How do I adjust for breast feeding?

ds6099

I'm EBF twins. How do I adjust my calories to reflect more than 1200?

victoria_1024

There is an entry in the food log for "breastfeeding" and it actually will give you extra calories and add them to your daily total. You can choose the amount. Just type in breastfeeding as a food search and you'll get some choices. I usually add it under breakfast and I do 500 because I'm exclusively breastfeeding a 5 month old. I would think you would need more calories for twins (but that depends on their ages).

jessica22222

I think you just add 500valories per day if I remember...it's been awhile.

lbride

500 per day for one child, probably more for 2 - not sure if double?

SezxyStef

There are several breastfeeding entries that give negative adjustments based on the time/amount of breast feeding. I believe it works out to 20 calories for every oz..not that it's easy to measure when breast feeding but check in the diary or add your own.

Ninkyou

You should be eating, at minimum 1800 calories. Not sure why you have it set to 1200. You won't maintain a supply at all on that. Since you're EBF, I'd assume 500 calories per baby.

LLL recommends 1800 calories minimum, and to not go below 1500 calories. So even if you were at the 1500 calories, you'd need to account for another 1000 calories for your twins.... 2500 calories. I know it seems like alot, but you need the calories for that milk production. It's probably going to be alot of trial and error to see what works, as well as patience.

Good luck to you!

SezxyStef

Ninkyou wrote: »

You should be eating, at minimum 1800 calories. Not sure why you have it set to 1200. You won't maintain a supply at all on that. Since you're EBF, I'd assume 500 calories per baby.

LLL recommends 1800 calories minimum, and to not go below 1500 calories. So even if you were at the 1500 calories, you'd need to account for another 1000 calories for your twins.... 2500 calories. I know it seems like alot, but you need the calories for that milk production. It's probably going to be alot of trial and error to see what works, as well as patience.

Good luck to you!

2500 calories is a lot...but you can do it with calorie dense foods like full fat cheese, milk, yogurts, chocolate, beef and added treats like chocolate, ice cream etc.

jessica22222

I lost on mfp adding the extra 500 calories don't worry about it! You need the extra nutrition.