Many studies have shown that breastfeeding helps the mother lose weight after pregnancy. Many mothers switch to guidance from breastfeeding consultation online or lactose consultation.
However, it is still not certain that breastfeeding helps you lose pre-baby weight. Studies have shown that breastfeeding definitely acts as a catalyst. It increases the rate at which a mother can lose weight.
Weight loss after conceiving the baby is at the top of the head of many new mothers. So, let's look into how breastfeeding helps reduce weight.
How Breastfeeding Helps Reduce Weight
Philosophically, breastfeeding is accredited as nature's way to help mothers shed weight after delivery.
Various researches have shown that breastfeeding is equivalent to a session of 45 - 60 minutes of medium intensity workout. The activity burns around 500 calories. It is also the same as skipping a full meal.
Many mothers, especially if they were overweight before pregnancy, are on a diet. So, weight loss can also be a side-effect of lower consumption of calories, and breastfeeding adds to it.
Experts who provide breastfeeding consultation online will tell you that mothers tend to lose around 1.5 kilograms in a year by breastfeeding alone, compared to those who formula-feed or use supplements.
Studies have also shown that mothers are 6% likely to go below their pre-pregnancy weight through breastfeeding. Lactose consultation programs also reveal that breastfeeding has a catalytic effect on weight loss.
Breastfeeding also has great long-term effects. One study shows that mothers had a lower body fat percentage five years after delivery if they initially breastfed for 6-12 months.
Research is in progress in this area. But we can say for sure that the duration and frequency of breastfeeding impact how much weight you lose after pregnancy.
Why Do Some Women Not Lose Weight after Pregnancy?
Now, breastfeeding is not a guarantor to weight loss. There are many cases where mothers don't lose weight while breastfeeding.
If you look at it on paper, a reduction of 500 calories per day will assist mothers to lose 1 pound (0.45) kilograms per week, resulting in 1.8 kilograms of weight loss per month. Theoretically, six to eight months are enough for mothers to reduce an excess of 25 - 35 pounds.
However, weight loss in different mothers depends on their body types as well. Research has shown that most mothers shed only 86% of the weight gained during the first six months post-delivery.
The technical reason behind weight loss is that your body consumes fat and fuel from the food you intake for milk production. In consequence, mothers tend to feel more hungry while they're breastfeeding. Many mothers switch to eating more which counterbalances the weight loss perpetrating through breastfeeding.
Sleep deprivation is another reason which causes mothers not to lose weight. Since taking care of the baby is 24-hour work, mothers go through a series of interrupted sleep cycles. A breastfeeding consultant online says that most mothers aren't getting eight hours of sleep daily.
Lack of sleep produces hormones like cortisol and other stress hormones. Stress hormones promote weight gain. It also tires your brain, which propels you to make rational and healthy food choices.
Wrapping Up
Think of breastfeeding as a catalyst.
As a mother, your focus should rather be on other means of losing weight. Relying on breastfeeding alone is an uncertain road.
The best way to lose weight is to start making healthy choices when it comes to food. Eating a protein and nutrition-rich diet, hydrating yourself, and being consistent with exercise is the key to losing weight, even if breastfeeding isn't working as it should.
If you have a flair of writing as a mother, momkidcare is the platform for you!
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