Once you stop breastfeeding you may find that your breasts look and feel very empty. The size of the breasts will likely return to your pre-pregnancy size but may look quite different. The fatty part of your breast will come back over time to make the breasts look fuller and plumper again.
Don't be too quick to judge your breasts after breastfeeding. According to Nguyen, it takes about three months after fully weaning for your breasts to settle into their new normal. Once the three months are up, hightail it to a good lingerie store, get a professional bra fitting and restock.
That said, it's not a guarantee that you'll gain weight after you stop nursing. “Some women actually lose weight after weaning,” Cording says. It's worth checking in with yourself if you're concerned about your overall health or feel like your eating habits haven't been the best lately.
Hormonal Changes
This adjustment can lead to a short time of feeling quite low, as your hormones settle down. It can be really common to feel down or weepy – or even depressed – after weaning.
“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.
Some people lose weight when breastfeeding, possibly due to the extra calories the body uses to produce milk. Many factors can affect a person's weight, and some people do not lose weight while nursing.
Lactation and Adaptations of Maternal Metabolism
Overall maternal adaptations during lactation include increased basal metabolic rates and mobilization of fat stores [22–24]. Maternal fuel metabolism is altered markedly, with a 15 %–25 % increase in energy expenditure for milk production [24, 25].
Breastfeeding a baby can help a new mom burn around 500 calories per day. But it's absolutely important to make sure that you are getting enough calories to produce breast milk. Nothing can be more satisfying than knowing that you can burn calories even while at rest.
Some might experience headaches or migraines, while others feel exhausted or even dizzy immediately after weaning.
Know the signs of trouble
Weaning can be stressful but is rarely dangerous. The two primary risks of weaning are a breast infection and malnourishment in the baby. Some mothers develop depression or anxiety, and some infants struggle to soothe themselves without breast-feeding.
Hormonal changes
When breastfeeding ends, our levels of both prolactin and oxytocin drop - which can affect our mood. Oestrogen levels are generally lower during breastfeeding and increase to pre-pregnancy levels after weaning. Research2 shows fluctuations of this hormone can also affect our mood too.
Did you know that you burn up to 1000 calories per day while breastfeeding? 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!
While breastfeeding, "feel good" hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin are elevated. After weaning, these hormones go back to pre-breastfeeding levels. If you wean too quickly, these hormones can plunge suddenly, leading to feelings of depression.
Calorie Burn and Weight Loss
But breastfeeding will help to contract your uterus and shrink it back down to its pre-pregnancy size much more quickly. Breastfeeding burns up to 500 calories a day. This means that even though you are probably eating more to sustain breastfeeding, you can still lose weight.
Weight Gain
Your body uses a lot of calories to produce breast milk, so you may have been able to eat more during breastfeeding without facing any consequences. Once you stop expending those calories, you may notice the weight adding up more easily.
Focus on eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Avoid processed foods, sugary snacks, and empty calories, which can lead to accumulating more weight and a decrease in milk production.
Oxytocin is often dubbed the 'love hormone' or 'cuddle chemical. ' Whenever you breastfeed, the hormone is released in your brain, and your baby's brain too. It's well-known that breastfeeding is good for baby but the oxytocin released during breastfeeding is also pretty great for mums too!
A history of breastfeeding, the number of children breastfed, the duration of each child's breastfeeding, or the amount of weight gained during pregnancy did not predict changes in breast shape—dispelling the myth that breastfeeding causes breasts to sag.
Thicker Thighs and Legs
It can take up to a year to lose the weight gained during pregnancy, says Dr. Dawson. To lose weight gradually, experts recommend a mix of exercise and well-balanced nutrition.
While breastfeeding is very effective in lowering stress, breastfeeding difficulties can increase stress and this may contribute to developing depression. It is vitally important that women who want to breastfeed get the support they need.
"Exclusive breastfeeding typically burns about 500-700 calories per day, less if partially breastfeeding," says Kecia Gaither, M.D., who is double board-certified in OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine.
Since breastfeeding demands more water from your body, it's important to be mindful of common signs of dehydration, such as: Dry skin. Muscle cramps. Fatigue.