

I also liked the Mother's Milk tea. I used it instead of fenugreek. I drank a cup a day.

For nursing while eating/typing at the computer, writing out checks for bills, etc. I loved my Boppy Pillow. It really helped me with being able to multitask.

Yes-I also forgot to mention that you don't get super engorged after the 6 week mark, like you often do in the first couple weeks-because your body has gotten accustomed to nursing. After 6 weeks, I only got engorged if I missed a feeding.

Also, some women are of the mindset that you don't need to cover up/won't cover up in public-but I always liked being more discreet. One of my favorite things in the world was the Hooter Hider/Bebe Au Lait nursing covers. They are FABULOUS. If you feel like you are wanting to go out for dinner, etc. they are fabulous. I had tried other brands, and nursing clothing, but I loved this cover much better! They are sold under both brand names-but made by the same company. I got SOOOO many compliments on it from moms when I was nursing in public.

I am the mother of 2... a two year old son and a 6 month old son. I nursed my first son for a year and a half and am planning to do about the same with #2. I am planning to let him guide weaning.

I am so happy to find you all! I have more weight to lose than most of you, but its nice to find nursing mothers who are trying to lose weight!

Is anyone trying any particular plan? I wanted to try the Metabolic Research Center but I am sure I cant because I am nursing.

Nice to meet you all!

hi everyone! i am a mother of a 4 year old, and a 3 month old....trying to lose some weight, and get healthy.....currently going to Curves 3x a week, and having a hard time getting my eating under control....any tips?

If you are having hard time getting your eating under control, I recommend starting slow and gradually going down.

You might try keeping a food diary for a couple of days, writing down EVERYTHING that you eat...and then figuring up (later) how many calories you average each day for those couple of days. Let's say you average 3000 calories a day...you are going to feel pretty hungry if you drop to 1800 or 2000 a day the very next day.

Instead, take whatever you averaged for those couple of days that you recorded, and drop 300 calories from that. If you ate around 3000 a day for the recorded "test" days, then eat about 2700 for the next few week. If you see a loss, then stay at that level. If you don't-then drop down a couple hundred more, to about 2500 if your test days were about 3000. Go for another week. If you see losses, then great. If not, wait a week or so though, to go down any further. (And do not go below 1800 while nursing.)

A more gradual approach will not only help you find the calorie level that is right for you...but it will also help you to avoid feeling like you are starving-because you will have gotten your body used to a little less food in a more gradual way.

thanks for the tips..i am trying to remember to write it down....but even that i forget sometimes!!
also. what is mothers milk tea, and where would i find it?

You can find it either in a vitamin store like GNC, or some grocery stores, in the tea section, or health food section with other teas.

It is basically herbal teabags (for hot tea) that are a blend of herbs that help promote lactation.

I had to get my MMT online the first time I wanted it, because it wasn't sold around here - now I can get it several local stores usually in the organic section with the tea there...

Joining now...I'm a newbie. My sister linked me over as she's been active here and had a lot of success losing her weight.

I'm attempting to lose my pregnancy weight....for the 4th time. I've been up and down and up and down. (4 kids in less than 6 years.) Dropped the weight in less than 7 months without even trying after baby #1. Took me nearly 2 years after baby #2. (Lots of exercise at a new job, and reduced calories after #2 stopped nursing.) I was still working on the weight loss from #3 when I got pregnant with #4. I made it back down after #1 and #2. I was less than 10lbs away after #3.

I'm now at my highest non-pg weight ever and extremely unhappy with my body. #4 is only 8 weeks old, but the thing I hate the most in the world right now? The mirror directly across from my shower.

Anyway. Just wanted a quick intro - I didn't see an April thread...

hi,
i am back after almost a year. its great to see a thread abouting nursing. i have been losing weight but losing my battle with chocolate. i dont know what do. do i stop buying and deprive my family. ive tried but have no will power. i know i could lose so much more weight if i could control myself.

I don't think that by not keeping chocolate in the house, that you are depriving your family. You have to think that years ago, people didn't have chocolate, chips, etc. in the house every single day. They were considered "treats" for when you went out to dinner, to a movie, or to a party. It wasn't an every day food.

You aren't depriving them by not keeping it around all of the time.

you are right. i think that is a great idea. i will pursue it.

thanks