Breastfeeding and water retention?

I'm wondering if other people had trouble losing weight while breastfeeding? I think it may have to do with water retention. I am four months post-partum and the weight is so hard to get off. My rings don't fit at all, even though they fit when I was at this weight while pregnant. My bra size went up to a 34H. yes, h as in huge. I still need to lose 20 lbs and it is hard. Anyone struggle like this?

Re: Breastfeeding and water retention?

Not sure if it's water retention but I'm 7 months PP and still have my last 10lbs to loose. I dropped most of my weight within the first 3 months; the rest has been coming off slowly. But I drink a TON of water; and I don't really exercise so it's probably a combination of a lot of things. Hoping the whole 9 months on 9 months off is true and the last 10 will melt off over the next 2 months!

Re: Breastfeeding and water retention?

i have the same issue - i am 5.5 months post partum and stuck. i lost about 25 lbs in the first month i want to say and nothing since. i have 20 lbs to go and cant shed the weight (granted im not exercising and i am not trying to diet that much) but i have the same issue. my wedding band still doesnt fit and my shoes still dont fit. both of those things stopped fitting around 6m months pregnant and i thought would go back. ive been putting off re-sizing my wedding band but think i may have to in a few months

Re: Breastfeeding and water retention?

I think after pregnancy some peoples body's have a hard time bouncing back. It went through major changes while there was a human being inside, so I don't think that at 4 months post partum it is at all uncommon to still carry extra weight. I think people might be unrealistic that the weight falls off instantaneously, and while I know some people say they lose a lot of water weight right away, most women I know have had their body's changed forever and it takes a lot longer for the weight to come off.

ETA: My sister EBF for 2+ years and still carried a lot of extra weight that only now she has begun to lose, about 30 lbs. So I don't know of any true correlation between weight loss and BFing.

Message edited 8/1/2013 1:10:04 PM.

Re: Breastfeeding and water retention?

many people who bf dont lose the weight till they wean.

Re: Breastfeeding and water retention?

Message edited 8/1/2013 1:13:22 PM.

Breastfeeding and water retention?

I don't lose all my weight until I wean- I carry between 5-10 pounds until then. I think your body holds onto some fat just in case! But swollen fingers and feet may be something you need to get checked out by a dr? Just to be safe?

Re: Breastfeeding and water retention?

ME!!! I never lost the last 20lbs and now I'm pregnant again. I EBF DD until she was 1, then we weaned to 3xs per day and I lost some weight. Once she turned 2 I was down to just nighttime before bed, but now that I'm pregnant, I have no intention of losing weight (although I am down 3lbs due to constant nausea!)

I don't think it's water retention for me, I'm not bloated, my rings fit, and I'm only up 1 bra size from when I got pregnant w/ #1, but I think my body just holds onto extra fat while BFing.