Will You Lose Weight While Breastfeeding?
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Here’s some news you might be happy about: Most women do lose weight while breastfeeding, and tend to lose it at a faster rate than moms who don’t breastfeed. In fact, research shows that most breastfeeding mothers are back to their pre-pregnancy weight by one year and lose more weight between nine and twelve months than between three and six months. What’s more, women who breastfeed (exclusively or partially) have slimmer hips by one month postpartum than women who exclusively formula-feed. (Read more about breastfeeding basics.)
How to lose weight while breastfeeding
If you want to lose weight while breastfeeding at a faster rate, you can increase your exercise level and eliminate about 100 calories per day (say, by cutting out dessert or skipping the sugary syrup in your latte). The minimum daily intake recommended for an average-sized breastfeeding woman is 1800 calories. If you were overweight prior to your pregnancy, you may be able to eat less.
Even though you want to lose weight while breastfeeding, know that you need to eat nutritious fare to nourish your baby. Eat a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, protein-rich foods, and foods high in calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6 and folate. Liquid diets, crash diets and weight loss medications are not recommended.
Another thing: It’s okay to lose weight while breastfeeding, just do it slowly. Avoid any attempts at dieting in the first couple of months when you’re still recovering from giving birth and establishing your milk production. Losing weight too rapidly may lower your energy level and decrease your resistance to illness. You can safely lose up to 1-2 pounds per month without affecting your milk production or your baby’s growth. If you are significantly overweight, you can lose 4-5 pounds per month.
Just gotta try this Creamy Avocado Dip recipe via Momables.com - love how you can spread it on a sandwich in lieu of Mayo! 
Comment by esmeralda on Feb 25 2010 03:55:37:
If breast feeding is supposed to help loose weight then I don’t know what happened to me. Before pregnancy I weighed 125 and on the last days of my pregnacy I was weighing 186.Nio, I didi not beleive in the whole thing eat for two,trhough out most of the pregnancy I ate mainly cereal (wholegrain), yogurts and even salads. Not that I was watching my weight because beleive me I was a very happy & excited mom to be. I only breastfed my baby who is now 2 and still feeding (DONT WORRY I ASKED HER PEDIATRICIAN IF IT WAS OK) and I am still 180lbs. i still have a tummy that people still come to me and ask me how far alomg am I. So what did I do wrong????
Comment by Kayla on Aug 25 2010 07:23:55:
I breastfed my lil boy for 2 months.. I wanted to do it longer but had some health problems that would not allow it. When I got pregnant I weighed about 137 Delivery day i weighed 154.. While breastfeeding i did loose most of the weight I had gained. but when i stop i didnt change the way I had begun to eat and therefore I gained all the weight back and then some.. So remember once you stop breastfeeding to adjust your diet according.
Comment by Lauren – Resident Mom on Sep 08 2010 06:11:18:
Yes it is true! Everyone is different so there are no guarantees but many studies have been done that support this and I can tell you that it did work for me! I was 170 when I had my son and breastfed exclusively for 6 months til he went to solid foods and still breastfed up until he was 14months old. I was down to 115 in 5-6 months. Aside from playing with my son and carrying around all the baby gear, I didn’t do any extra physical activity or change my eating habits. From speaking to other moms, it seems to really only cause weight loss if you breastfed exclusively at least for 6 months.
The reason this happens is when you breastfed right after delivery your body releases oxytocin into your body which triggers the afterpains/contractions. All women have these afterpains though some don’t actually notice them but the breastfeeding increases them, which help your uterus to get back to its orignal size quicker! The second reason and I believe the main reason it causes you to lose weight is because you naturally burn calories to make breast milk every time you nurse! Those calories go into the breast milk for your baby.
Good Luck
Comment by Shauna on Feb 11 2011 12:42:05:
I weighed 160 pre-pregnancy. I weighed approximately 186 when I went into labor. I was down 20 lbs 2 weeks PP and at four months post-partum, I’m down to 142. My son is EBF.
Disclaimer:
I play on the Wii Fit a few times a month (probably not enough to make much of a difference) and I’m on a special diet due to my baby’s food intollerances. These things may have affected how much weight I lost and how fast I lost it. I’ve also had a high metabolism my whole life. I don’t want to discourage any mom who is having a hard time taking the weight off. Just remember that it takes about 9 months to put it on, so you need to give yourself at least that long to get it back off.
Comment by gigi on Jun 14 2011 09:11:55:
I don’t think so. I nursed all 4 of my kids for over 2 years and I never lost weight. I gain weight to honest. I gained atleast 20 more lbs after the birth of the children. I thought i’d lose the weight, but I didn’t .
Comment by Lauren on Sep 23 2011 05:21:10:
I breastfed exclusively both my boys and got down to below pre-pregnancy weight both times in 2-3months and has stayed off. I have a 3yr old who nursed til 14months and a 1yr old still nursing. I do run around with my kids often but thats about the only exercise I get. I do however have a close friend who did gain weight while she breastfed all 4 of her babies. I think its the norm, but its not guaranteed, much like some women don’t ovulate (I don’t) while breastfeeding and some do.
Comment by Tracie on Dec 09 2011 10:26:44:
My son is 3 months old and I have exclusively breastfed him the whole time. I weigh LESS now than BEFORE I was pregnant, as breastfeeding can burn as much as 500-800 calories per day. So it does work…I’ve got some toning up to do, but the weight is completely gone.
Comment by Ashley Malloy on Mar 30 2012 03:51:45:
it IS true. it burns calories.
Comment by Nicole Hagerthey on Sep 28 2012 07:09:53:
My baby is 10 months old. I exclusivly breastfeed her and I still weigh the same as when she was a month old…. when will I lose it?
Comment by Tatiana T on Dec 27 2012 05:55:34:
Eat healthy and exercise
Comment by medical on Apr 17 2013 06:35:47:
Hello, I wish for to subscribe for this website to take most up-to-date updates, therefore where can i do it please help.
Comment by Sue San on May 03 2013 06:01:21:
Thank you for being very specific about caloric needs and the recommended weight loss/month. With the dramatic returns to "hollywood form" that some actresses have exhibited postpartum, it can be challenging to know what is a more healthy approach.