Many women would like to return to their pre-pregnancy weight as soon as possible after birth. It can take several months or even a year to achieve this. Part of the weight that a pregnant women gains is an “energy deposit” to meet the extra caloric demands of breastfeeding. It is consumed gradually while the mother nourishes her child.

It is wise to wait until the baby is at least two months old before making a specific effort to lose weight. A women’s body needs about this much time to recover from the birth and establish a good milk supply. Often, a woman loses weight without specific effort during this time.

A woman who is breastfeeding should lose weight slowly. Every mother needs enough energy and nutrients to be healthy, active, and able to care for her child or children. Ideally, she should not lose more than about one to two pounds per week (two kg a month).

Moderate excercise is beneficial and appropriate for the breastfeeding mother. Excercise is invigorating, and excellent change of pace, and a great stress reliever. Excercise does not have any effect on milk production. If excercising regularly, a breastfeeding woman should keep track of her weight to be sure she isn’t losing weight too quickly.

Sheri Lyn Parpia Khan, Roma, Italy
Published in its entirety in NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 21 No. 2, March-April 2004, p. 44.

THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, IL.: LLLI, 2003; 448-449