Is breastfeeding the magic cure for weight gain after pregnancy? Many think so. In fact, according to research, many women stated that weight reduction was a benefit to breastfeeding. Why wouldn’t it be? On average women again 25-30 pounds during pregnancy. One of the most asked questions concerning weight loss is how to shed post pregnancy pounds.
After having a baby your metabolism slows down a bit and your focus is not on yourself but your baby, so losing weight can be a challenge.
So where does breastfeeding fit into all of this? Many women who choose to breastfeed have found they lost their post pregnancy weight easier than women who choose to bottle feed. Breastfeeding burns 600 calories a day in and of itself. That is nearly the equivalent of two one hour average aerobic workouts. Who doesn’t need a boost like that when seeking to lose weight? That burn in calories alone is enough to see results in your weight.
However, it is important to note that breastfeeding does not guarantee weight loss. This thought is supported by a brief study in the book, “Nutrition during Lactation” by the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences (1991). The topic was not studied in depth; however, they did find that 22 percent of women actually reported weight gains during lactation.
Every woman will have a different story or experience in regards to breastfeeding and weight loss. After having four children myself, I can tell you that I came to depend on breastfeeding to help me lose post pregnancy pounds. However, on child number 4, I was sorely disappointed when I lost no weight after the first few months. This simply proves that depending on breastfeeding to lose weight is not wise. There is no doubt that a connection can be made between weight reduction and nursing, yet there is no evidence to state it will guarantee your weight loss.
Related Articles:
Weight Loss for Breastfeeding Moms: Self-Esteem
How I Lost 40 Pounds in 8 weeks
Weight Loss: Getting into Shape after Pregnancy