Breastfeeding + weight loss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I meant to ask - anyone who has been through this, what happened in the end? Did the weight loss level off at some point or did you breastfeed into emaciation? Did it affect your supply at some point? Did you lose more when you weaned like most women do?

The fact that this is your focus shows me that you need serious professional help. You need to decide now if you are going to put your baby ahead of your disorder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you serious, or a troll? How could you get your baby to 22 pounds EBFing on 500 calories a day? If real you need serious help. Your poor daughter.

Very serious, unfortunately. I was eating normally at first but as my weight got lower, my appetite decreased. Maybe she is such a big baby she is taking more from me than most babies would? I don't really know how it works. I will probably seek help at some point because I don't want to pass this on to my child.

I meant to ask - anyone who has been through this, what happened in the end? Did the weight loss level off at some point or did you breastfeed into emaciation? Did it affect your supply at some point? Did you lose more when you weaned like most women do?

I'm sure you know this, OP, but people die from anorexia. It happened to one of my HS classmates. It's great that you recognize you have a problem but if you're already under 100 lbs and eating less than 500 calories a day, you really need to seek help now, not "at some point" in the future. I'm not trying to be melodramatic but do you want your child to grow up without a mother? As you said, this is very serious.

[Anonymous]

OP, please get professional help right away. You are undoubtedly doing irreparable damage to your body. I'm not one for scare tactics, but a friend of mine worked with a woman who suffered from anorexia and she died of a heart attack a few months after her baby was born. It's one of those things you think can't happen to you, but anorexia is incredibly serious. Your child needs you. Do it for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, please get professional help right away. You are undoubtedly doing irreparable damage to your body. I'm not one for scare tactics, but a friend of mine worked with a woman who suffered from anorexia and she died of a heart attack a few months after her baby was born. It's one of those things you think can't happen to you, but anorexia is incredibly serious. Your child needs you. Do it for her.

Heart attack? How much did she weigh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, please get professional help right away. You are undoubtedly doing irreparable damage to your body. I'm not one for scare tactics, but a friend of mine worked with a woman who suffered from anorexia and she died of a heart attack a few months after her baby was born. It's one of those things you think can't happen to you, but anorexia is incredibly serious. Your child needs you. Do it for her.

Heart attack? How much did she weigh?

Honey, I'm not going to tell you some number above which you'll feel safe. You are obviously in the throes of this disease right now. For the love of your child, call your healthcare provider first thing tomorrow. Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, please get professional help right away. You are undoubtedly doing irreparable damage to your body. I'm not one for scare tactics, but a friend of mine worked with a woman who suffered from anorexia and she died of a heart attack a few months after her baby was born. It's one of those things you think can't happen to you, but anorexia is incredibly serious. Your child needs you. Do it for her.

Heart attack? How much did she weigh?

It doesn't matter. Starvation, malnutrition, and dehydration are huge strains on the heart. OP, please take care of yourself and get some professional help with this, so that you are there for your child in the long-run.

[Anonymous]

It's time to stop breastfeeding.

formula-fed baby > motherless baby

[Anonymous]

Please get treated - your baby deserves a physically and mentally healthy mom.

[Anonymous]

I also have a friend whose sister died of a heart attack due to her anorexia. She left behind a beautiful 2-year-old who will now not remember her mother.

OP, you need professional help RIGHT NOW.

This is a great resource: http://www.anad.org/get-help/treatment-centers/district-of-columbia/

[Anonymous]

an older girl where I used to take ballet died of a heart attack in her early 20s. She was about 92 lbs--as some of the girls said she wasn't even "that" thin, which shows you how messed up our culture (and my ballet studio) was.

OP, I believe that the issue is not that you've necessarily "lost your appetite" but the weight loss that can occur with breastfeeding can trigger a return of eating disorders. If you've been (and you clearly are) anorexic, the fantasy of being ultra thin is powerful. It is also extremely dangerous. I have a colleague who has battled eating disorders--though mostly its been bulimia and exercise disorders. She has dropped to nothing after breastfeeding and claims it is due to that, but in fact she ultimately admitted that the weight loss with breastfeeding put her in a new framework--she was thrilled to see the weight dropping off her. Frankly, she looks horrible, emaciated, but she doesn't see it. No doubt she is putting her heart and bones under tremendous stress.

Go find a therapist or clinic dealing with eating disorders stat. And, assuming you have a partner, what does he say about this? have others noticed how thin you are? expressed concern?

[Anonymous]

It's pretty gross OP that you are abusing your body with you'd own child. You need to find some other ways to feel good about who you are and get your emotions under control. Sorry to be harsh, but you are a grown up now and you need to take responsibility for your own choices. I also had an eating disorder and it took a lot of work to get better. Maybe you are just here for attention. Doesn't sound like you are interested in recovery. You have the perfect cover for starving yourself, why ruin a good thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, please get professional help right away. You are undoubtedly doing irreparable damage to your body. I'm not one for scare tactics, but a friend of mine worked with a woman who suffered from anorexia and she died of a heart attack a few months after her baby was born. It's one of those things you think can't happen to you, but anorexia is incredibly serious. Your child needs you. Do it for her.

Heart attack? How much did she weigh?

It doesn't matter. Starvation, malnutrition, and dehydration are huge strains on the heart. OP, please take care of yourself and get some professional help with this, so that you are there for your child in the long-run.

As are pregnancy and childbirth.

Mother: mother yourself.

[Anonymous]

You guys are scaring me. Dying from this isn't really something that was on my mind when I wrote this post. Of course now I am scared I will gain back all the weight when I stop breastfeeding.

I have gotten many comments lately and I know people are concerned. I usually laugh it off saying my baby is so big the weight falls off just from carrying her around. Whether they buy it is another question.

To the PP who said it doesn't sound like I have any interest in recovering - I don't think wondering if others had experienced similarly extreme weight loss while breastfeeding means I don't want to be healthy.

[Anonymous]

OP, your extreme weight loss isn't from breastfeeding, it's from starving yourself on a 500 cal diet. You need to get it together for your baby and yourself. Just because you can pump enough doesn't make this ok. Please get help! You can get well!

[Anonymous]

OP, I wouldn't reassure yourself that your baby is OK and it's just you who are sick right now. Anorexia has to wreak havoc with your immune system and the antibodies and other non-nutrient components are why breastmilk is so recommended anyway. Your particular breastmilk is probably not all that healthy for baby.