Weight Loss & Breastfeeding

There are many conflicted views about weight loss and breastfeeding. Some doctors say that new mothers will lose weight by breastfeeding for the first year, while others say that the majority of pregnancy weight will not be lost until weaning has begun or completed.

Breastfeeding does help your uterus return to its pre-pregnancy shape. Hormones are released which help the uterus contract (which is why some moms report cramping while breastfeeding).

The consensus is that mothers should not rely on breastfeeding as the only means of losing weight after having a baby. Many moms tend to use breastfeeding as an excuse to overeat, which results in even more gained weight. If your goals are to take the pounds off, do not use breastfeeding as an excuse to eat whatever you want.

However, breastfeeding mothers do need to be sure that they are maintaining a diet of at least 1800 calories, preferably from healthy food rather than junk or fast food. It is estimated that you use between 600 and 1000 calories per day by breastfeeding. This is one of the reasons that breastfeeding moms tend to lose the baby weight faster than non-breastfeeding moms.

Breastfeeding mothers should never take any prescription diet pills while breastfeeding. It is unknown how much of the chemicals are released into your milk supply and what effect they may have on your infant. The same is said for many herbal supplements, always check with your physician before taking any new supplement when you are breastfeeding a baby. Always wait until your baby is completely weaned before starting any prescription diet pills, if this is the route you take..