Breastfeeding... tips?

Viv0709
Viv0709 Posts: 1
in Getting Started
Hi all! Is there a way to adjust your daily calorie target to accommodate breast feeding? I kind of picked a random number based on ACOG standards, but wasn't sure if MFP had a setting built in someplace. Thanks!

Replies

  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    Yes, the tip, that is correct.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    I believe you can log it as exercise.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    Or a food that adds calories.
  • crisb2
    crisb2 Posts: 329 Member
    Viv0709 wrote: »
    Hi all! Is there a way to adjust your daily calorie target to accommodate breast feeding? I kind of picked a random number based on ACOG standards, but wasn't sure if MFP had a setting built in someplace. Thanks!

    Ask your doctors how much you should be eating, so that your supply doesn't dry up.
  • MscGray
    MscGray Posts: 304 Member
    If I recall correctly, my Dr. recommended adding about 500 cals, if I was exclusively breastfeeding, and not supplementing at all. At the time I was not counting cals, so I would just eat when I felt like it. If you are trying to lose and maintain breastfeeding, I would recommend selecting the lowest weekly loss (.5 lb/week) so that you are not over restricting, and then bump up to the next level (provided that you aren't seeing production loss issues). And keep your protein levels and hydration levels up....good luck!
  • mommyrunning
    mommyrunning Posts: 495 Member
    MscGray wrote: »
    If I recall correctly, my Dr. recommended adding about 500 cals, if I was exclusively breastfeeding, and not supplementing at all. At the time I was not counting cals, so I would just eat when I felt like it. If you are trying to lose and maintain breastfeeding, I would recommend selecting the lowest weekly loss (.5 lb/week) so that you are not over restricting, and then bump up to the next level (provided that you aren't seeing production loss issues). And keep your protein levels and hydration levels up....good luck!

    This is good advice. 500 calories is the average for exclusive nursing. I would add one thing. If your baby is young (under 8 weeks) it would probably be good to start at a higher number and work your way down. In the first 2 months your body may produce a lot of milk while it figures out how much you need so it may look like you aren't affecting your supply. If you produce a lot in the beginning you can pump and freeze it for later. A good starting point is maintenance plus 500 calories then slowly reduce your calories every week or two to make sure your supply doesn't drop a lot. Talking with a lactation specialist is good too. They can give really detailed advice. Most doctors are good but I had a bad experience with a doctor prescribing a birth control that dried up my milk even though I clearly stated I wanted to nurse so they may not always be the most informed.
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    There is a food in the database (several actually) that give negative calories for breastfeeding. I actually created my own to account for the macros, as well ... you can look at my food log to see how I did it. (I didn't add it to the database because there are so many already, but you can copy the numbers if you want).

    500 calories for EBF is the general recommendation. If you're supplementing, or as you begin to introduce solids, the numbers go down (I use 300 for an older baby who is eating solids at every meal)
  • PhitnessWorks
    PhitnessWorks Posts: 29
    Viv0709 wrote: »
    Hi all! Is there a way to adjust your daily calorie target to accommodate breast feeding? I kind of picked a random number based on ACOG standards, but wasn't sure if MFP had a setting built in someplace. Thanks!

    If you go to your food dairy and type in the word "Breastmilk or Breastfeeding" you will get a list, just add it to you menu and it will adjust you calories. When I was nursing my daughter my lacatation consultant told me I should be burning 500 calories.

    Also, when I was nursing I ate 1500 calories per day.

  • swimmermama
    swimmermama Posts: 526 Member
    mommyrunning wrote: »
    MscGray wrote: »
    If I recall correctly, my Dr. recommended adding about 500 cals, if I was exclusively breastfeeding, and not supplementing at all. At the time I was not counting cals, so I would just eat when I felt like it. If you are trying to lose and maintain breastfeeding, I would recommend selecting the lowest weekly loss (.5 lb/week) so that you are not over restricting, and then bump up to the next level (provided that you aren't seeing production loss issues). And keep your protein levels and hydration levels up....good luck!

    This is good advice. 500 calories is the average for exclusive nursing. I would add one thing. If your baby is young (under 8 weeks) it would probably be good to start at a higher number and work your way down. In the first 2 months your body may produce a lot of milk while it figures out how much you need so it may look like you aren't affecting your supply. If you produce a lot in the beginning you can pump and freeze it for later. A good starting point is maintenance plus 500 calories then slowly reduce your calories every week or two to make sure your supply doesn't drop a lot. Talking with a lactation specialist is good too. They can give really detailed advice. Most doctors are good but I had a bad experience with a doctor prescribing a birth control that dried up my milk even though I clearly stated I wanted to nurse so they may not always be the most informed.

    Yup, this exactly. Be sure you eat a good 500 calories with enough healthy fats (avocado, full-fat dairy, nuts) and protein and take good care of yourself! Good on you for doing the best thing for your little one and yourself!
  • PhitnessWorks
    PhitnessWorks Posts: 29
    crisb2 wrote: »
    Viv0709 wrote: »
    Hi all! Is there a way to adjust your daily calorie target to accommodate breast feeding? I kind of picked a random number based on ACOG standards, but wasn't sure if MFP had a setting built in someplace. Thanks!

    Ask your doctors how much you should be eating, so that your supply doesn't dry up.

    She does not need to ask her doctor how much she should be eating. If she has a lacation consultant she can answer that question, also her milk supply will not dry up if she is eating less than 1500 calories. The only way her milk supply will dry up is if she decide to stop nursing or pumping her breast. This is process is called wearning.
  • mrsdenno82
    mrsdenno82 Posts: 13
    PhitnessWorks wrote: »
    crisb2 wrote: »
    Viv0709 wrote: »
    Hi all! Is there a way to adjust your daily calorie target to accommodate breast feeding? I kind of picked a random number based on ACOG standards, but wasn't sure if MFP had a setting built in someplace. Thanks!

    Ask your doctors how much you should be eating, so that your supply doesn't dry up.

    She does not need to ask her doctor how much she should be eating. If she has a lacation consultant she can answer that question, also her milk supply will not dry up if she is eating less than 1500 calories. The only way her milk supply will dry up is if she decide to stop nursing or pumping her breast. This is process is called wearning.
    This

  • perpetualjuly
    perpetualjuly Posts: 8 Member
    Good advice here, thank you for posting. I'd been wondering how to account for breastfeeding, and have now added it from the foods as suggested. It would be nice if there was a way to set it up so it added that for us every day.

    I have an almost 4-month-old and have put off even thinking about getting back into shape until this week -- I wanted to make sure I was producing milk well and back into the groove at work before worrying about it. But I'm ready to work on slowly getting back to my normal weight now. If any other new mommies are looking for MFP friends/support, please add me. :)

Categories