Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply WEIGHT

Hi all, this is really a minor problem in the scope of things BUT I want to know how many of you are in the same boat as me.
I have gained AND KEPT ON 30 lbs since being on the protocol, and then adoptively nursing for the past year (which is going extremely well...yay!). I was under the impression that the nursing would take the weight off. I have tried excercise & diet....I'm the heaviest I've ever been! I plan to nurse her until she self weans (likely years from now) and plan to stay on the dom until she weans. SO...is anyone just holding onto the extra weight like me?

Mindy ~

You're not the only one, girl...I've gained about 15lbs and kept it on so far...not bf yet tho...

You're not alone!!

Glad to hear you're having a great time bf your lo! Please do tell your story!

Erin

Hi Erin,
I posted "you can do it!" on 11/11/07 (currently on page 4) where you can read my story!!!! Thanks for the props!
As far as the weight, I too only gained about 15 on the accel protocol but it just kept piling on as I nursed...not coming off! Don't get me wrong I would do practically anything to nurse my babies....so in the scope of things I shouldn't be complaining...but at times my self-image is suffering....and I can't "move" the way I used to...feel sluggish...and she just started walking so I will have to chase her around...enough poor me!!!! Glad to hear from you! And best of luck!

I'd be interested in hearing more experiences regarding weight fluctuations. I'm strongly considering this protocol at the moment. Having a thyroid disorder already, this is something my endocrynologist discussed with me about Domperidone affecting my pituitary/thyroid leading to weight changes and sluggishness or jitteriness.

Thanks,
Hope

Hi Hope,
I guess I should have mentioned that I too have a thyroid disorder. In April of 2005 I had a golf-ball sized tumor removed along with a large portion of my thyroid...leaving me hypo. I am on levothyroxin. I have always wondered if the weight gain was due to the thyroid issue or the domperidone (which I started right after the surgery) or a combination of both. I do have an appt w/Dr the end of Feb to discuss all this...but I wonder how knowledgable he is about domperidone.
Do you think I should see an endo instead (of my OB)?

I too would love to hear from more Moms @ their experience with the weight issue.

Well, I'll "weigh in" on this discussion (sorry, couldn't resist).

My daughter is 4 1/2 months old and I have exclusively breastfed using fenugreek, blessed thistle and dom.

My weight has shot up about 20 lbs. I blame myself a little bit...I liked the idea that breastfeeding required an extra 500 calories or so a day. However, I quickly realized that this was not true in my case.

I do eat a big bowl of oatmeal each morning. I know that I can maintain my weight on a no sugar/no wheat/no corn/no corn syrup diet (basically low carb with lots of vegetables). I'm sure the oatmeal makes me dump a lot of insulin to cover it and that may be helping me gain weight.

I did read a comment on another board about a breastfeeding mother who quit the dom and immediately dropped about 16 lbs.

So, yes, I think the dom has contributed to my weight gain. But I haven't been as careful as I should about diet and exercise.

May I say how thrilled I am that I have a full milk supply for my gorgeous growing baby girl though? It was so worth it to see how healthy she is. We love our nursing relationship. I'll miss it when it is over, and hopefully shed the pounds then.

Hello,

I am SO happy to read this thread! I am another mom who has nursed her adoptive baby for over a year now and I've gained about 15-20 lbs this year alone!!!! I went from 135-155!!!I've never weighed this much, and although I haven't been a perfect eater or exerciser - i did run a half-marathon in Sept and still held on to the weight.

I am not complaining (too much!) - I love nursing him and will continue to do so as long as possible - but the weight gain is a bit of a pain!

I started weight watchers recently - they have a program for nursing moms, and I've managed to lose about 6 lbs so far (3 weeks) but am being very cautious as I don't want my supply to drop too much. I know if he stops getting milk he may lose interest entirely and I am not ready to stop nursing yet! (he is 18 months)...

Thank you all for the discussion here. I find this very interesting b/c when I nursed my bio child, the pounds just seem to melt away. I was not on any special diet but I did watch the added sugar and junk food. Did anyone else experience loss of weight nursing a bio child and then gain when on the Dom & BCP's?

Mindy...I'm planning on discussing with my OB in addition to my Endocryn Dr. It can't hurt to get 2 opinions (whatever that may be). My Endocryn Dr said that she would monitor my TSH blood levels every 6 wks if I decide to pursue. She seemed to know how Dom worked but as she never prescribes it, she was not comfortable recommending or prescribing it. I'm going to call my OB and pick her brain as well. And I'm hoping to hear from Lenore too. BTW, I am hypo due to Goiter from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

I'm also wondering...how could Dom be any different than the multitude of hormones I received when undergoing my many IVFs!?! And if I had guarantees that IVF would work, I wouldn't hesistate to do it again. Sorry everyone...just thinking out loud. This discussion is really helping me and there seem to be so few resources on Adoptive BF-ing.

Hope

Hi,

I am hypo too and have been on birth control for 7 months and dom for 9 months. I had to increase my thyroid meds during this time but I think it was due to the weight gain more than anything else. I gained about 20 lbs. Since I've started pumping 2 months ago...I've lost a little weight but have kept most of it. And I dropped weight instantly with my bio kids. Maybe things will change when/if we our baby latches on and if I produce a fully supply. Not sure if this helps any but wanted to let you know I'm in the same boat.

Thank you so much for sharing...it does help! Did your Dr. monitor your Thyroid levels more frequently once you started the protocol?