I Just Can't Lose the Baby weight.....why????

Updated on April 21, 2007
C.P. asks from Beaverton, OR
6 answers

Many of you out there may be those lucky moms that people kept telling about when I was pregnant. I was told over and over that my baby weight will just melt off with breastfeeding. Well, I won't make this too long but I had a difficult pregnancy which included Preeclampsia (extremely high bloodpressure brought on by pregnancy) that resulted in bed rest for a lot of my last trimester. The goal was to get me to 36 weeks and then I was induced. Anyway, I gained about 55lbs, most in my last trimester, and was gaining normally until the bedrest. Anyway, my son being premature and having to be hospitalized for a week was not allowed to breastfeed for more than 10 mins at a time and then we had to supplement. We hoped to phase him out of this and have him exclusively breastfed but my supply (even with pumping) couldn't keep up with his needs and when he was about 3 1/2 months old, he refused to latch anymore.
That is a whole other story of how hard that still is for me since I didnt want to bottle feed. But as far as the weight loss....its not happening. I've been working out for about 2 months and doing weekly yoga classes....and nothing. I heard or read something about how some bodies hold onto the weight until the woman gets a few periods, and I still haven't got mine.
I guess my question is has anyone else had a really hard time losing it? What did you do? It's really taking a toll on my self esteem and I just don't have room to be depressed about myself with being a new mom. It's to a point that I'm embarassed to see people because its been 5 months and I feel like I should be looking more like the old me, or a little closer anyway. Am I expecting too much? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Minus "I don't know whats wrong, mine just melted away!" hahahaha

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So What Happened?

Thanks Shannon, I can definently relate. And yes, it is too late, but I did go to a lactation consultant and try the feeding tube thing. I tried nipple shields as well, but he just figured out that the bottle was a little quicker than mommy. When I pumped, it would take almost an hour just to get 3 oz out of each side. It was crazy slow! But he is healthy and my pediatrician said that all the breastfeeding studies where for the first 4 months. She actually was suprised that I stayed so commited with all the difficulties we were having. He also has extremely bad reflux so that didn't make it very comfortable for him to eat lying down.

More Answers

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C.H.

answers from Portland on

C.-
To my dismay, I had a couple of times after pregnancy with your same problem.One took 4 years to get it off. Waa! I know some of those lucky people though. Exercize is the key. If you have a stroller, now that it's getting nice out, take Jackson for a daily walk. Walk at a good pace. If possible, there are some good specials at the gyms now. Alot of them have babysitting while you work out. That is also good for baby to be comfortable with other kids and people watching him, being an only child. He may be too young, but you could check it out. Some of us have to really sweat it off.

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S.N.

answers from Portland on

I have no real advice, but I hope this might make you feel a little better about your predicament. I slowly gained weight through pregnancy, but ended up gaining the minimum suggested weight gain. Now that my daughter is almost 10 months, I weigh more than when I was 42 weeks pregnant. I hope that maybe the sunny weather will help. Winters in portland are long and unmotivating.
I too had breast feeding issues and want to say (although it is too late for yoy) if you have issues like this with breast feeding and want to continue, ask a lactation consultant about an SNS. It is a feeding tube that runs from a special bottle to the end of your nipple so you can supplement while breast feeding.

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R.

answers from Portland on

Hi C.,

First of all congratulations on the arrival of your son! What an exciting time for you and an exhausting one:-) I work with many pre/postpartum ladies and to be honest the saying 9 mos. on and 9 mos. off usually rings true. For some it takes a year to get back to where they were before baby. Please be patient with yourself you have recently given birth after being on bedrest and dealing with high blood pressure and you most likely are not getting as much sleep as you are used to. I would suggest trying to work out 4-5 times a week whether that be at the gym or walking with your baby in the stroller. Make sure to do stength training and the yoga is an added bonus. Keep your chin up and look at your little ones face and realize what a gift he is:-)

Lastly, I teach Stroller Strides a fitness program for moms and we invite you to join us. We have a great group of moms and little ones and come together for fitness and friendship.

www.strollerstrides.com

Best of luck to you!

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A.W.

answers from Portland on

Hi C.!!

Believe me when I say I know how you feel. Let me explain my story and tell you what I have done to change it.

I have always been a "big" girl, not necessarily fat and chunky, but big because I'm so short. Being 5'1" you have this impression that you are supposed to be small, well I wasn't. In high school I weighed about 160 pounds, when all of my friends weighed 20-50 pounds less. Anyways, I moved after school and gained 25 pounds within 7 years of me graduating, which in my opinion is not bad, but remember I'm only 5'1". Well I started taking those metabolite pills because I couldn't stand to look in the mirror anymore, and they worked great (I lost 35 pounds) until I stopped taking them and gained it all back and then GUESS WHAT?! I found out I was pregnant. I weighed 185 pounds when I found out and just like you I had the signs of preeclampsia, I was so swollen I couldn't wear shoes, I had to wear flip flops. I could feel the water sloshing on the tops of my feet. I was ordered from the doc to stay home from work when I was 20 weeks. Anyways I gained 67 pounds total, and for me I decided not to breastfeed, well I lost 50 pounds in 4 months (it was mostly water is what the doc said) and then life struck me again and I found out I was pregnant AGAIN!! This time I didn't gain as much but I was the same weight I was when I delieverd my first. I had the swelling again and had a lot of water, and lost 44 pounds in 8 months, but that still wasn't enough weight, so to make my long story short I started weight watchers from home. I have not eliminated any food from my "diet" I have just changed what and how I eat. Everything is Fat Free and Sugar Free and I eat a lot more now too than I did before. And the best thing is I still get to eat out and have desserts. Since starting this the end of January I have lost 18 pounds, it is amazing and I would love to help you out but this is not something you can do just for one or two months, it is a life changing decision. If you want I can send you an email with the information I follow and help you out.

Please do not feel as if you are the only one who can't lose the weight because you aren't alone and you can lose it. Everyone is different and our bodies react differently, but you got to believe that it will happen and with some determination you can have what you want. Here is my email address if you want to talk some ____@____.com

P.S. It's been said that exercise helps, but I have lost the weight with a short 15 min walk on my breaks at work, I can't afford to go to a gym or buy any equipment so I do what I can.

~A.~

We stuff with our "bear" hands - Stuff A Friend
http://www.stuffafriend.biz/members/pooh1623

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J.L.

answers from Portland on

You know, I am going to suggest something wild here. In addition to all of the wonderful advice below, I would suggest trying acupuncture. It may be just the thing that helps release your body or open the path per se.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Hi C.-

I had my son in November of 2005 and am still struggling with the weight. In the first few weeks after giving birth, I lost about 25 pounds. I've been hovering between 160-165lbs for the past 15-16 months. I just started getting really serious about working out... I busted out a video workout that I bought way before my pregnancy. Anyway, I don't know if I've lost any weight yet because I tossed the scale. I need to lose 30 lbs to get to prepregnancy weight and 40 to get to my ideal weight. I wanted to just share my story and let you know you're not alone. In the meantime, maybe just get a few items of clothing that fit you at your current size that are not maternity clothes. I did that and it made me feel way better!

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