Why does nursing make you lose weight

In theory, then, for every week a woman breastfeeds she should be able to lose about half a kilogram, getting back to her pre-pregnancy weight within two months. But, as many mothers will testify, it is rarely this simple.

For one thing, breastfeeding is widely regarded as a licence to eat cake; a generous slice of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting contains about calories; even a skinny blueberry muffin from Starbucks contains calories. Add a grande latte to that, at calories , and you have already pretty much busted any calorie-deficit acquired through breastfeeding.

Of course, women could make healthier eating choices, but most breastfeeding mothers live in fear of their milk supply drying up — leaving them with an angry baby, who wants to feed even more often — and health visitors will often advise them to eat more and rest, as a means of ramping up milk production. And then some women, like me, initially lose weight but find themselves gaining it all back a few months in.

A study conducted in Sweden found that misconceptions regarding breastfeeding actually led some women to eat more because they assumed the pounds would melt off. In fact, it feels like a sanity-saving reward for successfully getting out of the house with your baby! There have been numerous studies on breastfeeding and weight change, but the results are inconclusive. A widely cited review of research on the subject, however, found no significant relationship between the two; in fact, it noted that other factors such as age, weight gained during pregnancy, and duration and intensity of nursing exclusive versus partial also need to be considered in future studies.

While I continue to be a strong advocate for breastfeeding I love the benefits for my baby and the bonding time it provides , I want women to know they should not be making this choice solely to cancel out calories. Read more: Why breastfeeding moms can enjoy a glass of wine Is it safe to use weed while breastfeeding? Your initial weight loss reflects the weight of the baby, the placenta, amniotic fluid, and excess water which accounts for about 15 to 17 pounds in the first few weeks, all told.

But breastfeeding will help to contract your uterus and shrink it back down to its pre-pregnancy size much more quickly. While breastfeeding, your belly should look much slimmer by the time you're 6 weeks postpartum.

Thereafter, studies show that women who exclusively breastfeed are more likely to lose their pregnancy weight by about six months after their babies are born compared to women who do not breastfeed.

Breastfeeding burns up to calories a day. This means that even though you are probably eating more to sustain breastfeeding, you can still lose weight. On average, if you're taking in the recommended amount of calories each day and breastfeeding exclusively, you should lose about 1 pound every week or two.

That might not sound like a lot, but a steady, gradual weight loss is safer and healthier. Plus, you're more likely to keep the weight off if you lose it gradually. You may be enticed to ramp up your weight loss efforts by doing more than just breastfeeding, especially if it's not helping you reach your goal in the way you hoped it might.

But while you're nursing, it's not a good idea to try to lose weight very quickly by going on a strict low-calorie diet. Drastically cutting calories could also cause a drop in your breast milk supply. You should also avoid taking any type of weight loss pills. These products contain herbs, medications, or other substances that may travel into your breast milk and harm your baby.

In fact, while you're breastfeeding, it's best if you don't take any medications or supplements or go on any special diets unless approved by your doctor. While some women lose weight while breastfeeding, there is no guarantee that nursing will simply melt away the pounds gained during pregnancy.

However, there are some things that you can do to increase your chances of losing weight during the postnatal period:. If you are still having trouble losing weight 3—6 months after the birth of your baby, take a closer look at your diet , adjust your workout plan light to moderate exercise doesn't interfere with breastfeeding , and consider reducing your caloric intake.

Once your baby is over 6 months old and begins to eat solid foods , you don't need as many calories each day. You may need to re-evaluate your diet and reduce the amount of food you're eating. If you're still struggling with postpartum weight loss after trying the above, it may be time to see the doctor.

There could be a medical reason behind your difficulty to lose weight such as stress , depression, an underactive thyroid, or another hormone imbalance.

Once you treat the underlying issues, you may be able to lose the weight more quickly. For the first 6 weeks after the birth of your baby, don't worry about how much you weigh. During this time, eat a well-balanced diet and try to get enough rest. Your body needs extra energy and nutrition to recover from the delivery and build up a healthy supply of breast milk for your baby.

After you've healed from childbirth and established your breast milk supply, you can begin to think about getting your body back.