Weight loss advice from breastfeeding mothers

Imadorkable

I am 25 weeks pregnant and have already gained 30lb. Before I was pregnant I lost 25 lbs but I had another 100 to go. I was eating healthier which probably assisted in this pregnancy. I want to start loosing weight as soon I have the baby but I have been reading that cutting calories during the first six weeks of breast feeding can reduce your supply. I want to breast feed and pump for at least a year if I can. I did read somewhere else breastfeeding burns at least 500 calories/day and not to set your calories at more than 1lb a week of weight loss after the six weeks. Before my husband and I have anymore kids I want to reach a healthier weight goal.

What have you guys experienced?

Ninkyou

I'm still have a couple weeks left until my due date, but I've been reading up alot on caloric intake post-partum. My takeaway from it is to eat 1800 calories MINIMUM and you should not lose more than 1.5 lbs a week (you should actually be closer to 1 lbs a week). I also read to wait at least 6 weeks before restricting your diet in any way so that you can establish your milk supply. Typically, calorie intake should be somewhere between 2000 and 2700 calories, depending on your stats and activity level. I think it'll take some trial and error, for sure. For me, I think I'm going to start around 2000 calories, which is actually my intake right now (but I'm short, so my calorie intake needs are a bit less) and adjust based on how hungry I feel and how my supply is. If you notice a drop in your supply and struggle to satiate baby, then you know you need more calories.

Imadorkable

Thank you. It that is what I thought. I have had so many people tell me though that I will not want to cut my calories after 6 weeks because I will be so hungry.

asilmegan34

I made the mistake of dieting immediately after giving birth with my first, and I had supply issues bigtime. I wish I would have known about waiting 6-8 weeks, and will make sure I look to this next time around. I plan on keeping my calories around 2000.

ruqayyahsmum

it was slightly different for me as my baby was very premature (25 weeker) while i was in hospital and they were feeding me my supply was huge, way more than my baby could ever use as i was making close to a litre and a half so i was donating. when i went home i faced having to make cross country journeys to get to her with train and bus journeys and the costs associated i often had to choose between eating and getting to her so i was eating just once a day.

the hospital noticed when my supply dwindled to just a couple hundred mls and they tried to help by supplying meal tokens but my supply continued to drop until they had to medicate me to bring it back and i stayed on the medication for 14 months so i could keep feeding my baby

this time round ill be trying my darndest to get adequate calories to try and prevent that happening again