ATTN: Breastfeeding Moms

PinkDahliaFlower

How many extra calories are you taking in to keep your supply up?

alanabancroft

They say that you only need around 200 extra calories, depending on how much your baby is taking in. I would recommend drinking a lot of water. That's the one thing that keeps my supplies up.Also a lot of water based fruits help too. As far as calories I try not to over analyze. As long as you're still producing enough for your baby I wouldn't add to much extra.

sarah829522

Really depends on if you're pumping full time or bf full time or a mix. The pump will never be as efficient as a baby and that's what could be causing supply to dip. Water is key. I also tried oatmeal and the mother's milk tea. Once supply is established (+12 weeks) your body will compensate and make what it needs for your baby unless you're in severe calorie deficit for extended periods of time.

Heather_023

I haven't worried so much about my calorie intake for keeping supply up, seems that as long as I drink plenty of water during the day I don't have any problems. (I also haven't been pushing too hard for weight loss since I had the wee one, I've heard you still need extra weight for breast feeding.)

The information seems to vary on how many extra calories a woman breast feeding burns... I've read anywhere between 300-500 per day so I've been adding 500 calories to my food log. If you search breast feeding (there are two options, both are for -500 cal) you can add it to your food log, that way it will still show a current total of how many calories you have for the day!

Hope this helps!

marlacarie

My son is 10 months and I eat around 450 extra calories which is probably on the higher end. I'm still losing weight, just slowly. When I first started back in April I would eat 500 extra because all he was eating was breast milk. I put it in as an exercise and it adjusts itself when my weight goes down. But if I feel hungry I eat, no matter what, even if I'm past my calorie intake for the day. When he's weaned I'll really get serious. Good luck!

PinkDahliaFlower

Thanks ladies!

He is 3 months and I have notice since his growth spurt, my supply went up but the last couple days I started watching what I am eating, my supply has tanked.

I added 300 calories to my log today so hopefully it helps. I also have been drinking a ton of water.

Caperfae

I don't count calories. I just eat sensibly and drink a lot of water. I am 2-weeks postpartum and I am back to my pre pregnancy weight already.