6 weeks postpartum

Kat51313

I'm 5' 6", and hanging right at 200 pounds. I'm six weeks postpartum and am having a difficult time trying to figure out what my daily caloric intake should be, especially considering I'm breastfeeding - I can't seem to find any information that takes that into account.

If someone could help me with a basic jumping off point, and maybe a way to semi-accurately calculate how many calories are burned nursing (I don't want to starve myself and/or my daughter accidentally), it would be greatly appreciated!

LizKurz

Ah ive got this one.:) while nursing my second, I dropped over 100 lbs.

You want to take what you would normally need and add in 300-500 cals per day.

Then at the sixth month mark, knock it down to 200-300 cals per day extra.

ZugTheMegasaurus

There's no hard number, but the common advice for breastfeeding seems to be eating a few hundred calories over whatever it took you to maintain your weight pre-pregnancy. I found a lot of results (just skimmed quickly for that answer) by googling "extra calories required breastfeeding" so you might want to try that, read a little more in-depth than I did, and see if you find a result that works for you.

campi_mama

First of all, congrats!! I had similar stats 5'5" 202 starting weight (this time) (I have 3 kids). As you are logging your foods input breastfeeding and the data base will pull up several options and you can add the calories to your daily allowance. Don't cut anything too drastically. Eat enough, but make sure you are getting high quality foods with plenty of good fats. Almonds are great for milk production btw. Also, Malted milk powder will give you a boost if you start noticing a drop in supply. Feel free to add me. I weaned my 3rd kiddo 3 months ago, but I understand the situation well
Another thing, be patient. It took 9 months to gain the weight, it's not gonna melt away overnight. 1st priority is feeding bubs, the rest of it will come if you just keep plugging along toward the goal line.

LizKurz

First of all, congrats!! I had similar stats 5'5" 202 starting weight (this time) (I have 3 kids). As you are logging your foods input breastfeeding and the data base will pull up several options and you can add the calories to your daily allowance. Don't cut anything too drastically. Eat enough, but make sure you are getting high quality foods with plenty of good fats. Almonds are great for milk production btw. Also, Malted milk powder will give you a boost if you start noticing a drop in supply. Feel free to add me. I weaned my 3rd kiddo 3 months ago, but I understand the situation well
Another thing, be patient. It took 9 months to gain the weight, it's not gonna melt away overnight. 1st priority is feeding bubs, the rest of it will come if you just keep plugging along toward the goal line.

Wow, this site tracks breastfeeding? I wish I had known that a few months ago. Thats awesome. I don't know any other site that tracks it

campi_mama

First of all, congrats!! I had similar stats 5'5" 202 starting weight (this time) (I have 3 kids). As you are logging your foods input breastfeeding and the data base will pull up several options and you can add the calories to your daily allowance. Don't cut anything too drastically. Eat enough, but make sure you are getting high quality foods with plenty of good fats. Almonds are great for milk production btw. Also, Malted milk powder will give you a boost if you start noticing a drop in supply. Feel free to add me. I weaned my 3rd kiddo 3 months ago, but I understand the situation well
Another thing, be patient. It took 9 months to gain the weight, it's not gonna melt away overnight. 1st priority is feeding bubs, the rest of it will come if you just keep plugging along toward the goal line.

Wow, this site tracks breastfeeding? I wish I had known that a few months ago. Thats awesome. I don't know any other site that tracks it

Yeah, it was a HUGE help for me at first. It is handy to have the 300-500 cals calculated into your daily intake