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LaShaunda,
An excellent book that addresses your questions is Eat Well, Lose Weight While Breastfeeding, by Eileen Behan. Another is Bounce Back into Shape after Baby, by Caroline C. Creager.
It is important for you to eat a well-balanced, healthy diet while breastfeeding as well as to keep yourself adequately hydrated (so that your urine is dilute...no need to flood yourself!).
If with the guidance of the lactation consultant at the hospital at which you give birth, you decide to breastfeed your baby for longer than the four weeks you previously mentioned, you will find that you will lose weight more quickly. In order to provide an energy souce for breastfeeding, the pregnant woman puts on about 7 pounds of fat in the last trimester SIMPLY TO SUPPORT THE CALORIC DEMANDS OF BREASTFEEDING. If you breastfeed, you will utilize those fat stores.
I suggest that you go to www.lalecheleagure.org to locate a LLL group in your area. La Leche is a great organization that supports breastfeeding women. They may have the above mentioned books in a lending library. They also are great resources that can give you the 1:1 personal attention to help make decisions about breastfeeding, returning to work, etc.
My best,
Stephanie Moore, RN, BSN, IBCLC
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