Do I really NEED to eat more? Nursing mother question

Spiderjaime

So I am a nursing mom to a 7 month old baby and MFP put me on a 1200 calorie diet (it did not know I was nursing, of course)
So I started it before wondering if I need to worry about the whole Lactating thing. Now I wonder, Do I really need to eat more?

Now before you answer let me tell you how things are going.

I am not one of those people that naturally loses weight while nursing, in fact I gain weight. (Trust me this is my fourth child I know what I'm talking about) So just going with the flow isn't really an option for me.
I feel great. 1200 calories isn't actually that hard for me. I have the energy to exercise and don't get that hungry.
Baby seems fine. She is quite the content and happy baby. She went through a growth spurt, I ate a bit more 'til my milk caught up then went back down.
I drink tons of water. I know that staying hydrated is very important for milk production and I make sure I drink at least 8 glasses a day.
I am losing a healthy 1-1.5 pounds a week.
I eat all my exercise points (so I am actually eating 1500-1600 calories a day).
I am trying to eat healthy.
I had gestational diabetes. So I need to lose weight. I want to avoid getting real full blown Type II.

So...Do I really need to up my calories? Every other post I've read says YES but I really do feel great. Is there wiggle room on this?

zaithyr

I definitely would up it. Put breastfeeding in your food diary and let mfp adjust it. If you are not eating enough calories your milk supply will drop. Some nursing mothers in another support group I'm in are struggling with this issue a bit.

ElizabethRoad

This can affect the amount and quality of your milk supply. Don't trust your baby's health to people on the internet. This is something to talk to your doctor about.

Jorra

You're going to use at least 500 calories a day producing milk for your baby. If you only eat 1200 a day, that least just 700 for the rest of your body to use. That's simply not enough.

http://kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-weightloss/

What might happen if a nursing mother loses weight too quickly?
In most instances of too-rapid weight loss, it is not the breastmilk (composition or supply) that would suffer, but mom’s nutrition and/or health.
Excessive dieting can result in a reduced milk supply.
According to Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (3rd Edition, Riordan, pp 440), it is noted that fad or rapid weight loss programs should be avoided because fat-soluble environmental contaminants and toxins stored in body fat are released into the milk when caloric intake is severely restricted. I was unable to find a definition of “severely restricted” but I expect that it is significantly under 1500 calories per day (which they called a “modest intake”).

Elizabeth_C34

This can affect the amount and quality of your milk supply. Don't trust your baby's health to people on the internet. This is something to talk to your doctor about.

^ This. Go talk to your doctor about it.

taso42

It's one thing to take random internet people's advice and mess with your own health. It's much more severe when baby's health is affected as well. I suggest you ignore the rest of this thread and speak to your physician.

onedayillbeamilf

yes. You do.

Willbenchforcupcakes

I would say yes. There is an option in the food diary for 400 extra calories, which is what I use now that my 7 month old is eating around 7-10 ounces of solids a day. Here is my story in a nut shell - with my first, I ate around 1900 calories a day, and was stuck at 211 (18 pounds higher than pre-pregnancy), until I got pregnant with my second. After delivery, I was eating around 1800, once again, was stuck at 211, and not only that, my daughter was not gaining weight well. After finding mfp, I started eating a minimum of 2100 calories a day, and not only is the weight falling off of me, my daughter is gaining weight on the upper end of the healthy range.

Spiderjaime

Thanks for everyone that answered! :-)

You are all probably right. I'll talk to my doctor about it at my daughter's well child visit. He can tell me if she is getting all that she needs or not.

Also I had considered quantity of milk (which I think is fine), but not quality. I don't want to be giving her "skim" or anything.

And if you are all still losing at a higher calorie count...maybe it'll be okay for me too? I just gain around 10-20 lbs nursing. It's how I got into my current dilemma. I'm TERRIFIED of it happening again.

Rae6503

I had supply problems with all 3 of my children. With my last I started counting calories to help. I made myself eat 2500 calories a day and still lost supply (it was stress driven though). I also didn't lose weight easily with nursing like some did (although I didn't gain).

Talk to the doctor and/or a lactation consultant. Also www.kellymom.com has a lot of helpful information.

TeachTheGirl

I've thus far lost 13lbs while breastfeeding. I eat an extra 300 calories per day feeding my 5 month old at the recommendation of my lactation consultants.

LemonBurns

In a Word: YES!!!

You cannot create enough nutrients to feed your BABY of you don't - DO NOT be selfish... Feed your child. If you want to eat 1200 calories... do the kid a favour and feed it Formula and starve yourself, not your child.

rextcat

So I am a nursing mom to a 7 month old baby and MFP put me on a 1200 calorie diet (it did not know I was nursing, of course)
So I started it before wondering if I need to worry about the whole Lactating thing. Now I wonder, Do I really need to eat more?

Now before you answer let me tell you how things are going.

I am not one of those people that naturally loses weight while nursing, in fact I gain weight. (Trust me this is my fourth child I know what I'm talking about) So just going with the flow isn't really an option for me.
I feel great. 1200 calories isn't actually that hard for me. I have the energy to exercise and don't get that hungry.
Baby seems fine. She is quite the content and happy baby. She went through a growth spurt, I ate a bit more 'til my milk caught up then went back down.
I drink tons of water. I know that staying hydrated is very important for milk production and I make sure I drink at least 8 glasses a day.
I am losing a healthy 1-1.5 pounds a week.
I eat all my exercise points (so I am actually eating 1500-1600 calories a day).
I am trying to eat healthy.
I had gestational diabetes. So I need to lose weight. I want to avoid getting real full blown Type II.

So...Do I really need to up my calories? Every other post I've read says YES but I really do feel great. Is there wiggle room on this?

i would take it up with your doc, but it dosent sound like you do. wile i was nurseing i had to or i started to dry up. but yeah defantly ask your doc

amy0716

Hi. my daughter is 8 months old and I breastfeed her. Since January I've lost about 20lbs-about a pound a week. My calorie goal per day is also set to 1200, but I add 400 a day to account for nursing so I am eating about 1600 a day. My daughter is gaining weight too (she is also on solids). But everyone is different, this is just what works for me. Add me if you like...my diary is open to friends.
Amy