Can U Maintain Milk Supply and Get Back to Pre-baby Weight?

When I breastfed full time with my daughter, I lost all of my pregnancy weight and then some. I was below my pre-pregnancy weight within 5 months. However, once my daughter weaned herself (around 15 months) I wasn't careful and continued to eat as if I were breastfeeding. I gained it all back. My mom was the same way. I should have paid more attention. With this next one (I'm due in a month) I plan on being much more aware and exercise as soon as I get the doctor's ok.

I was thinner when I was breastfeeding than before I was pregnant. So, yes you can. I am sure it has to do with how my body reacted to the calorie burn of breastfeeding and the fact that my babies were big eaters. My doctor had to remind me to eat first, no matter what was happening with my little ones. Now, 7 years later, I wish I could lose my extra 10 that easily.

Congratulations and good luck!

I think right now your main concern should be delivering a healthy baby. Your weight should be the last thing to worry about. Baby comes first, Mom second.

If you eat nutritious food you will get back to normal weight. Get on a nutritious eating plan-- lots of fresh veggies and fruits... keep your water and milk intake at a good level. Dont eat lame stuff that gives non nutritious calories.

Yes! With both my kids, I was back to pre-pregnancy weight by 3 months postpartum. By 6 month post-partum, I was actually below and stayed below the entire time I was nursing - all the while eating huge meals to take int those extra calories to make milk. I'm convinced the nursing really helped me lose the baby weight.

Where I got into trouble the first time was that I was eating extra to maintain my supply (even though I lost all the weight). And when the baby weaned at 13 months, I forgot to stop eating extra and I put on about 10 pounds pretty fast. With baby #2, I had learned that lesson, and when he weaned at 18 months, I watched what I ate (didn't diet, per say, but ate normally instead having huge meals) so that wouldn't happen again.

Also, if you have gained 30 lbs total, you won't have 30 to lose after the baby is born. at least 15 of that is gone when you have the baby - 8 lb of baby, 5-8 lb of all other stuff - amniotic fluid, water retention, placenta, etc. So you'll probably only have about 10 or so to lose once the baby is born. Not a big deal even if you don't lose all of it in the first 6 months!

By 10 weeks postpartum I was always back down to my pre-pregnancy weight plus a few pounds. Nursing baby burns 500 calories a day, that's a lot of calories. Just eat a normal, healthy diet, and you'll see, the lbs. will just shed off. You'll be so busy taking care of that little one, you won't even notice!

You need about 500 calories to sustain nursing. I got back to within 3 lbs of my starter weight within the first year, and actually gained after I stopped nursing - because I didn't need the calories anymore but had not changed. Eat well, eat healthily, skip the sweets and empty calories and take that baby for a walk. :)

ETA: I had not noticed at first you said you were due soon. Just eat normally, eat healthily and you'll be fine. It took you 9 mo. to put on the weight and it will take time (take some maternity clothes to come home in) to get rid of it. See how your body does.

I did weight watchers while I was breastfeeding and lost weight and maintained supply. You can't start dieting until 6-8 weeks post partum and then have to keep the weight loss around 1.5 lbs/week so you don't lose your supply.

My baby is 17 weeks. I've been pre-pregnancy weight for a while. In fact, I'm losing weight! I'm trying...making cakes, eating ice cream, etc. But with all of my pregnancies, i always end up a few pound less by this period of breastfeeding --no matter what I do. But I then start adding junk to my diet to add calories ('m a vegetarian, so I eat a lot of fruit and veggies).

Every body has it's own internal workings, so it will be really depend on you and your body.

The most important thing for you to do is TO NOT DIET while breastfeeding. it's fine to lose a few pounds a month, but 30 lbs over 3-4 months while breastfeeding? No way. What's deemed safe is 2-3,

I'm gonna throw some honesty your direction...
I've had 5. The only way I lose weight is by going back to 1600 calories a day, and exercise 4 days a week. I do believe my milk supply suffers when I do this. I have not done it yet this time, and baby is 8 months. Mind you, I'm not fat, and gain a normal amount of weight during pregnancy. I'm 5'6, weight of about 133-135 prepregnancy. I deliver around 160, and float pretty naturally back to 140 within about 8 weeks of birth. BUT, those last 10 lbs are NOT coming off without work, and lots of it, for me. I've never actually waited until I weaned to see if it would drop off without all the work, because my kids nurse for about 18 months each, and I get tired of feeling frumpy.

So, don't get discouraged by all the stories of moms having to gorge themselves just to keep weight on, its not like that for everyone. You may not lose everything "just" by breastfeeding. Its still 100% worth it.

With all 3 of mine my body seemed to have its "normal" way to do things, mine came off slow and steady, by the time they were 6-8 months i was down to below my pre pregnancy weight, I only nursed until they were around or a little after 1 year, the weight staid off and i had to adjust my gorging to just eating to keep myself from gaining, i literally ate "like a pig" the whole entire BF time! This is how most of my friends do it also and i noticed we all drop our weight differently, my sister seems to drop hers way quicker than me....