Breastfeeding can help with weight loss, but factors like hormones, diet, and adrenal fatigue may slow the process. Maintain a healthy diet full of nutrient-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, complex carbs, and lean proteins.
Some have even found it harder to lose weight while breastfeeding. Eating more calories than recommended, not getting enough exercise, and retaining water weight are some reasons it could be harder to lose weight while breastfeeding. Hormone levels also play a part, especially if your monthly cycle hasn't yet returned.
Breastfeeding hormones.
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.
As I explained above, the body will generally hold on to 5-10 pounds to protect your supply in case of illness or calorie restriction. There may be other reasons why you won't lose the baby weight, but generally it comes down to diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and hormones.
Many factors, such as pre-pregnancy weight, diet and physical activity level, could impact weight loss after giving birth. On average, exclusively breastfeeding mothers may see a loss of 1 to 2 pounds per month. For those struggling to lose those extra pregnancy pounds, breastfeeding isn't the answer.
It is it a myth that breastfeeding burns up lots of calories making milk. You will burn some stored body fat, but your body protects some fat for the purpose of breastfeeding. Many women don't lose all the baby weight until they completely stop nursing.
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.
Your body will almost always create milk for your baby even if you under-eat. But, the nutritional quality of the milk will be decreased. Your body puts baby first, so if you aren't consuming nutritionally dense foods, and enough of them, YOU will suffer the most.
Tummy down feeding stimulates baby's inborn feeding reflexes. This position helps the jaw rock forward, the neck and head lift, and the arms work the full range of motion. You may find your baby making motions very similar to swimming in this position.
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.
If you're breastfeeding and you're overweight, the best way to lose weight is by eating a healthy, balanced diet and taking regular, moderate exercise, such as a brisk walk for 30 minutes each day. This will not affect the quality or quantity of your breast milk.
You need more calories than usual to fuel breast milk production, and not eating enough can hurt your milk supply. In general, most breastfeeding moms need 450 to 500 extra calories a day, for a total of around 2,500 calories daily.
While nursing, you should not consume less than 1500-1800 calories per day, and most women should stay at the high end of this range.
“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.
In fact, eating too few calories may impact your breastmilk supply. Aim to consume a minimum of 1500 to 1800 calories per day, depending on your individual needs. Any less than this and it may also be more difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs while nursing.
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.
Does pumping burn the same amount of calories as nursing? If you produce the same amount of breast milk pumping as you do nursing, then yes.
So if you were to compare the same amount that is produced via breastfeeding, you will be burning the same amount of calories while pumping. Some lactating moms are able to produce more milk either breastfeeding or pumping based on their individual success.
The let-down reflex generally occurs 2 or 3 times a feed. Most people who breastfeed only feel the first let-down. The let-down reflex can also occur with stimulation of your breasts, such as by your partner.