Breast Feeding and Weight Loss

Q:  I had a baby 4 months ago. I 'm breastfeeding, but I really need to lose weight. I need to return to work in about two months and if I don't lose the weight I won't have anything to wear and I can't afford to but a new wardrobe. What can I do?

A:  Hooray for you! You will never regret the experience of breastfeeding and the intimacy you've experienced with your baby as well as the health benefits. A new study suggests that breast fed babies learn more quickly than those who are not, adding another benefit for this special kind of nutrition.

In looking for an answer to your question, I contacted the LaLeche League and have added their input to this answer. Keep in mind that much of the weight you gained was necessary to insure the health of your baby as it developed. It also took you nine months to gain the weight -- as a result you need to give yourself time to lose the weight. Any accelerated attempts to do so while breastfeeding will put your baby's nutrition at risk as your body will begin to produce substances called ketones that could make your breast milk potentially unhealthy.

There is some good news: women who breastfeed will actually lose weight faster than those who don't. With that in mind however, a breastfeeding woman should not lose more than four pounds per month. Here are a few other suggestions to make this return to pre-pregnant weight as safe as possible.

• A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables is healthy and will promote safe weight loss.
• Reduce your intake of all fats.
• Drink only skim milk and avoid processed cheeses.
• Avoid refined sugars and products that contain them.
• Limit intake of breads.
• Try to get outside for a walk at least twice a day for half an hour or more.

Clearly, there are no surprises here. It doesn't help either that you may be hungrier while breastfeeding as a mechanism to make sure that your diet is nutrient rich. This is a struggle that most women who do not breastfeed (or have not had children) and many men cannot identify with. Yet, you are making a sacrifice to insure the health and well-being of your baby and one that will ultimately provide you with a sense of accomplishment and confidence as your children grow.

"Your Health" provides easy-to-understand information about common health conditions.