There are so many stories out there of women you gave birth to their baby and after breast feeding for a few months, had lost all of their pregnancy weight plus some. Breastfeeding and weight loss can go hand in hand, but you have to pay attention to the needs of your body and act accordingly.
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Breast feeding and weight loss are really two separate subjects. It is very true that breast feeding uses a lot of calories, and the more calories you burn, the more weight you will lose. However, unless you take a few extra measures, it is not at all likely that you will be svelte and thinner than you were before your pregnancy within a few months.
Breast feeding and weight loss can be helpful to each other, especially if you throw a little exercise into the mix. Just walking around the block every day or every other day while you are breastfeeding can help immensely with your weight loss plan. As usual, you should always check with your doctor before you suddenly decide to make any changes to your normal behavior. Plus, strenuous exercise is never a good idea during pregnancy unless you were very physically fit and were used to hard exercise before you became pregnant.
Food and water are very important items when it comes to [tag-ice]breast feeding[/tag-ice] and weight loss. Water is simply a good thing to drink in quantity everyday anyway, but while breast feeding, you will need to drink more since the body is using more water while it is producing milk. Good, nutritious, lower fat food is always a good, common sense approach to weight loss. With [tag-cat]breastfeeding[/tag-cat] and weight loss, you do have an opportunity to burn more calories every day, so try and take advantage of it by eating right and you will shed the pounds faster than you would if you just weren’t paying attention to your eating habits.
Breast feeding and [tag-ice]weight loss[/tag-ice] are not mutually exclusive, but just because you are breast feeding does not necessarily mean you will lose weight quickly. However, if you use common sense while eating right and exercising, you can lose at least the pregnancy weight if not more. If you are unsure about the best way to eat while breast feeding, consult your doctor. They should be able to steer you in the right direction as far as nutrition requirements and the nutrients your body will need everyday for breast feeding.
Does breastfeeding help with losing weight after pregnancy?
Breastfeeding and weight loss can go hand in hand, but breastfeeding alone is unlikely to shed all the pregnancy weight automatically. Nursing does burn a significant number of calories each day, which gives you a real head start. The key is combining breastfeeding with healthy eating and light exercise to see the best results.
Is it safe to exercise while breastfeeding?
Light exercise like walking around the block every day or every other day is generally safe and can help significantly with postpartum weight loss. Always check with your doctor before making any changes to your activity level, especially if you were not physically active during pregnancy. Strenuous exercise may not be appropriate for everyone in the early postpartum period.
Should I eat more or less while breastfeeding if I’m trying to lose weight?
Focus on nutritious, lower-fat foods rather than drastically cutting calories. Your body needs more water than usual while producing milk, so staying well hydrated is essential. The extra calories you burn through nursing give you an opportunity to make good food choices rather than go hungry. If you’re unsure about nutrition requirements while breastfeeding, your doctor can guide you in the right direction.
Will every breastfeeding mother automatically lose weight?
Not automatically. There are stories of women who lose all their pregnancy weight quickly while nursing, but this is not universal. Without attention to diet and some physical activity, the calorie burn from breastfeeding alone may not be enough. The best approach is to treat breastfeeding as one part of a broader, balanced postpartum lifestyle.
About the author
Maya Bennett
Meet Maya Bennett Maya Bennett is a pregnancy and parenting writer and a mom of two. After navigating two very different pregnancies of her own — and years spent reading, researching, and trading stories with other expectant parents — she fell in love with helping families feel ready for what’s ahead. At More4Kids, Maya turns the big questions and quiet worries of pregnancy into warm, practical guidance, from the first positive test through the tender early days with a newborn. She believes every parent-to-be deserves clear answers and a little reassurance along the way.
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