Does Breastfeeding Help You Lose Weight?


You may have heard that breastfeeding helps you lose weight. Is this true? Do breastfed babies fare better at the growing stages of children? Will formula affect the health and weight of your baby? Do some studies on formula and weight loss support breastfeeding? If you have been asking these questions, chances are you are still breastfeeding and maybe even pregnant.

Breastfeeding is a natural way to feed a baby. The mother feeds her baby with her nipple and breast. Milk is converted into baby body nutrients (such as sugars and proteins) by the lactating process. Although formula may be the "in thing" now, many mothers are switching to breastfeeding for a number of reasons. Breast milk does not contain calories, so it does not add weight to the baby. If a mom does not nurse her baby, she can go back to her old eating habits and her baby will gain the weight she lost when she breastfed.

Studies have shown that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of certain types of cancers. It also seems to help with weight control. If a mother switches from breastfeeding to bottle feeding, her body may crave the familiarity of being around her breasts. This connection makes breastfeeding an important part of a healthy lifestyle choice for mothers and their babies. However, some health professionals advise mothers not to bottle feed while they are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Does breastfeeding help you lose weight? It all depends on how much weight you want to lose. If you are carrying around excess weight, breastfeeding is not likely to help you lose weight. A good rule of thumb is to have at least your infant's head under the breast if you plan to breastfeed. This helps ensure your baby receives the full amount of nutrition needed.

Breast milk has also been proven to help ward off certain illnesses such as diabetes. Many infants who were exclusively breastfeeding their first six months have been less likely to develop diabetes later in life. Formula on the other hand has many of the same complications. Babies who have enjoyed the occasional bottle of formula have been found to be more obese than babies who have received breast milk for more frequent feedings.

While breastfeeding may help a mother to lose weight, formula is probably a better option if you are a new mom or if your pregnancy is recent. There are several different brands available to new moms that make it easy to nurse. There are even soy-based versions of the traditional formula on the market. These formulas are designed to be easier on the stomachs of new moms and may actually promote weight loss if they are used during the first few weeks of the pregnancy.

Some mothers who breastfeed have reported that formula tends to have a case of gas. Breastfeeding does help the digestive system work easier and may also help with constipation. This is not the case however with formula. The gas that some expectant mothers report developing is actually from the fluid that is given to the babies in the first few weeks of life. Many experts recommend changing to a more "gentle" formula after the first few weeks of breastfeeding. If this is not possible for you, try to incorporate a few drops of infant enzyme into the breast milk instead.

For most women, breastfeeding does not reduce their weight. However, it does not mean that you can never lose weight. There are many options available for women who want to continue to have their own baby. There are many types of formula on the market that provide protein for the growing baby, but they are not free and will slow down weight loss. Some women do successfully use the other methods of weight loss that are available for women who choose to breastfeed.


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