new mom trying to get back into shape

sblemming

I just had a baby girl in April. She is our first child. I gained 30 pounds during my pregnancy. My appetite was very poor the first two weeks postpartum and I lost 20 pounds during those two weeks. After that I was starving all of the time and gained back 10 pounds in a few weeks. I am breastfeeding exclusively and am wondering if that had anything to do with it. I'm wondering if there are any other moms out there with similar situations. How long did it take you to lose baby weight? Were you able to lose it easily while breastfeeding or was it after your baby was weaned? Thanks for the help!

nurse_carolyn

Not to discourage you but it took me a whole year before I felt like my body was back to normal. Since then I have had 3 children and now I'm 43 years old and I feel I've never looked better. Enjoy this time with your baby and don't stress. Your metabolism is going to be wacked out because you're tired and getting up in the night with your baby. It took 9 months for your body to create your daughter it will take some time to recover.
Congratulations on your baby girl, mine is 15 now and I just love her so much

erinclain

Congratulations on your new baby girl! I also had girls (two of them at 3 years apart), both who I breast fed, and I did not lose any weight until I weaned both children ( I breast fed each daughter until about six months old, and MY body naturally did the weaning for me). Only after my milk completely dried up did my appetite shrink and I began to return to my regular shape.

schninie82

Not to discourage you but it took me a whole year before I felt like my body was back to normal. Since then I have had 3 children and now I'm 43 years old and I feel I've never looked better. Enjoy this time with your baby and don't stress. Your metabolism is going to be wacked out because you're tired and getting up in the night with your baby. It took 9 months for your body to create your daughter it will take some time to recover.
Congratulations on your baby girl, mine is 15 now and I just love her so much

Bloody hell you don't look 43!!

Mad_Dog_Muscle

Congrats on your new addition to your family! Being a parent is fantastic! I have a 5 yr old son and nothing is cooler than being a daddy!!

A Carolyn said, dont get discouraged, just work hard and you can do this. Check out profiles of all the success stories on here and you will be motivated every day! If you have a bad day or 2 or even a bad week, remember its OK. This is a lifestyle change, never use the word DIET, and remember to log daily and get some form of exercise and you will be successful.

Good luck to you!!! Feel free to add me as a friend if you like, I am a great motivator / supporter! Best of luck to you!

alyssa92982

I got back to prepregnancy wgt 4 mos postpartum and was breastfeeding exclusively. My baby will be 7 mos on Monday and I still breastfeed but supplement as needed. But I was similiar to u-I gained 30 w/ him lost 20 in 1st few weeks and had 10 left to go. I was hungry all the time-still feel that way esp w/ working out too.I could tell my milk supply slowed down tho at 3 mos postpartum but I'm still able to produce now. Don't fret if it doesn't come off right away-everyone is different. Exercise and eating right helps. Ur body holds on to what fat stores it has for ur milk

sblemming

Not to discourage you but it took me a whole year before I felt like my body was back to normal. Since then I have had 3 children and now I'm 43 years old and I feel I've never looked better. Enjoy this time with your baby and don't stress. Your metabolism is going to be wacked out because you're tired and getting up in the night with your baby. It took 9 months for your body to create your daughter it will take some time to recover.
Congratulations on your baby girl, mine is 15 now and I just love her so much

I'm a nurse too:)

Thank you all for the encouragement. I'm loving being a mom. She is amazing. Giving my baby the nutrients she needs is my priority, especially since I plan on nursing exclusively for her first year. I am trying to remind myself of that, especially when I don't exactly love what I see when I look in the mirror or try on my old clothes. My body did an amazing thing and you're right- I need to be patient.

NatalieWinning

I was hungry and a super milker with my first 3. I BF until they were 12-15 months old. They were 2 years apart. With 1st I lost weight fast, then slower with the rest.

I got serious 5 years after #3 and lost the weight. I was in my early 30s then. It was more about having time to take care of me.

I had one more 12 years later, I BF just as long, still no time to worry about me. I didn't lose weight, then gained even more. Into my 40's with hot flashes starting! 10 years later - 50 lbs heavier! I've nearly got back to my smallest size this year. I am more fit than the rest of my adult years. nearly 50. If I can do it with peri-menopause slowing my metabolism and arthritis, then so can you. Maybe not as fast s you like, but not gaining is also great.

I don't regret BF one bit. Let that and health be first. This is a good website to see if you are eating well, which ought to be priority #1.

Katie3784

For me, I did not start losing weight until I stopped nursing(at 3 months because I dried up), but even then the weight didn't budge much. I was very hungry for sweets while nursing, and also practically glued to the couch, so I was not active enough. Honestly, it took a good year for the weight to really start coming off, and by the time my son was 16 months, I was back to pre pregnancy weight, and more toned and fit than before. Everyone is different, though. Unfortunately you can't really restrict calories when nuring because it can affect your supply, but if you are used to eating a lot of very unhealthy food, you can definitely change your diet for the better and still eat enough to keep up your production. Congrats on baby!

Mollywater

Well for me, with my first child, it took about 9 months post partum for my weight to be pre-pregnancy. This time however, i had twins. Of course they just turned two and I still haven't lost all the weight, but I did gain like 65 pounds with them. It has been extremely difficult. Mainly, just to find time for myself with three little ones who are in constant need of something. But, although it is slow going, I am losing. Concentrate on eating a healthy diet and getting some exercise when you can. And sleep, sleep is so important.

jfluchere

I just had my 3rd baby May 1...gained 30ish pounds, got 20 to loose still. EBF too, but since I just started actually tracking my calories, think it will come off quickly after realizing how many calories and sugar "a handful of these" here and there really adds up and just mindlessly snacking of stuff I never ate before. I used to track my calories before my newest baby and lost 30 pounds and changed my body. Now I just have to do it again...we know what to do (eat less and exercise), now just need to do it and wait for big results!

Rae6503

A year to lose the weight is normal. It took me about that long for all 3 of my children and that's okay. And yes, I was starving all the time while breast feeding. There's the lack of sleep and nursing for what could go on for a full year! Then trying to learn to live with a baby and work in exercise. It isn't easy. Cut yourself some slack. Set your goal for a year and just go slow and steady. My 3rd child is a 13 months now. I still have 10lbs to lose from that pregnancy but before that I was in the best shape of my life. It is possible. Slow and steady is the way to go.

NatalieWinning

A year to lose the weight is normal. It took me about that long for all 3 of my children and that's okay. And yes, I was starving all the time while breast feeding. There's the lack of sleep and nursing for what could go on for a full year! Then trying to learn to live with a baby and work in exercise. It isn't easy. Cut yourself some slack. Set your goal for a year and just go slow and steady. My 3rd child is a 13 months now. I still have 10lbs to lose from that pregnancy but before that I was in the best shape of my life. It is possible. Slow and steady is the way to go.

Excellent advice. It's not that common to lose quick and look like you never had babies very shortly after having them. If that's your main goal then you might have your priorities muddied by hype, and the media, showing all the celebs being super thin after having babies. Sure some do, but it's not that easy. Your body is busy with a lot going on, including repairing it's self from major upheaval of having a baby and providing all it's nutrition. Respect the body. Don't short your calories just to lose fast. For what? You will lose it. It doesn't have to be something astoundingly fast. You don't have to be a beach goddess this year. Thats for people with little else to do but admire themselves.