Breastfeeding

[atomic sagebrush]

I think it may sway a little bit even after you stop but of course would not count on that as a sway tactic.

I'm not totally sure if it is the nutrients (as many BFers can tell you, it makes you REALLY hungry and most BFers are eating quite a bit) or if it's the subtle suppression of fertility overall and more hormone based, or both.

[mommymachine]

I was still breastfeeding my 10.5 month old DS3 when I conceived DD1, and still breastfeeding her at 13 months when I conceived DD2. I do not want to TTC for a while yet, but I would love to still be breastfeeding next year for my sway.

[QueenB3blue]

I never wanted my kids close enough together to still be bfing the last. But I can see how it would sway. Especially for me. After a few months of bfing all 3 of my boys my hair fell out like crazy, I would get dizzy/weak spells and can even remember having a couple episodes at night were I got cold sweats and was super nauseous. Declining maternal condition for sure. And I ate all day long and still felt this way! My boys were 9 and 10 pounders at birth though(I am just 5ft 3in) and they nursed ever 2-3 hrs around the clock, so that could have had something to do with it!

O and I do remember having the dizzy spells still a few months after weaning even.

[atomic sagebrush]

I just want to clarify something for everyone reading this post. It is SUPER common for people to mistake normal postpartum symptoms as being caused by breastfeeding when it is really the sudden drop in hormones, blood loss, etc that is doing it and breastfeeding is totally not to blame.

EVERYONE loses hair about 4-6 months after giving birth, it's called telogen effluvium and can also happen after stopping or starting birth control pills. IT's totally hormonal, happens to everyone, and has nothing to do with breastfeeding.

Night sweats and hot flashes for months after birth are related to having high levels of hormones during pregnancy and then suddenly they drop. IT's the exact same thing that women in menopause have. Nausea can also be related to rapidly changing levels of hormones. Again, totally normal and nothing to do with breastfeeding.

Feeling weak and dizzy may possibly be related to nursing (it can lower your blood sugar a bit) but also can be hormonal OR related to the large amounts of blood you lose after having a baby.

[QueenB3blue]

I really didn't want my post to sound negative towards BF :-/
I guess I just assumed all my nausea and weakness was from BF because I could literally eat 2 frozen pizzas and a half a pan of brownies every day while BF and not gain a single pound.
Thank you for clarifying

[atomic sagebrush]

NO you weren't sounding negative, it's just that I have seen that happen many times where people will be told that they even need to give UP breastfeeding for symptoms that are 100% postpartum related and people who are bottlefeeders will also experience. There is such a huge hormonal shift that happens that first 6-9 months after having a baby that it does all kinds of stuff.

I could also eat like a horse when BF! Very common.