Breastfeeding- Caloric intake?

weemes01
weemes01 Posts: 13 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi there,

Any idea how many calories are used to produce milk? I'm trying to stick to the 1200 calories a day but I've noticed my milk supply has tanked. Thanks!

Replies

  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    I think you're supposed to be consuming more while you're breastfeeding, as you're also providing your child with nutrients. I would talk to your doctor about this.
  • kay_der
    kay_der Posts: 24
    My target is 1330 net and I eat back every one of my 500 BF calories and 300 exercise calories. If I am even just 100 short for a day or two, I notice a drop in supply.

    Edit: To be more clear, my total intake is about 2130. I have lost 8 pounds since I started tracking 5 weeks ago.
  • MidwestAngel
    MidwestAngel Posts: 1,897 Member
    You burn 300-500 calories a day nursing. Listen to your body and your baby. If you notice your supply dropping you should increase your intake. If you notice your baby's wet and dirty diapers getting less and less, you should increase your intake. You really should be eating more while nursing but the exact number is going to depend on you and your baby.

    Also, I am an IBCLC.
  • Mainebikerchick
    Mainebikerchick Posts: 1,573 Member
    When I was breastfeeding, my doctor told me I should be having 600-700 extra calories per day or I would notice my supply dwindle. I did as he suggested and let me just tell you I was a COW who could've fed a whole TRIBE of kids with one boobie alone! :wink:
  • Sincere24
    Sincere24 Posts: 126 Member
    I think it would be best if you spoke to your doctor. From what I understand, your body naturally burns a bit more given that it's producing milk for your newborn. Given that, I doubt calorie calculators can adequately reflect what is needed for those breast-feeding.

    Just saw your second post. It seems like an adequate intake.
  • Nikkitta320
    Nikkitta320 Posts: 5
    You can factor breastfeeding into myfitness pal by going to foods, then look up breastfeeding, it will then start you out at -500 calories.
  • rolliepollie087
    rolliepollie087 Posts: 251 Member
    She is IBCLC -- listen to her! And good luck!
    You burn 300-500 calories a day nursing. Listen to your body and your baby. If you notice your supply dropping you should increase your intake. If you notice your baby's wet and dirty diapers getting less and less, you should increase your intake. You really should be eating more while nursing but the exact number is going to depend on you and your baby.

    Also, I am an IBCLC.
  • MrsBozz1
    MrsBozz1 Posts: 248 Member
    ;I am also breastfeeding my 6month old. You absolutely need more calories!! If you are exclusively breastfeeding you need about 500 extra. If you go to add food, input breastfeeding you can add it there. It is VERY important for your supply! Good luck! :smile:
    I am eating about 1200 + 500 for bf. I've lost 13lbs since Jan 21st 2013 and my baby girl is doing great!! Growing very well!!
  • Maribabewhich
    Maribabewhich Posts: 157 Member
    I had to eat 2200 to produce enough for my baby girl. Now I'm supplementing so. I am cutting down. She is 9 months old and still getting breast milk but not as much as before.
  • BoomstickChick
    BoomstickChick Posts: 428 Member
    I would up that considerably. That's super low for pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    I just log breastmilk as 200 calories when I drink it, because I figure the nutritional benefits offset alot of the calories.
  • MidwestAngel
    MidwestAngel Posts: 1,897 Member
    I just log breastmilk as 200 calories when I drink it, because I figure the nutritional benefits offset alot of the calories.
    Also, this
  • Naomi_84
    Naomi_84 Posts: 197 Member
    Hey, 1200 is the absolute minimum a person that isn't breastfeeding should have. Breastfeeding uses up around 500 calories a day so without even without exercise your body is potentially trying to run on only 700 calories, not to mention te fact you'll be burning even more running around after a new baby.

    Be good to yourself, increase your calories to AT LEAST 2000 you will probably find you still lose weight but you have more energy to enjoy your baby and your milk supply isn't compromised.

    (Student Midwife)
  • angelawellsrichards
    angelawellsrichards Posts: 7
    I'm glad you brought this up. My baby is 8 1/2 months and she has always nursed and also drinks a couple of formula bottles a day. She now eats food with us and I didn't even think about having to eat more. I actually have been eating a lot less calories then they have suggested. I don't want to stop nursing yet and I think she is still getting enough but she has been cranky and a little consipated too.

    I'm wondering if all the salad I've been eating could be making her tummy upset. ?

    Best of luck to you!
  • weese17
    weese17 Posts: 236 Member
    I don't know how old your baby is - that makes a difference, because a newborn doesn't eat as much as a 6-month old. But please, PLEASE up your caloric intake immediately. If your milk supply is dropping, it is because you are starving yourself.

    I am still nursing my 20-month old, and he LOVES the boob. On days when he hasn't nursed much, I have just naturally been less hungry - and on those days, I tend to eat anywhere been 500 and 700 calories less than I do on days when he nurses normally. On days when he's going thru a growth spurt or just nurses a lot, I can easily take in 1000-1200 calories more than my supposed maintenance intake (2600/day).

    PLEASE listen to your body. Eat more. Your baby needs it.
  • weemes01
    weemes01 Posts: 13 Member
    Thank you ALL for your replies. I read and appreciate everyone of them. I should have mentioned my toddler is a bit older but loves the boob much like weese17. He really only nurses twice a day and in the night if he wakes up.

    I didn't know that about the food option but I will add it immediately. What do you think would be a good amount of calories? Ballpark?
    I don't know how old your baby is - that makes a difference, because a newborn doesn't eat as much as a 6-month old. But please, PLEASE up your caloric intake immediately. If your milk supply is dropping, it is because you are starving yourself.

    I am still nursing my 20-month old, and he LOVES the boob. On days when he hasn't nursed much, I have just naturally been less hungry - and on those days, I tend to eat anywhere been 500 and 700 calories less than I do on days when he nurses normally. On days when he's going thru a growth spurt or just nurses a lot, I can easily take in 1000-1200 calories more than my supposed maintenance intake (2600/day).

    PLEASE listen to your body. Eat more. Your baby needs it.

    Thanks for your reply! My baby is 17 months and loves the boob. He usually nurses first thing in the morning and then again after work (he can't get enough of me after being at daycare and this is how he gets his "touch"). Then also in the night if he wakes up. I've found in the past week he's pretty frustrated and my boobs feel quite flacid. That's great to know that your body will naturally repond with hunger when. I find nursing makes me absolutely ravenous!
  • beetpoet
    beetpoet Posts: 63 Member
    My daughter is breastfeeding and I breastfed my children. You burn a minimum of 300 extra calories per day just with breastfeeding. Many women burn 500 + calories. Therefore, 1200 calories per day is a starvation diet for you! Your milk supply will dry up if you do not eat enough and also drink enough water. (Sorry to sound so dramatic, but this really is true.)

    You could consult a lactation specialist. There are many books and probably a lot of info online. It all can get confusing. However, I recommend that you add about 500 calories per day according to how your toddler is nursing. Maybe add 300 cals, but be sure to get enough. Also, you may not be 100% sedentary! My guess is that you are not since you have a toddler. I think 1200 cals per day is for people like me (really sendentary): grandma, working in front of computer all day. My metabolism is low. Good luck and hang in there!
  • weemes01
    weemes01 Posts: 13 Member
    Thanks beetpot! I actually chose sedentary because I'm back to work now and I'm an accountant that sits infront of a laptop from 845to 345 monday through thursday. From Thursday at 5pm until Monday am at 730 I have 2 boys and I'd say I'm 100% baby chaser :-)
  • weese17
    weese17 Posts: 236 Member
    I'm glad my response was helpful for you! Good luck. :)
  • weemes01
    weemes01 Posts: 13 Member
    Please forgive me, all this is SUPER new to me. I just did the TDEE, BMR calculator and it says that my BMR is 1651. So would I be correct in assuming that I should consume roughly 2000 calories per day in order to have an adequate supply?
  • PillowPet1012
    PillowPet1012 Posts: 7 Member
    i didnt even realize i should be considering BFing in my logs... i totally "forgot" about the BF calories until last night when i was trying to go to sleep lol.

    I have myself set on a 1460 calorie a day diet and i am EBFing my 5 month old son... and ive been under a hundered or 2 everyday... so i have technically only been getting 900 calories a day the past 4 days or so. Not good!

    Bad Leah, i knew it used 500 calories or so a day, and i just totally blanked out.

    I will be adding a 500 calorie BFing subtraction to my diary starting today.
  • Victoria2448
    Victoria2448 Posts: 559 Member
    You burn 300-500 calories a day nursing. Listen to your body and your baby. If you notice your supply dropping you should increase your intake. If you notice your baby's wet and dirty diapers getting less and less, you should increase your intake. You really should be eating more while nursing but the exact number is going to depend on you and your baby.

    Also, I am an IBCLC.

    This is great advice!
  • PillowPet1012
    PillowPet1012 Posts: 7 Member
    what about fat? carbs? any of those items... should something be subtracted from them by EBFing too?
  • binknbaby
    binknbaby Posts: 207 Member
    [Doula and Midwifery Student here]

    Definitely need much more than 1200. 1700 would be the absolute bare minimum, but for really good milk supply, 2000 is closer to what you will need.

    All macros should be increased while breastfeeding, but particularly fat and protein. Fat provides essential nutrients for baby's brain/nerve development, while protein will provide the "nuts and bolts" for the growth and development of muscle, organs, etc. Carbohydrates should be increased with your caloric intake, but the fat and protein is much more vital to baby's development. The carbs will mostly help to ward off hypoglycemia for mom--but relying on mostly carbs to supply energy may increase insulin too much, so try to keep it moderate.

    Drink LOTS of water. Every time you nurse, drink a full 12-16oz glass of water, plus a glass with every meal you eat.

    Obviously things like alcohol and drugs should be avoided (even OTC meds should be run by a doctor or IBCLC first), but nothing in the daily diet needs to be completely taken out of the diet, so long as it fits the nutritional needs of the mother and baby.
  • zephtalah
    zephtalah Posts: 327 Member
    According to the LLLI it takes the body 26 calories to produce one ounce of breastmilk. The typical answer of 500 additional calories is with a deficit already built in to aid in weight loss. If a mother produced 25 ounces in one day she would be burning 650 calories by that alone (26 calories x 25 ounces.) LLLI recommend that you don't go below 1800 calories a day while breastfeeding. 1800 is bare minimum. Both supply and quality will be affected when you go below this number. It is difficult to figure out exactly how many ounces you are producing when nursing (unless you pump which I hate doing), but younger babies nurse more frequently at fewer ounces and older babies tend to nurse less frequently with large ounces. So the 500 is a good ballpark number for single babies ( i.e. not twins or triplets). Good luck with nursing and weight loss.

    (I am a mommy of 7 which I nursed all of them including my 1 year twins which I am still nursing.)

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