breastfeeding question?

Question

Im pregnant with our third child, and i wanted to know if breastfeeding helps you lose weight like they say it does? And i tried it with my first son and i didnt produce enough milk so i had to formula feed, if this happens again with this baby, can they give you anything to help produce more milk? Thanks so much!!

and can you breastfeed and formula feed once in awhile? can you do both?

Answer 1

I steadily kept losing a pound a week when I started breastfeeding my baby. It makes you burn more calories, and if you don't start overeating, you should be able to lose your pregnancy weight much quicker than if you were not breastfeeding.

Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle (especially taken together) can boost your milk supply like nothing else, literally within hours. I tried, so the information is verified. You can get those in any health food store, they are natural supplements recommended by doctors and lactation specialists for mothers with milk supply problems. And keep nursing, nursing, nursing and pumping, pumping, pumping and you will be able to stabilize your milk supply in no time!

Yes, you can breastfeed and supplement with formula at the same time, for example, if you are outside and do not want to nurse in public, you can offer your baby a bottle, and it will be just fine! But if you want to keep your milk up, you need to pump whenever you substitute a feeding with a bottle.

Congratulations! And good choice to breastfeed. :)

Answer 2

There is nothing better for your baby’s nutritional needs than breast milk. Breast-feeding is natural and what your body is meant to do. How long did you try breast-feeding your first baby before you gave up? Breast-feeding is no picnic in the beginning- but it does get easier. It took two full weeks for my baby and I to get adjusted to breast-feeding. I actually over-produced and became engorged. The supply and demand effect is what determines your milk supply. Some women produce too much in the beginning and some women don't produce enough.

Breast-feeding helped me to loose the 30lbs I gained. I lost it all by the time my baby was 3 months old. I didn't diet and I eat very healthy foods. Everybody metabolizes food differently and each woman will have a different reaction to breast-feeding.

I heard that the Fenugreek tea works well. Also, if you like to eat oatmeal that works to increase supply. Last month I was worried about my milk supply. A lactation consultant told me that oatmeal will help to increase milk supply and it did. I have a big bowl of oatmeal every morning and I haven't had any problems since!

Some women produce too much milk in the beginning and other not enough. If you don't produce enough let your baby nurse as much as possible and pump in-between. This will make your body produce more oxytocin and prolactin and you will increase your supply. Supplement your feedings w/ formula until your supply gets better- then you can start breast feeding exclusively. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

I was in a study about breastfeeding moms and the preliminary result was that it didn't help you lose weight. I think the jury is still out on that in terms of actual results. It sounds good in theory since you burn calories by doing it, but I was also hungrier while breastfeeding, so I (and others) probably ate more than I should.

You can supplement with formula, but it is important to breastfeed or pump as much as possible because an empty breast makes more milk quickly than a full one. I've known moms who were weaning from breastfeeding who only breastfed at night for a month or so before stopping. At the beginning I breastfed every couple hours, whenever baby wanted to eat.

Breastfeeding does help the uterus contract back to the normal size. That is a scientific fact.

Answer 4

I'm no expert but I just had a baby in Nov. and I breastfed for one month (I didn't at all with my first) It definitely helps you lose weight!! That is no joke. There are a lot of natural things you can do to up your milk supply, I know there are some herbal teas for that, and yes you can do both although you should be pumping because formula feeding your baby will make your milk supply go down also. I would like to suggest you go to babyzone.com and join your dues date message board. People on there are great and they also have a breastfeeding message board. Good Luck! =)

Answer 5

I have three children, and was never able to breastfeed the first two due to low milk...so I opted for formula feed.

Yes, they can give you something to up your milk supply. They gave me two herbs with this third child, and I am producing enough milk now.

Yes, you can both breast and bottle feed, although you rarely see anything in the parenting books about this, usually it's either/or.

I mainly breast feed my baby (6 weeks) but occasionally, I give her a formula bottle, because I'm too sore, or she doesn't seem like she's getting enough.

Answer 6

Yes it does help you loose weight because your body is working to produce the milk.

If you do have low supply you can buy a tea called "mothers milk" they have it at vitamin shops (I saw it at GNC) .. it will increase your supply. Pumping in between feedings in addition will also stimulate the milk production.

Yes you can Formula feed and nurse both at the same time.. but to not loose the milk supply you should pump the milk that you dont feed when you give formula.

Answer 7

Breastfeeding does in fact help you lose weight after having a baby. As far as production, the best advice I can give is "supply and demand." If your baby demands it, you will supply it. In other words, nurse the baby many times a day at the beginning to get your milk production up. Also, pump in between nursing. It is tiring and seems like something's always attached to your breast, but it will pay off in the end. Good luck.

Answer 8

Your body uses a lot of calories to produce milk, so you do loose the "baby fat" quicker.
Also, the more you breastfeed the more milk your body will produce, so I would suggest pumping, even when you are formula feeding if you are able to.

Answer 9

I am no expert but i do have a 6 month old who is exclusively breastfed. and it's simple the more you nurse your baby the more milk your body will make. drink as much fluids as possible and make sure to eat balanced meals. also when u can't nurse your baby make sure u pump milk to keep up your supply.also breast milk is best for your baby and no reason why anyone should not be able to breastfeed, there is no such thing as not enough milk.

Answer 10

Breastfeeding burns calories. As far as milk..it's supply in demand. The more you child nurses, the more milk you body will produce. I am sure you know it may a few days for your real milk to come in.

Hang in there and relax