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05-19-2008, 05:15 PM
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#1
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Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 52
S/C/G: 236/228/130
Height: 5'3"
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Anyone breastfeed and gain weight?
Hi everyone,
I have two adorable boys--2-1/2 and 5 months old. I don't gain a lot of weight while pregnant--mostly just baby and baby stuff. The week after I had my baby, I had lost all but 2 pounds. But five months into the breastfeeding thing, I've gained 12. I followed the same pattern with my first. Part of it is because I am soooo hungry. I eat like a horse. But the other part is that when I don't eat LOTS (like 3000 calories), my milk supply drops off dramatically. Has anyone ever had this experience? I am looking for a buddy who can give me support. I really don't want to give up breastfeeding, but I don't want to wait to start losing the extra 100 pounds I'm lugging around, and I hate feeling that my child thinks that he's starving.
Thanks in advance!
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05-19-2008, 05:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 2,748
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This is ONLY IMO!!!!:
Wait until you're finished breastfeeding to start losing weight. At this point, your baby's health is the most important.
Have you tried eating oatmeal and/or taking fenugreek (sp.) to up your milk supply without all of the extra calories?
Good luck to you with whatever you decide!
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05-20-2008, 02:46 PM
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#3
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Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 52
S/C/G: 236/228/130
Height: 5'3"
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I would be happy with just maintaining. And I'm not talking about "dieting"--I'm talking about eating 2400 calories of healthy food. Right now, the only way to keep my milk supply up is to eat lots of junk, which is not healthy for me or my baby. I know this sounds like a cop-out, but I've journaled it.
I have tried fenugreek and oatmeal.
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05-20-2008, 04:19 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 71
Height: 5' 7 1/2"
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Nursing did not take off the weight instantly for me last time around, but it has this time. Last time I worked out for a while and got within 12 lbs of my pre pregnancy weight, then gained it back and then some when I stopped working out.
When you say 2400 of healthy food, are you including nice, fatty foods in that like nuts and avocado? Babies need lots of fat in their milk, and if you're not getting enough in your diet, I'm sure it could affect your milk supply. Also, as simple and stupid as it sounds, are you sure you are taking in enough fluids?
Since your baby is five months old, I'd just hold out. You're almost to the point you can start giving him solids, and before you know it he'll only be nursing two or three times a day.
Last edited by peasandcarrots; 03-25-2011 at 01:58 AM.
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05-21-2008, 09:14 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Indiana
Posts: 6,411
S/C/G: 233.9/143/160
Height: 5'7"
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I would also recommend journaling, and taking a better look into your diet. "Junk" doesn't provide anything for breastmilk...just as it provides no nutrition for your body. It doesn't do you any good to eat junk, to maintain a supply.
How long did you try the fenugreek? The oatmeal?
I also had trouble losing while I was nursing, because I was hungry...but you should be able to keep GAIN to a minimum.
My advice would be:
~Journal your diet/calories for the next couple of days. See what your average is.
~Start decreasing calories SLOWLY. If your average IS 3000 a day, don't drop to 2400 in one week. Eat 2800 or so a day for a couple of weeks. See how you do, supply wise, and weight wise. If you lose or maintain with no supply issues-fabulous. Stay there. If you need/can move the calories down a few weeks after that, to 2500-2600, then wonderful. You just need to do it SLOWLY.
~Are you being active? Exercising? Part of my issue was making sure that I was getting exercise in. Nursing requires you to be more sedentary than what you would normally be, in many cases. Make sure that you sneak in some exercise.
~Slowly improve the quaility of food. Junk food is empty calories, and also, junk food-especially highly refined foods like white flours and sugars make you HUNGRIER. If you eat a donut for 300 calories, you are not going to be as satisfied/full as you would be if you used that 300 calories on an egg, a banana, and a slice of toast with fruit spread. You get more bang for the calories...and more nutrition.
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05-21-2008, 02:26 PM
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#6
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Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 52
S/C/G: 236/228/130
Height: 5'3"
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Thanks for the suggestions--especially cutting down slowly. I used to think that it was just junk food that kept my milk supply up. When I ate "whatever I want-healthy food (including fats)" my milk production dropped. When I ate "whatever I want-junk" my milk production was fine. (How do I know--milk production--because I could pump 18 oz in 2 pumpings, vs. 12 in 3 pumpings, and then I'd go home and my baby would act like nothing was coming out and cry. You mamas know that's an awful feeling!)
But then I started to think--maybe 18 oz in 2 pumpings is way too much, even if it's what I'm used to, and that maybe my baby just isn't used to having to work for his food, because it comes squirting out sooo fast, but again, that may not be normal, just my body's way of getting rid of the excess calories.
And, after journaling for a few weeks, I'm starting to realize what a HUGE number of calories I have been taking in, and that it's just really hard to eat 3000-3500 calories of healthy food, even if they include olive oil and nuts.
I went to a local breastfeeding clinic where they weighed him before and after a feeding. They were amazed because they usually get babies who aren't gaining weight. They were like, "Whoa! He just ate 7 oz in 20 minutes." And then they took a sample, and found that I had 26.2 calories per ounce.
Then, I went on a 2200 calorie diet for the week (except one weekend day, when I ate 2900 calories), and came back. My milk was about 25.8 calories per ounce, but he only ate 3 oz in the feeding, and I could tell that I had less milk during the week. And I had headaches all week.
So--two questions--how do I "start"? IE I'll wake up thinking, OK--today is the day, but two hours later, eat chocolate chip cookies. Any tips to make it past those first four days or so?
And, maybe I'm trying to cut out too many calories at once, but how do I deal with the hunger headaches? Do those go away? Or should I just cut out 200 calories this week, 200 next week, etc. and plan that they won't come?
Thanks again!
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05-21-2008, 02:36 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Indiana
Posts: 6,411
S/C/G: 233.9/143/160
Height: 5'7"
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Well, I don't recommend that you cut 200 this week, and then 200 the next.
If you have indeed been eating 3000+ a day, then cut 200 FIRST. 2800 calories a day is still plenty of food....stick with that for a few weeks, until you are full adjusted to that level.
Honestly, 18 oz. pumped in two pumpings IS a lot, especially since a baby is going to naturally remove more milk per feeding than a pump will.
I agree that maybe your baby is used to "not working" for his food. Anyhow, the breast is never truly "empty". Even if your baby is going through a growth spurt, and empties the breast...if he/she keeps at the breast, another letdown will eventually happen. (The reason why very frequent nursing is great for increasing supply issues...)
If you plan on cutting calories from 3000 to 2800...you need to have a plan, so that you don't dive into the cookies midmorning. Split your calories up through the day for a while. You can split them however you like, but make a plan similar to so:
2800 per day could be something like:
~500 breakfast
~300 snack
~600 lunch
~300 snack
~800 dinner
~300 snack
If you have a plan written out, and guidelines for each meal/snack, then it is easier the first few weeks. Now, your calories will not be EXACT. You might have 550 for breakfast, and 250 for a snack instead of 500/300. The end result averages out, though. They are just guidelines, so that you don't starve half of the day, and pig out the other half.
Having a plan is the best thing that you can do, to help you through the first few weeks.
Also, think of what foods give you the most for the calories. Foods with lots of water content fill you up (fruit, veggies, oatmeal, etc.).
Go slowly...If you are on 3000+, try 2800 for a couple of weeks, and once you have that mastered and are no longer feeling hungry all of the time, THEN drop down a bit more...
Also, you don't want to drop too low. When you finally get to the point where you lose a pound a week, then stay there. You don't want to drop any further than that, especially while you are nursing. (Most recommend that you never go below 1800 a day while nursing...)
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05-21-2008, 06:17 PM
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#8
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Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 52
S/C/G: 236/228/130
Height: 5'3"
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Thanks again. I will try these, as well as take the time to develop some good habits, like journaling, and getting my exercise in place. (I'm starting with yoga, because I have a great tape that gives me some gentle strength training, focuses me, and builds my core.)
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06-11-2008, 11:04 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: North Platte, NE
Posts: 10
S/C/G: 255/218/140
Height: 5'3 1/2"
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I have a five-month old and I am nursing. I am the same weight as you are. I found that 2,000 calories works really well. I walk everyday and weight train three times a week. I really noticed a difference when I started watching my calories and tried to stay at the 2,000 mark. When I first had my daughter, I had to supplement. I started to lose milk supply. I tried the Fenugreek and It worked REALLY well. You smell like maple syrup but its worth it for the baby. I hope I have helped and if you would like to email eachother I wouldnt mind conversing.
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06-29-2008, 08:04 PM
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#10
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Lemony Fresh
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 4
S/C/G: 231/???/120
Height: 5'4.5
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YES!
No help to offer though, still working through it myself.
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09-26-2008, 12:56 PM
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#11
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Abe's Mom
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: U.S.
Posts: 376
S/C/G: 196/142.8/125
Height: 5'4"
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nursing didnt do much for me either---but i guess it helped---anyway baby is 7 months not nursing anymore ---but i too went up while nursing in the begining and then went back down when i got over the starving and eating more than i should stage---so i wouldnt be discouraged but i would just eat as healthy and reasonable as you could
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09-26-2008, 08:03 PM
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#12
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I can do anything!
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posts: 2,509
S/C/G: 267/Ticker/150 & BAMF
Height: 5'9.5"
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I always gain weight while nursing, too... even when I'm tracking calories and eating healthful foods I can't maintain on more than 1800 and I can't lose on more than 13-1400. I think breastfeeding throws my body into starvation mode. It sure is frustrating!
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