Post Partum Weight Loss

[Anonymous]

2 months Post Partum and a little surprised that my body is holding onto just over 20 lbs despite returning to my normal eating habits. I’ve been taking daily walks (so lucky to have a spring baby!!!) and occasionally exercising more vigorously since being cleared (when time allows with a newborn!), but I have been stuck at this point since about 3 Weeks pp. Currently combination feeding. Just curious if anyone found their bodies retained weight when combination or breastfeeding? I know it’s going to take some time, but I expected breastfeeding to help in this department and it doesn’t seem to be. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

You aren't exercising a whole lot (walks are fine, but you're not going to lose noticable weight especially right away).

You're 8 weeks post partum, so you were cleared 2 weeks ago for exercising, correct? And in those 2 weeks you expected to lose 20lbs??

Were you active and exercising pre-pregnancy?

[Anonymous]

I exclusively breastfeed and never lose weight - my body wants to hold on to the extra weight. I’m 8 months post party and still up 15ish pounds. not everyone loses weight breastfeeding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I exclusively breastfeed and never lose weight - my body wants to hold on to the extra weight. I’m 8 months post party and still up 15ish pounds. not everyone loses weight breastfeeding.

Sorry for the typo meant post partum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I exclusively breastfeed and never lose weight - my body wants to hold on to the extra weight. I’m 8 months post party and still up 15ish pounds. not everyone loses weight breastfeeding.

Yes I am like this too! Lost the extra 5 pound's about a week after I stopped breastfeeding.

[Anonymous]

Oh your body holds on to that weight especially if you're breastfeeding. Those are fat stores meant to go to milk production. I was so hungry when bf. So much worse than when pregnant. Weaned at 13 months. 10 lbs just slid off with no effort in another 1-2 months.
It doesn't matter if you're don't combination or not. If you're breastfeeding at all your body has certain hormones still up to produce the milk. Give it a bit. Eat healthy and drink water and exercise how you can but you may keep all those lbs until you wean.

[Anonymous]

Both times I never lost weight. I lost the weight of the baby (7lbs) and placenta (5 ish lbs) but the rest only came off from exercise and extreme calorie cutting. I only gained 25lbs and the last 15 were HARD

[Anonymous]

This happened to me. I’d never had to watch my weight before. Quit breastfeeding and I immediately lost 10-15 pounds. I weigh ess than I did prepregnancy

[Anonymous]

I never lost weight breastfeeding. Our nanny, who has been with post partum moms for decades, said it was common for nursing mothers to hold onto weight and true for all of her previous employers save one. The day I weaned, the weight started falling off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both times I never lost weight. I lost the weight of the baby (7lbs) and placenta (5 ish lbs) but the rest only came off from exercise and extreme calorie cutting. I only gained 25lbs and the last 15 were HARD

Same here. I feel like society tells women it’s somehow “different” weight that’s easier to lose, but it’s actually the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is different, but it took 9-12 months w both pregnancies to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight (with some plateaus on the way). When I felt gross or discouraged I tried to remind myself that it took 9 months to grow this little person and that it would take time for my body to adjust postpartum. If you’re moving, eating well, and hydrating then that’s about all you can do at this point. Hang in there!

[Anonymous]

I didn’t lose the last 15-20 until I weaned and joined WW.

[Anonymous]

My weight came right off and then some, but as I tapered down nursing, I gained it back. I had gotten so used to consuming tons of calories to keep up with the demand of my ravenous baby that I kept eating that much. And not exercising. Brutal reality check when I went to the doctor. I looked great 6 weeks, even 6 months pp. 18 months.....ugh. I've never weighed so much in my life, even while pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Lost 12 of 27 lbs within first month and then plateaued. I re-evaluated my diet and realized some of the lactation bars I was eating were each 25% of your daily recommended fat, plus random snacking. I cut that out and worked out more, I also combo fed as my supply was never that high to begin with. I ended more than 10 lbs under my pre pregnancy weight by 4 mos PP

[Anonymous]

With my first (EBF) I lost most of my pregnancy weight by 3 months pp and all of it by about 6 months probably. And I just kept losing. By 15 months, when I stopped pumping, I was 10 lbs below my pre pregnancy weight. I stopped losing then, and eventually gained back that 10 lbs when I stopped nursing.

I’m now 3 months pp with #2 and about 10 pounds heavier than I was at this point with #1. Also EBF. Lost some weight in the first few weeks but nothing since. I just had to buy all new post partum clothes for going back to work because the stuff I have from my first kid doesn’t fit.

I think it’s not just that every person is different, but every pregnancy/post partum period is different. I’m hoping to increase my exercise (while working full time with a 3 yo and a 3 month old who is no where close to sleeping through the night!) to at least firm things up a little even if I’m not able to lose weight while nursing this time. It’s frustrating though.