Postpartum Dilemma/Here I Am Again: Lose All Pregnancy Weight Only to Regain It Later

[natural&organicmom]

I thought it might be different this time, but here I am again.  I am now 13 wks postpartum and I feel hungry all the time.  I've gained 5-6 pounds in about 1 week and now I am fighting weight loss again. This is my third pregnancy and like all the others I lost all my pregnancy weight by 4 wks postpartum (usually by 2 wks).  However, each time I have gained it all back within time, so now I am stuck with an extra 30 lbs on my body and trying to lose it while I am breastfeed a newborn and my 2 yr old (25 months).  I am not depressed, but I feel like eating sweets all the time and I feel ravished, so I am wondering how to counteract that.  I have begun to workout, so I hope that will help.  Perhaps some of you have encountered this too and have some suggestions. Thanks so much!  I would really like to lose the weight.  I know it is normal to retain some weight if you are breastfeeding, but 30 lbs. is ridiculous.  :-)

[Montana Mom]

This happened to me as well and it turned out to be thyroid disease.  For a long time it was "subclinical" meaning it did not show up on bloodwork, then it got so bad it did show up.  I would lose all the weight and then some right away, then by the time baby was a few months old I would be heavier than my delivery weight!  Super frustrating, I hear ya!

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

PS: the sweets craving could be candida/yeast.  Look into oil of oregano for that.  HTH!!

[haitimom]

Montana Mom,

         Thanks for the link. I feel like I wrote it. People have always been surprised to hear that I didn't gain my extra weight during my prenancies, that it was always the first 30 days after. I always lost all the pregnancy weight and more in the first few days two weeks max. Then a  mointh later I needed new clothes because I'd packed on so much weight. Always 30 lbs. and I don't gain any more, no matter what or how much i eat. Until the next pregnancy. I've had 5. I am so eager to explore this for myself! Thank You!

[natural&organicmom]

Very interesting!  Thanks so much.  I had no idea the cravings could be associated with candida. I have oil of oregano on hand, but I have to be sure if I can use it while breastfeeding.  I'll definitely look into the thyroid, although I think it may be more of the cravings and hormonal problem.  This time I am losing the weight and only a couple more to go to get back to pre-partum weight.  Then to work on the other 30 lbs.  I think it is going to take a huge commitment like it did to regulate my diet during the last pregnancy.  Thanks so much!

[Amandamarie]

I have the weight gain and sugar cravings too so I looked it up on Kelly's mom. Oil of Oregano is not recommended for nursing moms.

[SpuglyRoo]

My midwife told me while I was pregnant that my sugar cravings meant I needed more protein.  Maybe that was just because I was pregnant, but you could try boosting your protein intake and see if it helps?