Mom2mom poll: Did you lose weight during breast feeding?

[kckady]

Did you lose weight when you were breast feeding? Not so much? Some moms find this rule to be true, others don't lose an ounce! What's been your experience? Share here and read what other KC moms say.
Read The Star's FYI section on Tuesday, Oct. 11, and check back often on mom2momkc.com to see how our mom2mom panel answered.
The question: Did you lose weight during breast feeding?
A. Yes
B. No

[valeho]

No, no I didn't. And what I don 't understand is 8-1/2 years after having my son, I still am carrying around the baby weight.

[momonnet]

Yes...but..... I think I would have anyway. I don't think I lost because of the breast feeding.

[sahmiam43]

Technically, sure. But starting breastfeeding right after birth and giving it up many months later- I would think that anyone would technically weigh less. But, I didn't see that Like A Daily Workout weight loss after the first month or so of extreme post-partum weight plummet. And when I stopped breast feeding I was good for another 10 lbs loss. And that was about it...I mean, besides the 24 lbs of baby I had attached to me all. the. time.

[jacobsmommy921]

I did lose weight, so I guess that can partially be attributed to breastfeeding.

[Dawn]

I want to answer yes or no, but I cannot. Initially I do loose weight in the first few months, but then begin to gain. Since I breast feed for extended periods (about 2 years), it's a long time to gauge. I would say "yes" and "no." I typically do loose weight if I'm not pregnant when I wean though. I will loose 5 lbs or so, my appetite is down when not nursing.

[JoLynne]

My daughter and I spent the last trimester of my pregnancy on bed rest, because I never gained enough weight. Luckily she was born perfectly healthy. And I can't blame my current effort to get back to a healthy weight on my pregnancy. Eating too much and lack of exercise are the culprits. Going to graduate school and dislocating my elbow did more to pack the pounds on me than pregnancy did.

[Yahoo]

I lost all my extra weight with both kids within 6 weeks of giving birth and there is no way it was for any other reason. I continued my "dessert a day" excuse from pregnancy until I weaned. I do consider myself very lucky - I certainly never expected it to be so easy.

[lisab]

Yes, and I feel really lucky. I know stress greatly attributed as well after my fourth. She had colic. I breastfed each baby for different lengths of time. I know it helped my uterus contract & get back to its pre-pregnancy size. Sometimes the contractions were pretty rough.

[mygr8crew]

Yes, and then no. It certainly didn't last. During the first couple of months of rigorous breast feeding and being at home, I did lose pretty well. But when I went back to work, it was all for naught. It is too easy to eat sitting behind a desk with no baby attached to my hip and chasing a couple of toddlers around.