Breast Feeding

[H-S]

Does everyone lose weight by breast feeding? By breast feeding how much do you lose compared to not breast feeding?

I know everyone always says your boobs lose shape by breast feeding but is this not becasue they get bigger for the milk so even if someone didnt breast feed their boobs would still have lost shape by getting bigger then smaller.

[redcrx]

no, you dont necessarily lose weight by breastfeeding. It can help the uterus contract faster so that your tummy may look smaller but every mum is different in the way that it may affect them. But then losing weight is just a possible bonus of breastfeeding rather than the reason for.

[chattykathy]

I lost loads of weight breast feeding. I think I read somewhere that it takes about 800 calories a day to feed a baby so it stands to reason you would lose weight.. I agree with redcrx that it isn't the main reason for doing it though. The closeness and bonding you get is second to none! And my boobs went back to the way they were before and I breastfed two kids for 10 months each

[redcrx]

my friend has had 4 kids, breastfed them all (still feeding a 1 year old and only time she lost weight was with morning sickness (severe), she lost 10 stone with that.

they dont always loseshape either! :)

[B00]

i lost all my extra weight gained during pregnancy and then some by breastfeeding- it was brilliant- within a fortnight I was in size 10 jeans.

Sadly, I've now gained some-infact quite a bit since mind!

[redcrx]

Im same as you B00, i was a stone lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight a week after the birth and didnt feed for that long lol

Ive gained all mine and more too

[Lil O'lady]

The weight loss is an individual reaction caused by your environment (are you running around a lot or blobbing out?), your own physique and how much / how long you breastfeed for.
Loss of body tone, brest tone etc is actually caused by your being pregnant - no going back once the hormones kick in.
The big danger - and I speak from experience - is that when you breastfeed you are a calorie-burning machine, but when you stop you remain a hungry hungry hippo and end up looking like one.