intermittent fasting

Kenzietea2
Kenzietea2 Posts: 1,132 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Has anyone done intermittent fasting while breastfeeding? I had success with it before I became pregnant, and now that my daughter is 2 months old I would like to try it again. I just really do not want to screw up my supply in anyway. (so far my supply is great, I actually make far more than I need)

Just curious if anyone else has done this while breastfeeding. I asked my OB and he hadn't even heard of it!)

I didn't get many results with google.

Replies

  • Kenzietea2
    Kenzietea2 Posts: 1,132 Member
    bump :)
  • ChasingStarlight
    ChasingStarlight Posts: 424 Member
    I do IF, both 16:8 and 5:2. I am not breastfeeding now but I fed my 3 children until they were all close to 1.

    Disclaimers: I am not a medical professional and I don't know if any studies have been done (do muslim women fast during Ramadan when pregnant?).

    I would be hesitant to do IF when breastfeeding as I was always concerned about supply. You could try it and see how it goes? Or try shorter fasting window like 7 pm to 9am, that might be safer? Sorry, not much help, but just didn't want you to go unanswered.
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    I wouldn't do it because the baby getting nutrition is a million times more important than whatever benefits you get from IF. I don't think it would be a problem, but I also don't think it would be worth finding out.

    Personally, IF messes with my hormones (both times that I started I lost my period for a month or two), and there are reports of other woman having similar hormonal problems, so I still think it's better to just not!
  • Kenzietea2
    Kenzietea2 Posts: 1,132 Member
    I wouldn't do it because the baby getting nutrition is a million times more important than whatever benefits you get from IF. I don't think it would be a problem, but I also don't think it would be worth finding out.

    Personally, IF messes with my hormones (both times that I started I lost my period for a month or two), and there are reports of other woman having similar hormonal problems, so I still think it's better to just not!

    Yeah I definitely don't want my hormones to get screwed up. Thanks both of you. I probably won't go back to it until she is done, at least done exclusively breast feeding. I'd much rather my baby be healthy and lose at a slower rate.
  • eatrainsmile
    eatrainsmile Posts: 220 Member
    I do IF, both 16:8 and 5:2. I am not breastfeeding now but I fed my 3 children until they were all close to 1.

    Disclaimers: I am not a medical professional and I don't know if any studies have been done (do muslim women fast during Ramadan when pregnant?).

    I would be hesitant to do IF when breastfeeding as I was always concerned about supply. You could try it and see how it goes? Or try shorter fasting window like 7 pm to 9am, that might be safer? Sorry, not much help, but just didn't want you to go unanswered.

    Yes Muslim women can fast during pregnancy. But it's up to them. It's not obligatory for a woman to fast when she is pregnant in Islam. Which means fasting during pregnancy is not something everyone can handle. As long as they have balanced meals before the fast and after the fast, they dont have any problems with fasting, I think. But a 24 hour fast is too long for a pregnant woman. 16:8 or shorter is more reasonable. Muslims dont fast for 24 hours either. They fast around 15-16 hours or so. But I'ld not fast if I were pregnant though.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    I would think that as long as on your up days you are eating sufficient calories and healthy fats to resupply....
  • Kenzietea2
    Kenzietea2 Posts: 1,132 Member
    I would think that as long as on your up days you are eating sufficient calories and healthy fats to resupply....

    I feel like it wouldn't hurt trying for a few days. My supply is above and beyond what she is even eating at the moment (and she's a chub, 90th percentile for weight) worst case I notice a change and stop.
  • The2ndconspiracy
    The2ndconspiracy Posts: 6 Member
    Does anyone know exactly how the Eat Stop Eat program works?

    I understand that it is a 24-hour fast typically done 2x a week. However, on fast days, I'm hearing some people keeping their calories around 500/day. But I've also read people are not taking in ANY calories. 0 calories during the 24 hours. Which is the correct way?
  • Kenzietea2
    Kenzietea2 Posts: 1,132 Member
    Does anyone know exactly how the Eat Stop Eat program works?

    I understand that it is a 24-hour fast typically done 2x a week. However, on fast days, I'm hearing some people keeping their calories around 500/day. But I've also read people are not taking in ANY calories. 0 calories during the 24 hours. Which is the correct way?

    If you search it on the forums here (or google) you will get a lot of answers. Better than I can give you because I had only just started maybe 2 months before I became pregnant. I am still learning myself.
  • The2ndconspiracy
    The2ndconspiracy Posts: 6 Member
    Does anyone know exactly how the Eat Stop Eat program works?

    I understand that it is a 24-hour fast typically done 2x a week. However, on fast days, I'm hearing some people keeping their calories around 500/day. But I've also read people are not taking in ANY calories. 0 calories during the 24 hours. Which is the correct way?

    If you search it on the forums here (or google) you will get a lot of answers. Better than I can give you because I had only just started maybe 2 months before I became pregnant. I am still learning myself.

    That's the problem I've been having! There is so much information. One couple is talking about how they eat 500 calories during their fast days twice a week. Another guy is talking how his buddy only drinks water during his 24 hours. I'm not sure which is correct, or if it's simply a matter of personal preference.
  • eatrainsmile
    eatrainsmile Posts: 220 Member
    I read Eat Stop Eat. It tells you not to eat anything on fast days. Suggests starting fasting (for example) at 6pm until 6pm the next day. So you'll be eating everyday.
  • The2ndconspiracy
    The2ndconspiracy Posts: 6 Member
    I read Eat Stop Eat. It tells you not to eat anything on fast days. Suggests starting fasting (for example) at 6pm until 6pm the next day. So you'll be eating everyday.

    Thank you for clearing it up for me!
  • LioshaM
    LioshaM Posts: 129 Member
    You probably shouldn't do this. Did you know that the production of milk burns upwards of 500 calories without even lifting a finger? Every nutrient you eat goes right to that baby, whatever you eat she eats, whatever nutrients you get in, she gets in. If you stop eating on occasion, trust me, your milk supply will suffer. You don't want this. No amount of weight loss is worth not being able to produce a quality feeding for your baby. And then what happens as the demand goes up as she gets older, if you are IF, you might not be prepared for it.

    The weight will come off, just focus on providing your baby with healthy nutrients.
  • Kenzietea2
    Kenzietea2 Posts: 1,132 Member
    True, not worth it. Much rather she be full and gaining weight :)

    You probably shouldn't do this. Did you know that the production of milk burns upwards of 500 calories without even lifting a finger? Every nutrient you eat goes right to that baby, whatever you eat she eats, whatever nutrients you get in, she gets in. If you stop eating on occasion, trust me, your milk supply will suffer. You don't want this. No amount of weight loss is worth not being able to produce a quality feeding for your baby. And then what happens as the demand goes up as she gets older, if you are IF, you might not be prepared for it.

    The weight will come off, just focus on providing your baby with healthy nutrients.

    True, not worth it. Much rather she be full and gaining weight :)
    I mainly just posted this to see if other women have done it and if it caused any problems for them. The health of my baby is far more important than looking good for summer :P

    Thanks again everyone!
  • fattypattybinger
    fattypattybinger Posts: 337
    I woud just watch the food you ate. I breast feed all 4 of my kids. #3 for a year #4 10 months. I would make sure you drank enough water. I did notice when I tried to lower my calories too much I ended up being engorged and swollen milk ducts and plus being tired and cranky.
  • RikkiDominey
    RikkiDominey Posts: 134 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/user/fastingtwins

    have awesome videos that are entertaining and informative
  • Kenzietea2
    Kenzietea2 Posts: 1,132 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/user/fastingtwins

    have awesome videos that are entertaining and informative

    Thanks, I will watch :)
  • runholy
    runholy Posts: 3
    I've started IF 16:8 while breastfeeding. I'm writing about it on my blog http://runholy.com . I'm doing a daily journal on how I feel, etc. But I'm only a week in. Feel free to tune in and see how my intermittent fasting journey goes!
  • sphommavanh
    sphommavanh Posts: 17
    liked
  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,513 Member
    Ii didnt fast on purpose but my daughter was in the nicu far from where i live so for several weeks after there were several days when i had the choice between going to visit my daughter and paying train and bus fares to get there and back or buying more than 1 meals worth of food.
    She won each time and my supply dwindled to 20ml a day. When the hospital noticed they allowed me free meals but it didnt improve my supply so i had to take medication to boost my supply until it completly failed when she was 18 months old ( they needed me to express my milk as long as possible as my daughter was tube fed, she had to go on a specialist formula feed after my supply stopped)
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    I don't think it's a good idea while breastfeeding. Fasting does shake up your hormones and blood sugars, and that's probabaly not what you need just now.

    There's a whole range of different approaches to IF - there isn't just one "correct" way.
  • runholy
    runholy Posts: 3
    I wrote on this on my blog:

    http://runholy.com/intermittent-fasting-while-breastfeeding/

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