Questions for moms and preggs, just wondering, nothing serious : )?

Question

I am due in 5 weeks. I just had some questions. Just random things that popped into my head.

1. After breast feeding, did or does everyones breasts get smaller than they were before pregnancy? Do they always sag afterwards? and how many people got stretch marks on their breasts?

2. After the baby is born, I know you cut the umbilical cord and it dies and falls off the baby in time, but what happens to the part attached to mom? does it come out with the placenta? or do you wait for it to die and fall off as well?

3. When the baby is born, and you breastfeed them your pre milk or colostrum, how are you sure they even got any of it? I read that it is only like a tablespoon at a time, will i know or did you know when the baby recieved it?

4. I have read that you burn more calories when you breastfeed, did it help you loose your baby weight fast? I have also read about a lot of weight coming off in the first two weeks after birth, was this true for you?

Great, no one wants to answer my questions. I guess i will never know.

I am so glad to hear the cord comes out with the placenta. i was worried it would still be in there lol. i really had no idea what happened with the cord.

I do plan on breast feeding my baby girl, hopefully for a year like my mom did with me. Ive talked to so many people who stopped way before then because it was 'too hard' or they were 'too tired

Thanks so much for your answers.

Answer 1

1. I'm still breastfeeding my firstborn, who is only seven weeks. I plan on doing so for a year, so I'll have to wait and see. I do have stretch marks on my breasts, but I'm not worried about it.

2. The other end of the umbilical cord comes out with the placenta, I think. I hadn't thought about it prior to this, though.

3. I was just told by at least one nurse at the hospital that there is enough nutrients in the colostrum for the baby. While my daughter did lose a bit more weight than the average her first week, she is doing fine now. (She still looks small, but then she was only 6.2 at birth.)

4. One burns about 500 calories a day from nursing. I'm not sure how much weight I lost the first two weeks. I lost about 14 pounds immediately, just from the birth. I've been at 185 for a few weeks and yesterday the scale said 182. Sunday was the first Sunday since July that I did not wear maternity pants to church. Today is the first day since May that I've worn regular jeans. They're still a bit tight, even with the spandex underwear, but I can actually button them. I have about 12 pounds to go before going back to my pre-baby weight (I had 170 pounds on my six foot tall body), but I'll be happy with 175 and have the extra weight for nursing, which is also suggested. While I'm not exercising (though I should have taken advantage of the extra days of warm weather) I eat very well. It also took a few weeks to quit eating as though I was still pregnant. However, if I'm still wearing my 14s for awhile, that's fine. I'll just go to Goodwill and hunt for at least one pair of jeans that are long enough. (After I was married I went from a 12 to a 14 and needed jeans and could only find medium lengths at Goodwill. When I went back to a 12, I deliberately saved my 14s for when I was pregnant and after being pregnant. I'm cheap and only buy clothes when I need them, and it seemed silly to get rid of something if I knew I would need it again someday. However, I'm breastfeeding for my daughter, not for weight loss.

Answer 2

1. Everybody's breasts react differently, but yes, you do get a little saggy because within the day your breasts get bigger and smaller multiple times. It just makes sense that something that gets stretched and drained so frequently is going to sag after awhile. I didn't get stretch marks on my breasts, and I grew 3 cup sizes from pre pregnancy to the start of nursing.

2. When you deliver the after birth, which is the placenta and some other stuff, then your end of the umbilical cord is gone.

3. Baby's don't need to eat a certain amount within the first week of birth. Your body will produce enough colostrum for them, and they will likely lose a little weight but that is normal. Colostrum is extremely caloric and it's full of the nutrients your baby needs. Don't be concerned about not producing enough, and if you are serious about breastfeeding, don't supplement with bottles while you are feeding colostrum unless your milk takes abnormally long to come in.
4. I had my baby 3 weeks ago and I weigh my pre pregnancy weight already, and I had gained 40 pounds. She's breastfed and I've also been drinking insane amounts of water.

good luck and congrats--- being a mommy is so fun!

Answer 3

1. My breasts did get smaller, by a full cup size... which is alot because they didnt start out big to begin with. They also sagged, and the only place I got stretch marks at all was on my breasts after breastfeeding. But, it is completely worth it :)

2. The umbilical cord comes out when the placenta comes out. Your OB will probably pull it out shortly after you deliver the baby, or you may be asked to push it out.

3. The colostrum is a very small amount, but it is all that the baby needs. If you are unsure if you are producing it right away, you can pump and then bottle feed it to the baby, but chances are that the baby is getting it. You can tell if she is or not, because you can hear her swallow.

4. Breastfeeding will help burn the calories, because the calories are fed to your baby. It helped me drop the weight quickly, and within the first 2 weeks after having the baby you will probably lose a good portion of your weight. Between the baby, placenta, water, and your breasts you will lose at least 10 pounds right after delivery.

I had my second child 7 weeks ago, and gained 45 pounds through out the pregnancy. I have lost 35 of those pounds already.

Hope this helps :)

Answer 4

1.My breasts actually remained just a bit larger than before getting pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Mainly b/c I gained a lot of weight and it's mostly just skin. Yes, they will probably sag a bit...think of a balloon. You blow it up and deflate it, it's a bit bigger and not as tight. But I really think it has a lot to do with genetics too. I didn't get stretch marks on them....that's genetic for sure!

2)The Umbilical cord comes out with the placenta immediately after birth. After the baby comes the doctor will literally deliver the placenta(cord included)

3)You can either breastfeed or pump your colostrum. You just kinda know that they got it. You can actually squeeze a bit out and if you're producing it, they'll get it. It's like a white/clear, sticky substance.

4)Breastfeeding didn't do anything for my weight loss, although many women it does...it just depends. A lot of weight does come off in the first two weeks, but that's mainly water and your uterus slowly shrinking. The fat you put on(in my case, ATE ON!), doesn't just fall off in those weeks....that's what you'll have to diet and excercise off.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

1. Your breasts will never be the same, regardless. I doubt seriously that they will shrink down to be smaller than before pregnancy, since that's not really how our bodies work. I didn't get any stretch marks from my pregnancy breast growth.

2. The umbilical cord comes out with the placenta.

3. You will know if they aren't getting anything. Breastfeeding isn't easy at first, but typically the baby will not stay latched on if they aren't getting anything. Limit your feedings to 10 minutes per side to avoid your newborn from sucking on nothing.

4. Yes, you burn more calories. Every time you nurse, your uterus contracts. A lot of weight will come off, but everyone is different, and it may not be as much as you're expecting or what you want, but remember that it took 9 months of pregnancy to get to where you are; give yourself a break. :) I never lost 100% of the baby weight from my first, and only had my 2nd a week ago.

Answer 6

1) My breasts got larger and stayed that way, although I do have stretch marks on them and they sag more than they did before I nursed two kids. You can help this be less by wearing a bra 24/7. You pretty much have to when you nurse anyway.

2) After the baby is born, the cord comes out with the placenta, yes.

3) You can see a little bit of it on the corners of their mouth as they are nursing on you. Your baby will be content when they are done eating, that's how you will know they got enough. There will be a nurse there to help you nurse and answer all your questions. :)

4) I dropped serious weight immediately with my son. It took about one month to be back to less than my pre-baby weight. With my daughter I nursed her just the same as my son and the weight did not come off nearly as quick---in fact, I still have about 15 pounds left and she's 4. Nurse because it is best for baby, not to lose weight---you might get disappointed if you don't have great results in that department otherwise. Lots of luck, hope I helped! :)

Answer 7

Okay...i only breastfed a short time with two of my babies, my boobs are BIGGER than before I had kids and I have lots of strech marks on them from pregnancy till now, they are just starting to fade.
The umbilical cord is attached to the placenta which is delivered right after birth. It takes about a week for the stump to fall off the baby.
Your colostum comes in after birth and is what the baby eats for the first couple days, milk comes at about day three and it can be painful just warning you...
Your uterus shrinks down to pre pregnant size faster when you breastfeed beacuse nipple stimulation causes it to contract faster and more efficiently.
With my first baby it took about 3 months to get back down to my pre pregnancy clothes, but I only lost about 30 of the65 lbs i gained. With my second baby it took a year to loose all the 35 lbs I gained, and I am still working on loosing the rest from my last pregnancy which ended in june. the hardest part of the weight to loose is the stomach, I found pushing the stroller and sucking my gut in was the most effective way paired with crunches (i hate them) to get rid of the mommy pouch.

Answer 8

I have to say, how is them buying the sick puppies in mass amount *any* different than a human purchasing a puppy from a pet shop, or directly from the mill? If they are that dedicated, why can't they track the pups somehow (may sound farfetched) so whenever a shelter gets ahold of a suspected puppy mill puppy, they can step in and rescue from there. It might not be much, but it would be a start. Puppy mill puppies need a *lot* of extra care, and I'm happy they provide it, but they could go about it in a MUCH better way.

Answer 9

well i am sorry i can only answer one of your four questions since i am still very pregnant lol the umbillical cord is delivered with the placenta when you have to deliver that after the baby and the cord is connected to that
good luck and congrats

Answer 10

Breast enlargement/reduction after pregnancy is dependent on a couple variables. Part of it is hereditary, and then whether or not you choose to breastfeed.