"Back Fat"

[jamiegirl]

My DD is now 10.5 months old and I'm 5lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight. I tried some of my pre-pregnancy dresses and they only zip all the way up to my upper waist. I realized that my hips are close to my normal size but my chest area and back are way of the charts!!! The zipper flaps are at least 2 inches apart!

I'm still pumping exclusively.

Question:
1. Will I ever go back to my pre-pregnancy bra size?
2. Will the "back fat" go down the same time with my chest after I wean?
3. Is it true that until you wean, your body (particularly the back/chest area) will retain fat to help with breastfeeding?

Help! I'm worried.

[kijip]

>1. Will I ever go back to my pre-pregnancy bra size?

Depends. Some women don't, some do and some go down to a smaller size.

>2. Will the "back fat" go down the same time with my chest
>after I wean?

I don't know. Since you are only 5 pounds up from your pre-baby size it might all be around your breasts. Weight training could help tone that area, causing you to lose inches but not weight.

>3. Is it true that until you wean, your body (particularly
>the back/chest area) will retain fat to help with
>breastfeeding?

Yes, this happens for a lot of women. I shed a bunch of weight once we stopped nursing.

[jerseygirl07067]

I don't think there is a definitive answer for you, since everybody is different.

I had back fat, as well as hip/butt/thigh fat, arm fat, etc. even while breastfeeding. I never got a chance to see what happened once I weaned, since I was also 5 1/2 months pregnant then!

BUT...I am happy to say, I am still nursing 10 month old Julia, but thanks to consistent exercise (cardio and intense weight training) and eating well most of the time, the back fat as well as the other fat, has gone bye bye!!

HTH a bit,
Marcy