Weaning and weight gain

[Cumberland]

What should i expect when I wean? I am pleased with my weight right now and I pretty much eat what I want. This has only been the case since I have been BFing though. I am really worried that my metabolism is going to hit the wall once I wean her and I am going to gain weight.

I'm there with you. DS2 is one now, and I am ready for weaning, kinda.

Some women find that they actually lose those last few lbs when they wean. Or so I hear. I don't know any of them LOL.

I did gain weight when I weaned my older son, but I wasn't exercising or watching what I ate at all. I wound up going up 20 lbs from my post baby low, and then joined WW and lost most of it by the time he was 3.

This time through I am hoping to exercise and eat more healthfully to counteract the loss of that extra caloric output from nursing. My diet is pretty good now, and I just have to make sure to cut out my nursing time snack when I cut out the nursing.

You could wean really slow, take a month or two to cut nursing out entriely, and adjust your diet and exercise accordingly.

[HeartRN]

I gained, just because I didn't change what I was eating Now I actually have to do PHYSICAL exercise to keep my weight ideal (Heaven forbid!) I do miss the nursing days, for that reason, and many more...........

Whoever comes up with a pill to put a woman's metabolism in lactation mode without the milk will be a billionaire.

I have met only one person who really lost those "extra few pounds of fat" when they quit BF. I gained a few plus a few more. I'm a little nervous about it this time around.

Yeah, a pill that would combine the weight loss of lactation and the sex drive of the second trimester would be a coup. :!

[SueC]

Oh bummer, I never thought about that! I'm going to wean Mitchell the day he turns one (at least I plan to, he might have other ideas), but I'm thrilled with what breast-feeding has done for me weight-wise. I guess I'll have to either eat a little less or exercise a little more to stay this size.

Having smaller babies might have played a role.

Both of mine were 24 lbs by their 4th month, eating like pigs.

They were 7#9 oz and 8#4oz at birth.

Related question - when should I expect to lose the rest of my pregnancy weight? I have 10 pounds to lose to get to my pre-pregnancy weight and the baby is two months old. Ideally, I'd like to lose 15-20 pounds to be honest.

I think it varies a lot....but with my first I was able to wear pre-preg clothes around 4-6 months, depending. It has, ahem, taken a little longer this time.
IMO, breastfeeding helps with weight loss. I think it burns around 500 calories a day.

[Rapunzel]

I always have lost weight while breastfeeding. And, I think that is the norm. I do tend to lose only to a point, however. I seem to keep a bit of a thicker layer of fat on me while breastfeeding and I don't get down to my pre-pregnancy size until a month or two after I wean. So, rather than gain weight after weaning, I seem to be able to shed the last few pounds at that time....

Having said that, one of my good friends just had her third baby two months ago and she has yet to lose a single one of the 37 lbs she gained during pregnancy. That's right, she left the hospital weighing the SAME amount as when she went in. She is exclusively breastfeeding right now and told me yesterday that this happened with each of her other children. She didn't lose ANY weight until after she weaned! She's been wearing her maternity clothes because she can't fit into "normal" clothing still....

Jennifer

[SueC]

I think it really depends on the person--I lost my weight within 6-8 weeks with all 3 kids. I have good friends that it takes up to a year. Try not to beat yourself up if it doesn't come off right away, everybody's so different with regards to weight loss after pregnancy and I think you just have to try to be healthy and give your body time to get back to normal.