weigh-ins and breastfeeding

PedalHound

Well, I always figured that since drinking a bit of water before a first-thing-in-the-morning weigh-in can make a difference, the fact that someone is breastfeeding can make a big difference to the weigh-ins.

Today I woke up well before my son. I decided to do a little experiment. I weighed in as I usually would and then weighed again after my little guy woke up (and subsequently nursed). I was down a full POUND!!! Just goes to show how variable the numbers can be Of course I'm not going to change my weight because of it, but considering it allowed me to see a number starting with a ONE for the first time in a decade, it was nice lol I hope to see a one hundred-something number at my next weigh-in when conditions are normal!

Just thought I'd share for all the nursing mamas in MFP land :flowerforyou:

PedalHound

Well, I always figured that since drinking a bit of water before a first-thing-in-the-morning weigh-in can make a difference, the fact that someone is breastfeeding can make a big difference to the weigh-ins.

Today I woke up well before my son. I decided to do a little experiment. I weighed in as I usually would and then weighed again after my little guy woke up (and subsequently nursed). I was down a full POUND!!! Just goes to show how variable the numbers can be Of course I'm not going to change my weight because of it, but considering it allowed me to see a number starting with a ONE for the first time in a decade, it was nice lol I hope to see a one hundred-something number at my next weigh-in when conditions are normal!

Just thought I'd share for all the nursing mamas in MFP land :flowerforyou:

Jezika

PedalHound

Do you adjust your calorie intake? I mean do you eat more calories because you are a nursing mother?

PedalHound

My son is almost 18 months so he is eating a full diet of regular foods and although he still nurses several times through the day I know my body isn't working hard to make an entire diet's worth of milk. I compensate by usually being about 75 cals under my recommendation in a day and an extremely high proportion (say, all but 100 calories or so) come from very high quality whole foods plus I take in a lot of water. People who have younger babies do need to be more careful about accounting for breastfeeding and in that case it would be best to start the goals at 1 to 1.5lbs a week and eating all the assigned calories and a few hundred more, which would probably keep the net target in the 1.5 to 2 lb a week range. Also, women who are exclusively breastfeeding tend to find it a lot harder to lose weight because their body is in survival of mama and baby mode. Should there be a famine there are two people counting on the body's resources so it is VERY hesitant to let them go.

Jezika

Thanks! My baby is 5 1/2 months old now. I drink 8 glasses of water per day sometimes more and I do try to eat at least 200-300 calories over my "net calorie" goal. I'm really trying to cut back on the sweets and I usually go over my protein recommendation a bit.

So, thanks again for the advice.

PedalHound

No problem! You can send me a message if you ever have questions that apply to this. I have my personal training certification with a pre/post partum specialization and I'm also a certified birth doula so when it comes to fitness, breastfeeding, mama bodies and babies I've got a whole lot of info to share!

Mary24

No problem! You can send me a message if you ever have questions that apply to this. I have my personal training certification with a pre/post partum specialization and I'm also a certified birth doula so when it comes to fitness, breastfeeding, mama bodies and babies I've got a whole lot of info to share!

In that case I'm in the process of stopping breastfeeding, my baby is 12 months on the 23ed of this month and I breast feed her 1 to 2 times a day now, I'm hoping to be done by the 23ed do you have any advice for me or any info I could use about that.

Thanks in advance Mary

PedalHound

Weaning is one area in which there really isn't any great across the board advice. My daughter and son are both on their own weaning schedule so I have no personal experience on this, and opinions on what to do if you do want to initiate weaning vary widely. I suppose offering an alternative or a distraction may help, but to be perfectly candid I really support child-led weaning and it doesn't sit right for me to give subjective advice to the contrary. I know everyone makes the choices that they are comfortable with and I'm TOTALLY good with that - no judgment But it's hard for me to give ideas :glasses:

BreaNix

I am glad to hear someone actually say this. I am nursing baby #3, he suppliments some with formula and is starting some food. For the most part he nurses,

I always hear how...." while breast feeding the weight just falls off."......that hasn't been true for me at all. I can hardly lose weight while I'm nursing. When I stop nursing, that is when I can start getting rid of the weight.

I thought it was just me......
:flowerforyou:

Mary24

I am glad to hear someone actually say this. I am nursing baby #3, he suppliments some with formula and is starting some food. For the most part he nurses,

I always hear how...." while breast feeding the weight just falls off."......that hasn't been true for me at all. I can hardly lose weight while I'm nursing. When I stop nursing, that is when I can start getting rid of the weight.

I thought it was just me......
:flowerforyou:

I feel the same way.