In a 2004 study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers actually found that lactating women retained more weight than non-lactating women, presumably “due to the influence of prolactin on appetite stimulation.” Some women may mistakenly treat breastfeeding like a no-effort diet.
“Some women find that when you're not nursing and your metabolism changes, they keep weight more persistently or they gain. Others don't. We all have our own experiences,” she says. If you do start to pick up pounds after weaning, don't panic.
In the first 2 to 3 months postpartum, several authors19–21 have found that formula-feeding mothers consumed 600 to 800 fewer calories than breast-feeding mothers and lost substantially more weight. From 3 to 6 months post-partum, however, weight loss among breast-feeding women increased substantially.
Some mamas feel tearful, sad or mildly depressed after their baby is done nursing. Others may feel irritable, anxious or moody. Many feel a mix of emotions, such as relief, grief, and sadness about the loss of connection and those sweet feeding time snuggles.
This could explain why breastfeeding frequency can be inversely related to weight loss. “It is true that higher [prolactin] production slows down your metabolism. It doesn't prevent weight loss; but some women reach a plateau,” says Meghna Joshi.
The hormone prolactin released during breastfeeding tends to reduce the ability to lose weight in some women. This hormone is released every time you nurse and may contribute to weight gain even when breastfeeding if you're prone to gaining weight anyway.
This question comes up often as more breastfeeding moms are pumping and often times, exclusively pumping to produce breast milk. Another common related question that moms ask is does pumping burn as many calories as nursing? The answer to this helps answer the first question, which is a resounding Yes!
In fact, breastfeeding mums exert up to 25 per cent of their energy to produce breast milk. That's one hell of a workout, so it makes sense that feeding a baby might leave you feeling more than a little sleepy!
Meanwhile, prolactin helps you make and maintain your milk supply. And, similar to our friend oxytocin, prolactin enhances relaxation and calm. Put all the pieces together, and you can see why you may feel relaxed, drowsy, or sleepy while breastfeeding.
You may gradually lose weight without trying while breastfeeding. The rate and ease of weight loss varies widely. You may lose about 1 lb (0.5 kg) to 2 lb (0.9 kg) a week. Some women find that it takes up to a year to lose the weight they gained during pregnancy.
For example, if you breastfeed three times per day and produce 5 ounces of milk during each feeding, you are producing 15 ounces of milk per day. When producing 15 ounces of milk per day, you will burn an estimated 396 calories per day.
So, your body may actually hold onto about 10 pounds or so while breastfeeding. Part of why your body might do this is because of the hormone prolactin. You need prolactin to create breast milk. It can also encourage fat storage in your body.
Set realistic weight-loss goals
Losing weight safely — about one pound per week — means that it takes most new moms between six months to a year to return to pre-pregnancy weight. "Half of that weight is typically lost in the first six weeks after delivery," says Dr. Borchardt.
The truth is that breastfeeding doesn't affect breast shape or volume. Instead, the ligaments that support a woman's breasts stretch as breasts get heavier during pregnancy. After pregnancy, even if a woman doesn't breastfeed, this stretching of the ligaments might contribute to sagging breasts.
Postpartum fatigue is a common experience for many new mothers and can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
Breastfeeding can help protect babies against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs.
A slow, gradual weight loss of 1 pound per week or 4 pounds per month is a safe goal for breastfeeding moms who wish to lose weight. Women who eat less than 1,800 calories per day may reduce the amount of milk their bodies make.
Likewise, nursing mothers are also at risk of dehydration due to the excess loss of fluid while breastfeeding and should drink approximately 32 additional ounces of water each day. Waiting until you are thirsty to rehydrate is a sign that you are already way behind on your fluid intake for the day.
A breast pump can't be as effective as a baby.” And in this case, this is likely true! Many women don't seem to respond as well to a breast pump as they do to their baby nursing, so they have a higher nursing vs pumping output.
Ultimately, if your baby has reached its birth weight and you're pumping enough milk during the day, it's okay to sleep eight hours without pumping at night. Keep in mind there is an adjustment period for your body as it begins to acclimate to the decrease in overnight milk removal.