New mom- breast feeding

tarakkelley84
tarakkelley84 Posts: 3
edited November 2023 in Getting Started
Hi! I just started my fitness pal yesterday. I'm a new mom (2 month old) and I'm breast feeding. Looking for some friends in similar situations. Anyone have any tips on counting calories while breast feeding?

Replies

  • S0nsh1ne
    S0nsh1ne Posts: 218 Member
    Just wanted to say congratulations on the new baby and on choosing to breastfeed. My son is 10 years old but I wanted to wish you luck.
  • bethanyfranco1
    bethanyfranco1 Posts: 41
    I guess if you log breastfeeding under food, it subtracts 200-500 cals depending how much you feed/ how old your baby is. My baby was born May 28th, but I only manage to pump 12-15 oz per day of milk (my baby got nipple confusion and won't take the breast) so I don't even bother to log it. I'm on a 1200 cal diet right now, but I'm always hungry so I think I might up it a little bit, idk. I try to work out so I can eat more calories, but the only thing I can do right now is walking. My baby doesn't nap regularly yet or like to be set down. I wish I had some good tips, but I think I might need some, myself. Best of luck to you!
  • walleyclan1
    walleyclan1 Posts: 2,784 Member
    Under breakfast I would enter breastfeeding (you can choose from several options based on how many times a day you nurse). This gives you negative calories which means you can eat more but also gives you negative protein and carbs etc so you have to eat more of those. If you eat at your calculated calories for weight loss (I wouldn't recommend more than 1 lb a week) and eat back your breastfeeding calories you should be ok as far as supply. Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions. I have a 17 month old who is still nursing and I have been using MFP for almost a year.
  • missmeganlyn
    missmeganlyn Posts: 14
    I don't log my breastfeeding because I can't eat 1,700 calories without feeling sick or having to resort to junk food.
  • jtotheclardie
    jtotheclardie Posts: 1 Member
    I have a seven month old. I have been doing mfp since the end of May. I enter breastfeeding with breakfast (-300 calories). I have a good friend who is a lactation consultant and she said not to go below 1500 calories a day. She said 1500-1800 is best. I am done about 22 lbs since I joined in May. GOOD LUCK!
  • Liinzee123
    Liinzee123 Posts: 9
    I am exclusively breastfeeding my 5 month old and am down about 50 lbs. feel free to add me :)
  • jessbro1977
    jessbro1977 Posts: 58 Member
    My 5th baby girl was born May 30, I am breast feeding exclusively also. I'm looking to lose 29 more pounds . I eat 1770 calories per day and don't log breast feeding at all. Would love to be able to support each other!
  • Readyaimfire328
    Readyaimfire328 Posts: 2
    What a great thread! I'm due with my first baby on August 19th, and I plan to breastfeed. I've been using MFP for about 4 months to keep track of my protein. I never thought to continue to use it after he's born or that I could enter breastfeeding. Thanks!
  • kristapennie
    kristapennie Posts: 105 Member
    I had my baby girl July 12th and I'm set up for 1620 cals and I add 500 to that for EBF. For some reason when I add it under my breakfast I don't see the addition of calories so I just eat over and deal with the RED.
  • neuroticalme
    neuroticalme Posts: 20 Member
    My general advice would be to eat when you're hungry, nurse often, and just go steady, high nutrient content, and stay hydrated. One stressor (like calorie reduction, intense exercise, etc) alone shouldn't kill your supply; what you want to avoid is a pile-on of things that tax your body and mind.

    If your baby goes through a growth spurt and seems hungrier or fussier at the breast, or if you have a temporary supply dip due to lifestyle changes, it could be frustrating and cause you worry, which could feed back into the supply and fussiness thing...which is all normal and just a signal to relax and take care of yourself, not that you're doing something wrong.

    In my experience, focusing more on toning exercises and general cardio, and the health of my food (versus the calories) really helped me feel better generally and set in place good habits for when I was ready to lose weight more aggressively.

    The human body, especially a nursing mom's body, is a pretty amazing thing. It'll adjust to keep you and your baby healthy; all you gotta do is treat yourself right. :)

    Congratulations for you and the little one, by the way! :)
  • monicapeterson54
    monicapeterson54 Posts: 34 Member
    I am also a nursing mom or a 8 week old, and also of a 2 year old. I am pumping between 40-60 ounces/day, so i'm adding 500 calories per day to my total. (My son was tongue tied and didn't latch well, so I pump instead :) ) In total every day i'm eating roughly 1800 calories. Prior to joining here and asking others on this site, I was eating 1300 calories/day, but was starting to lose my supply.

    I wouldn't recommend going lower than 1500/day. Make sure that those extra 500 calories you're eating are quality, high nutrient calories, and you should be fine. And drink water. LOTS OF WATER! :)
  • monicapeterson54
    monicapeterson54 Posts: 34 Member
    And don't give up on nursing! you're doing a wonderful thing for your child, and yourself! It really does help the weight come off! :happy:
  • gracejr
    gracejr Posts: 21 Member
    My newest nursling is 5 months old today. :)

    Add 500 calories a day for breastfeeding. You can add it as a food under breakfast, pretty easy. Make sure you're getting enough calories (minimum 1500/day), drink plenty of water, and enjoy that new nursling! You also don't want to do any cleanse type things, and try to keep the loss to 1-2lbs per week. More than that for an extended period can affect your supply, though I find hydration plays a much higher factor in supply.


    Krista, I noticed when I was adding it, some of the entries were for 0 calories instead of a -500. Double check and make sure the one you're using logs -500 under calories. Or you can customize your calorie goal to add in that extra 500 there. Then you don't have to worry about adding it in each day.
  • unFATuated
    unFATuated Posts: 204 Member
    I'm a not-so-new mother, my daughter is 2, but still nursing a few times during the day and night. I started losing weight about a year ago, and found if I went too low with my calories to start with that my supply dropped a little. At 2 months, breast milk is obviously your baby's only source of nutrition and I would recommend setting your calories reasonably high (unless you are really short or only have a little weight to lose I would look at around 1500 minimum per day) and add back your feeding calories, so you'd be looking at around 2000 total. That might sound like a lot, but you're burning a lot of energy and possibly running on less sleep so your body might be burning more than normal just to keep you awake! Alternatively, research your BMR or TDEE details and use those to work out how many you should be eating.

    I find a great start to the day is eating oats, they are filling, a great supply booster and generally nutritious. Being lower GI they also keep your blood sugar stable which means you will have a slow but steady release of energy. Protein is also important for supply, so make sure you eat enough lean meat, eggs (if you like them) etc. Plenty of fluid (water, herbal tea etc) is also important.

    Be gentle with exercise. If you are eating at a deficit, you will find the weight will come off without having to do too much. Don't go straight for high impact, or long periods of cardio. Two reasons: at two months post-partum, your ligaments will still be quite relaxed and loose, breastfeeding tends to keep those hormones around a little longer and you are at a higher risk of injury; and also because lactic acid can build up in the milk after exercise (it does move out of your milk again naturally, the same as medications or alcohol would) and make taste different to baby. If you are keen on more training, get a consultation with a trainer who specialises in post-partum training and have them take you through some exercises.
  • tarakkelley84
    tarakkelley84 Posts: 3
    Thank you all for your comments! I didn't lnow you could add breastfeeding as a food. I just did test at the beginning to lose a pound a week and came up with 1250 calories and then manually changed it in my setting to 1750. Thinking that is probably a good number for me for now. I find it hard to get my veggies in because so much affects the baby. Anyone else have this problem or have any ideas? Hard to eat low-cal without a ton of veggies!
  • Armagan123
    Armagan123 Posts: 72 Member
    Why on earth you start counting calories when you have a 2 months old baby and brestfeeding. Give yourself a break, let your body produce as much milk as it can and feed your baby. Sleep a little more instead of using your energy for logging, counting calories, etc. Of course this does not mean eat all the junk food, a jar of nutella, ...you get the idea. Just make healthy choices, drink lots of water, have enough calcium, iron, sleep enough, go to daily walks with your baby and most of all enjoy your baby. After your baby gets 6 months old and starts eating solid foods then start counting calories if you want.
  • neuroticalme
    neuroticalme Posts: 20 Member
    I find it hard to get my veggies in because so much affects the baby. Anyone else have this problem or have any ideas? Hard to eat low-cal without a ton of veggies!

    That must be frustrating. I've heard that this happens sometimes, but I never had that issue personally. Do you think it might be dairy products instead of veggies? Just an idea.
  • missmeganlyn
    missmeganlyn Posts: 14
    Why on earth you start counting calories when you have a 2 months old baby and brestfeeding. Give yourself a break, let your body produce as much milk as it can and feed your baby. Sleep a little more instead of using your energy for logging, counting calories, etc. Of course this does not mean eat all the junk food, a jar of nutella, ...you get the idea. Just make healthy choices, drink lots of water, have enough calcium, iron, sleep enough, go to daily walks with your baby and most of all enjoy your baby. After your baby gets 6 months old and starts eating solid foods then start counting calories if you want.

    Counting calories while breast feeding isn't a bad thing. I changed my diet to eating healthy. I find healthy foods more filling and it's actually hard for me to eat even 1,200 calories now. So keeping track of what I eat is helping me stay conscious of how much I'm eating and remember to try to eat enough to support breast feeding and still manage to lose weight.
  • Cadori
    Cadori Posts: 4,810 Member
    Why on earth you start counting calories when you have a 2 months old baby and brestfeeding. Give yourself a break, let your body produce as much milk as it can and feed your baby. Sleep a little more instead of using your energy for logging, counting calories, etc. Of course this does not mean eat all the junk food, a jar of nutella, ...you get the idea. Just make healthy choices, drink lots of water, have enough calcium, iron, sleep enough, go to daily walks with your baby and most of all enjoy your baby. After your baby gets 6 months old and starts eating solid foods then start counting calories if you want.

    Many breastfeeding moms log to ensure they're getting enough calories. And if you log you can track items like calcium and iron, so...

    If your first post after 5months on this site is to berate a new mom, maybe you should consider a forum relocation to one that encourages bashing. www.babycenter.com might be a better fit. :flowerforyou:

    OP: Eat all your calories and drink plenty of water. And growth spurts are enough to make even an experienced breastfeeder think they're doing it wrong, but the babies are just ramping up your supply as long as they have enough wet diapers. Enjoy! :heart: kellymom.com is a great resource too.
  • heatherrunsfar
    heatherrunsfar Posts: 9
    Just wanted to encourage you --- I got people giving fright tales about exercise lowering supply--- but I ran a marathon when my daughter was 3 month and was up to 60+ miles a week soon after and I had an over supply of milk. I didn't count calories, but switched to the eat clean plan (eating every 3-4 hours with a lean protein and veggies/complex carbs) and I got to the leanest I've ever been and felt great and my daughter was growing wonderfully.. .
  • Lonewolf1507
    Lonewolf1507 Posts: 507 Member
    Congratulations OP, sorry no advice for you but this might get picked up by two of my friends who are nursing new Mum's who might be able to help or use some of the advice that you are given.

    Andy
  • Armagan123
    Armagan123 Posts: 72 Member
    Why on earth you start counting calories when you have a 2 months old baby and brestfeeding. Give yourself a break, let your body produce as much milk as it can and feed your baby. Sleep a little more instead of using your energy for logging, counting calories, etc. Of course this does not mean eat all the junk food, a jar of nutella, ...you get the idea. Just make healthy choices, drink lots of water, have enough calcium, iron, sleep enough, go to daily walks with your baby and most of all enjoy your baby. After your baby gets 6 months old and starts eating solid foods then start counting calories if you want.

    Many breastfeeding moms log to ensure they're getting enough calories. And if you log you can track items like calcium and iron, so...

    If your first post after 5months on this site is to berate a new mom, maybe you should consider a forum relocation to one that encourages bashing. www.babycenter.com might be a better fit. :flowerforyou:

    OP: Eat all your calories and drink plenty of water. And growth spurts are enough to make even an experienced breastfeeder think they're doing it wrong, but the babies are just ramping up your supply as long as they have enough wet diapers. Enjoy! :heart: kellymom.com is a great resource too.

    Well, I guess you are the husband!
  • Cadori
    Cadori Posts: 4,810 Member
    Why on earth you start counting calories when you have a 2 months old baby and brestfeeding. Give yourself a break, let your body produce as much milk as it can and feed your baby. Sleep a little more instead of using your energy for logging, counting calories, etc. Of course this does not mean eat all the junk food, a jar of nutella, ...you get the idea. Just make healthy choices, drink lots of water, have enough calcium, iron, sleep enough, go to daily walks with your baby and most of all enjoy your baby. After your baby gets 6 months old and starts eating solid foods then start counting calories if you want.

    Many breastfeeding moms log to ensure they're getting enough calories. And if you log you can track items like calcium and iron, so...

    If your first post after 5months on this site is to berate a new mom, maybe you should consider a forum relocation to one that encourages bashing. www.babycenter.com might be a better fit. :flowerforyou:

    OP: Eat all your calories and drink plenty of water. And growth spurts are enough to make even an experienced breastfeeder think they're doing it wrong, but the babies are just ramping up your supply as long as they have enough wet diapers. Enjoy! :heart: kellymom.com is a great resource too.

    Well, I guess you are the husband!

    No. Try again.
  • pameliukes
    pameliukes Posts: 2
    Hi I was wondering if I am suppose to eat 1800 calories a day + the 500 I am burning or 1300 after burning my calories. I am scared to loose my milk supply my baby is exclusivly bf she is 4 months. I pump 3x at work and nurse her when im home.
  • JDubIsShrinking
    JDubIsShrinking Posts: 207 Member
    Good for you for nursing!
    Definitely make sure you are eating enough - i think there is a way to log breastfeeding to give yourself more than your usual calories. My suggestion would be not to aim for less than the amount of calories given. You're feeding yourself and your little one and have to compensate for that.
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