I had read before giving birth that breastfeeding burned 500 cal. a day and all these people were saying how it helped them lose the baby weight, etc.. Then I had my baby and started breastfeeding. I lost the first 25 lbs. easily and though "great!". Now I'm sitting on the last 15 lbs. for like 3 months. (my daughter is 6 mos. old) I exercise as much as I can, I watch what I eat and still nothing. Apparently, my body is holding onto the last weight since I'm breastfeeding (according to my Dr.). So, my question....when I stop breastfeeding will the weight drop quickly or will I have to bust my booty even more??? Frustrating!

I've heard two versions of this, and it sounds like you're one and I'm the other.

1. You lose most of the weight but hang on to a few pounds until you're done with nursing, then -- bam! -- it falls off.

2. You lose more weight than you gained in the first place, then when you're done with nursing you slowing gain back about 5-10 pounds.

Of course, this is just what I've heard from other moms. Who knows if it's true. Anyone else had a different experience? And either way you have to be eating right and exercising, or yeah, you probably will hang on to the weight. I guess the point is I'd give it some time. Good luck with breastfeeding!

I had the second option w/ my first child and the 1st option w/ my 2nd...stll waiting for the "bam it falls off though" .

Well, we'll see. My 6 mos. old is getting to nosey to breastfeed. She does good when it's just her and I, but otherwise she doesn't keep her latch as she wants to see what's all going on. I'll probably be stopping in the next couple of months.

My son was like that too at that age. It was difficult to find a quiet place sometimes -- there were some nights when we'd have to turn off the lights, turn off the TV, turn off everything just to get him to pay attention. It gets even more difficult as they become mobile!

that's pretty much what I have to do. But if there's people over even if I go to a room by myself sometimes she won't do it because she knows there's so much going on out of that room. I'll keep doing it as long as she eats in the AM and PM well, and while we're here at home alone. I'm thinking of stopping around 8 mos. anyway so I have plenty of time to lose the baby weight before we go to our next one (we're trying for 2 years apart or so).

For me, breastfeeding seem to make me more hungrier than when I was pregnant. I am now finding a way to take off my extra weight.

Two years apart has worked out well for us (mine are just a little more than that).

Oh yeah, Tammy. Breastfeeding made me a ravenous woman! I would eat more than my husband and boys combined -- it was kind of embarrassing how much food I could put away.

Exactly 2.5 yrs apart here and it was perfect! We were hoping for 2 yrs..2.5 is where we landed though. Working out well!

Well, this is off topic of the orignial post, but how hard was it going from 1 to 2 kids? My daughter still doesn't sleep through the night all the time, but we're getting close. I know that when I had her (or got to my last trimester actually) I basically had to give up sleeping well for awhile, but I'm scared since I nap now with her how it will be when she's up most the day and I can't nap with as often or as long.

Personally I didn't find it that hard. By that time my older son was sleeping through the night, he was beginning potty training and he could follow simple directions. I think what made it much easier though was how much more comfortable and confident I felt as a mom. I didn't spend hours second guessing myself or looking things up when the unexpected happened; in fact, I kind of felt like I knew what to expect. It was/is a nice feeling.

I've actually heard from a couple moms that going from two to three children is more difficult. Any moms of three: is that true?

Well, I am on day 2 of feeding and feel absolutely STARVED each time I feed my little man. I am also worried about the weight so we'll see. I will say that it also depends on your body type and where you gain your weight. Don't forget your breasts are supposed to weigh down your scale but don't concentrate on the number--just focus on how you look TO YOU and then decide what you want to do to a particular area.

I eat like every 2 hours or so. Usually just a banana or granola bar or something other than a diet dinner for lunch and whatever we have for dinner. I eat all day long, though if I keep this up when I stop breasfeeding it's supposed to help you lose weight when you "graze" all day.

Mary, so great to see you! Congrats on the baby and good luck!!

The calories are important b/c you can't keep up without them. But the type of calories you take in are equally important. You can eat healthy calories and drink lots of water. I started running while I was nursing and that finally helped me lose the extra weight. So, yes I agree it's difficult b/c I was always starving when nursing but I think it can be done. But you have the rest of your life to lose that extra 10-15 lbs but only a short time of it to enjoy nursing. I miss it so much.