Losing Weight and Breastfeeding
One thing that many new mums worry about is weight loss. Weight gain is a natural part of pregnancy and thus weight management becomes a major issue after the baby is born. Many mums worry that they will never get their pre-pregnancy bodies back or that pregnancy will condemn them to obesity. None of these fears need be realized–weight management is made easier by breastfeeding.
Researchers estimate that new mums lose anywhere from 600-1000 calories a day from breastfeeding alone. This is more than the typical, rigorous cardio workout at the gym and it can all be done from the comfort of your couch. One of the main reasons for this phenomenon is that the body uses up a lot of energy to produce breast milk; additionally, much of the weight gained during pregnancy consists of fat stores that are used for breastfeeding. Hence, once you start breastfeeding, you lose the fat stores. Indeed, this makes breastfeeding a great weight management tool.
Another important weight management and overall health factor associated with breastfeeding is glucose metabolism. According to a study published in Diabetes Care, breastfeeding moms have lower blood glucose and lower insulin levels 6-9 weeks after they have given birth. This means that breastfeeding has a positive effect on glucose metabolism and insulin levels in new mums. Such stable insulin/glucose metabolism can lead to lower risks of developing diabetes. It helps with weight management since new mums’ metabolic systems are operating at a much higher level of health and efficiency.
The great thing about breastfeeding is that it is nature’s weight loss program. While some mums are not able to breastfeed and thus must use formula, if you have the opportunity to nurse your baby then it is definitely the healthiest option around. It is healthy for the baby in countless ways, but it is just as healthy for mum. Breastfeeding comes with the physical benefits that we have already discussed, but also a set of emotional benefits that include relationship development. Since serotonin is released during breastfeeding, intimacy and boding between mother and child are enhanced. Breastfeeding is really like the foundation of love and trust in the mother-child relationship. If you are a mum you know that your first priority is your baby’s health, but how cool is it that doing the healthiest thing for your baby can mean weight loss for you? Pretty darn cool, don’t you think?
