Losing Weight After Pregnancy: the Flip-side

Updated on July 25, 2008
S.K. asks from Moorhead, MN
13 answers

I have a little bit of a flip-side dilemma to losing weight after being pregnant. I shed most of my pregnancy weight when my baby was born. The few remaining pounds came off gradually over the following 1 1/2 - 2 months. Initially, I was like, "Wow - this is great! I didn't even have to do anything!" It just came off on its own. My dilemma is that I am still losing weight. Before becoming pregnant, I was at a healthy and comfortable weight for my body type. Now 4 1/2 months after having my baby, I have lost an additional 10 pounds from what I weighed pre-pregnancy. (So I've lost about 40 pounds total in the last 4 1/2 months) I have always been more of a slender body type and I have a high metabolism. After giving birth, I went back to my normal routines basically - I didn't start exercising more, dieting, or anything like that. I am breastfeeding - which I've heard does help a person to lose pregnancy weight faster. I work full-time, but pump while I'm at work. I feel fine, I eat three meals a day, I drink lots of liquids (especially since I'm breastfeeding), and a variety of liquids (whole milk, juice, water). I would like to quit losing weight because I really don't want to get much lighter than I am now. My mom said I should eat more fat...but this doesn't sound like the healthiest thing to do (in the long run) either. Eventually I won't be breastfeeding, and once I stop breastfeeding, my body won't be burning so many calories or needing as much energy. Also, I don't want to encounter the problem later of gaining a lot of weight b/c I fell into unhealthy eating habits (in an effort to put on weight). Has anyone else encountered this problem? Are there certain types of foods that I should eat that would help? Certain snacks that would be helpful between meals? I know most people have the opposite problem, but any sincere advice from anyone sharing a similar experience would be much appreciated! Maybe there is someone out there who is a nutrition specialist :) I'm also going to ask my doctor for advice.

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K.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

I really think the big part of you still losing weight is breast feeding. I lost a lot of weight while breast feeding for two months but then my little one had problems with the breast milk so she has to go on formula. About a week after I stopped breast feeding I stopped losing the weight, I am still trying to lose the finally pounds 14 months later. I really think breast feeding plays a huge part in weight lost after a pregnancy.

You could increase the healthy calories you are eating but just remember that once you stop breast feeding to step back the calorie intake appropriately.

If you are still worried about the weight lost talk to your doctor, express your concerns and ask for advice. They will help ease your worries.

If you are below weight for your height/frame then I would defently talk to your doctor about good foods to eat. Here are a few websites that helps so a healthy weight for height/body frame:

http://www.loseweightslow.com/weightandheightgraph.html
http://www.weightwatchers.com/health/asm/calc_healthyweig...
http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm
http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

here is a good one for kids...
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/weigh...

Everyone has a little different say about the lows and highs but it should help give you an idea of where you are at.

calorie intake websites, I do not have one that has a space for breast feeding (which would be helpfully):

http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/cooltools
http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm
http://www.csgnetwork.com/caloriesfemalecalc.html

Hope this help. Best wishes on your healthy adventure.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Minneapolis on

I would have your thyroid levels checked, this happened to me with my first baby, usually post partum thyroiditis resolves itself, but it is worth looking into it so you don't encounter other health issues.

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S.W.

answers from Iowa City on

Wow I would like to have that problem lol. I started out overweight before I was pregnant & then as a result of breastfeeding lost 65 lbs over the course of 4 years. I am still currently breastfeeding my 2 YO but it must not be enough to continue losing the weight mine has stabilized. Apparently you must just not be eating quite enough. Just add a little more healthy foods with healthy fats to your diet like avocados, nuts etc. Listen to your body's hunger cues.
Brekka

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M.H.

answers from Dubuque on

I really wish I had your problem ;) I don't know a lot about why you might be losing weight but have been doing a lot of research lately on nutrition and nutritional supplements for myself and my family, and I found one I have been very impressed with. I have a 9 month old and am still breastfeeding and this supplement is safe for breastfeeding. It is called Reliv. If you would like more information on it you can contact me. ____@____.com.

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L.G.

answers from Minneapolis on

When I was a dietitian I had a patient with difficulty loosing too much weight. I put him on grape juice snacks as it is higher than most juices for the voume in calories. Within a month he was gaining weight. He needed the snacks for his high metabolism.

I nursed too. It requires more calories to nurse.

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M.C.

answers from Des Moines on

Postpartum thyroiditis is what is sounds like to me...I had the same problem. It happens in about 5% of pregnancies. You should see your doctor because when it does slow down it becomes underactive and you start gaining weight. That typically corrects itself, but with each pregnancy you are more likely to have a reoccurance (of postpartum thyroiditis) and more likely to have a permanatly UNDER active thyroid. No big deal, but you may have to go on a thyroid supplement to fix the problem.

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C.K.

answers from Madison on

I would check with your doctor, but it may be that you're doing a lot more than you were before you had the baby. I breastfed our son and shed the pounds rather quickly. When I returned to work I was 10 pounds lighter than my prepregnancy weight. I've stayed at that weight since then. I think the nursing just helped me be at my proper weight.

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K.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi S.,

The same thing happened to me, and I understand how strange it can be and the strange comments you sometimes get. Even my sister asked me if I had been eating (implying an eating disorder, which couldn't have been further from the truth -- I eat like a horse.) I actually asked my doctor about it at one point, and he said it was fine and just "one of those things" that sometimes happens.

Eventually my weight leveled off, but I continue to be about 10 pounds lighter than I was pre-pregnancy. I don't know what happened -- some sort of metabolic shift. So I just enjoy it, eat healthy, and try to exercise when I can. Who knows what will happen after another pregnancy, so I figure just enjoy it while I can! :)

Let me know if you have any questions, and best of luck with your new baby!

K.

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M.

answers from Minneapolis on

I too quickly lost weight after my pregnancy and kept losing weight. On the advice of my sister, I asked my doctor to check my thyroid function and found out I had postpartem thyrotoxicosis. In other words, my thyroid was overactive, causing me to lose weight and making me feel anxious. My thyroid eventually normalized but I did have it checked every 3 months for 2 years. Postpartem thyroid abnormalities are relatively common.

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C.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

i have the same problem and have recently not only been eating more often during the day (and at night), but have also been eating high calorie foods and snacks. full fat yogurt, dried fruit, energy bars, almond milk...

also you may need to eat before bed or even in the middle of the night if you wake up to nurse.

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B.M.

answers from Des Moines on

I was having the same problem(my name is ashley, brads wife by the way lol) and I am eating an extra small meal about 500-750 calories, not fatty just healthy but more than regular and I stopped dropping finally. I am still not to my pre pregnancy weight but close now, I am not really gaining any weight but I am not losing anymore at least. I have cheese and crackers with dip and sliced meat alot or a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of juice and a granola bar and stuff like that. My entire family has a great metabolism and that with the breast feeding was doing me in. You have a great day!

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A.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

S. - Same thing is happening to me right now. I work full time, breast feed and pump at work. My son is 10 months. I went see my doctor when my son was 4 1/2 months and my doctor told me to eat as much as I wanted while breast feeding.

I would check your blood and thyoid levels just in case something is going on medically. If not, enjoy it!

Good Luck.

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T.L.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

I also lost a lot of weight after both of my children. I breastfed/pumped for 8 months with my first one and 11 months with the 2nd one. I definitely had to increase my calorie intake by 300-500 calories a day or else I was losing weight too.
I think in order for you to maintain a healthy weight for you while breastfeeding, increasing your calories is important!!

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