We already know that breastfeeding is superb for babies, fantastic for toddlers, and a total fetish for some men. Nursing your baby helps contract your uterus faster after you give birth. It also helps you lose the baby weight sooner. But that theory often gets some eye rolls because the making you skinny thing doesn't work for all women. And now the latest statistic says that women who breastfeed end up being thinner later in life.
So let’s get this straight. Not only do breastfeeding women not have to worry about the annoyance of making formula and washing those 397 bottle parts, but they get to be thinner for life? What in the world?!?
The deal is this: Researchers at the University of Oxford say that the benefits of breastfeeding for mom last even 30 years after she’s given birth. The hard truth is that most women who had kids have higher body mass indexes later in life than women who never had any babies. But breastfeeding women stayed slimmer – a one percent drop in BMI with every six months of breastfeeding. So those who nursed their babes into toddlerhood are probably still fitting into their skinny jeans 30 years later.
I can just feel all the women who didn’t breastfeed getting annoyed along with the women who did and aren’t at a weight they are comfortable with. This is what the study says … but why is this so? Well, making breastmilk takes energy and that can burn up to 500 calories a day. So if you aren’t eating more than what you typically did before you were pregnant, you should lose about a pound a week. Then you magically stay thinner longer. They make it sound so easy. I don’t know about other breastfeeding moms, but for me, nursing my twins just made me more hungry.
Still, this is a study, and based on statistics and so it’s not always the case for everyone. Should a woman breastfeed just to be thinner? Definitely not for the vanity part. But being at a healthy weight can reduce doctor visits and major health problems. So it could be argued that breastfeeding your baby is not only good for the little one, but for you in the short and long term as well -- health-wise.
So tell me, do you believe this study or not? So far, have you lost weight faster from breastfeeding?
Image via Caitlinator/Flickr
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Comments 17
I get tired of hearing Beyonce and other moms (celebrity or not) gushing about how breastfeeding is making the weight just melt off. With my first baby I gained 35 lbs. When she was born, I immediately lost 10 lbs.....and not another single pound. I nursed her for 30 months. With my second baby I gained 30 lbs and easily lost the first 20. He nursed for only 18 months, and now at 24 months postpartum I am still struggling to lose the last 5-6 lbs. So, it entirely depends on the person. I am most definitely health conscious, I regularly exercise, don't drink soda of any kind. It's frustrating that everyone seems to lose weight while breastfeeding but me! According to the article, since I have breastfed for a total of 48 months, my BMI should be 8 points lower? I WISH!
BTW, my sister and I are the type who stay fat the entire time we breast feed, and drop it as soon as we stop.
I bf for my child's benefit only.
Nope, I am BF longer this time around and I'm bigger now than I was after I stopped nursing my DD. The benefits of BF have been more positive for my DS, which is why I am BF.
Well, breastfeeding does require a solid 800 calories a day, so it can definitely help with post-baby weight loss. But you dont need to breastfeed to be healthy and happy, or to have healthy, happy babies. Just be a good mommy! :)