You asked

Weight loss after pregnancy: does breastfeeding help?

It’s natural for any woman who is pregnant to gain extra fat. It’s your body’s way of preparing you for the extra strain of breastfeeding. In fact, not gaining weight and fat while pregnant is far more of a worry.
 
However, once you have had your baby and assuming that you eat healthily and exercise moderately, the calories burned by milk production can help you to lose that weight faster.
 
The key here is moderation however. Research has shown that excessive exercise and dieting while breastfeeding can release toxins into your breast milk that can be harmful to your baby.
 
Rather start gradually, by eating healthily, making sure you get enough fluids to compensate for the loss of fluids through breastfeeding, and speaking to your doctor about gentle exercises that you can do. Over time, you will lose the weight if you stick to a sensible lifestyle plan, so don’t crash diet or exercise too much.

More questions

Babies can often be fussy in the evenings and you may find it difficult to nurse or settle them. 
If your baby is gaining weight while being fed exclusively on breastmilk, then you have nothing to worry about. You can also check to make sure that your child is producing enough wet and dirty nappies. As long...
If you are taking medication it is highly unlikely that you will need to stop breastfeeding. When taking medication only a tiny amount shows up in the milk and is almost never harmful to your baby. If a...
Many mothers when deciding how to feed their babies are under the impression that formula is almost the same as breastmilk. This is completely untrue and by choosing breastmilk you are choosing what is best for...
Breastmilk has plenty of iron to last your baby at least the first six months of his life. 
Nipple shields are silicone covers designed to make the nipple more prominent. They are used mainly if the baby will not take the breast, the baby is born prematurely or the mother has sore nipples. There is...
It is recommended by experts that all babies, including babies that are breastfed be given 5 micrograms of vitamin D3 a day. This is because recent studies have shown that mothers and children in the UK have...
Spitting up is very common and most young babies spit up at least once a day. This is because their digestive systems are immature which makes it very easy for their stomach contents to come back up their...
Your baby possibly has reflux. This is caused by a weak valve at the top of a baby’s stomach which allows their feed to come back up. Symptoms include heartburn and vomiting. You should consult with your...
The answer is no, definitely not.There is no benefit to you or your baby that can be gained from stopping breastfeeding. By continuing to breastfeed you will be giving your baby the best medicine possible to...

Latest

Trending