Breastfeeding calories

svincec222
svincec222 Posts: 14 Member
in Getting Started
Am I supposed to adjust my daily calories to account for breastfeeding? I am exclusively breastfeeding my 4 month old and she eats about every 3-4 hours. If so, how many daily calories should I add on and does it change once she starts eating solids (I will be breastfeeding till 1 year).

Replies

  • kb1927
    kb1927 Posts: 32 Member
    You can enter "breastfeeding" as a food, and it will add some calories to your daily total. I have heard that breastfeeding requires 500-800 calories a day, but every woman/baby is different. Definitely watch to be sure that your supply isn't being effected and change your calorie goals accordingly! (Also, protein and good fat is always good for milk-making.)

    Now that my fifteen month old is only nursing four or five times a day, I enter it in as a half serving of breastfeeding. I'm not sure if it's exactly right, but I'm still making milk and losing weight at the rate I'm aiming for, so that is what I'm judging by. (You probably don't want to adjust calories until your daughter is giving up nursing sessions for solids since baby food is so much less dense calorically than breastmilk.)

    Enjoy your little one!
  • teanerhig21
    teanerhig21 Posts: 8 Member
    Unless you are pumping and giving it to your baby in a bottle there is really no way to know how much milk your giving and how many calories your giving up in the process. The advice I can give you is to eat as healthy as you can. One pound lost a week is a healthy goal for a nursing mother so if your loosing more than that eat more. If your not, cut back a little until you get there. I have nursed all three of my kids and learned more with each one. With my first I thought I could eat whatever I wanted and I would loose my baby weight (bwahaha!) and with the second I cut my calories down so much my milk production started to deplete. By my third I had it figured out so that we were both happy and healthy.
    One thing that is important to know is that your body is going to provide for your baby to the best of its ability... sometimes at its own expense. So the fat, calcium, etc. that it takes to make milk is either going to come from what you eat or what your body has stored up. Which is why women who nurse have a greater risk for osteoporosis. Eventually your body will make up what was lost (plus some) when you were nursing if you are eating right.
  • emilymag12
    emilymag12 Posts: 1
    I added 500 calories to exercise each day, but I just started. That way you get a credit for those calories lost. Not sure if this is the best way. I don't understand adding as a food...

    I am paying close attention to my supply as that is the most important thing.
  • CHGraf87
    CHGraf87 Posts: 2
    When I was pumping (my son was a nicu baby) I was told to add 500ish calories (I just ate what I wanted and did what I wanted, I was young and dumb). But that number came from a lactation specialist. Not sure if that helps.

    Do what is right for you. I wouldn't make any drastic changes while breastfeeding (like I did and the supply went away and never came back at about 6 months.. good thing I had a freezer full of milk). Slow and steady changes will keep your baby happy. You may not see results as fast as you want, but the number one goal right now is that you and your baby are healthy.
  • o0vibeke0o
    o0vibeke0o Posts: 11 Member
    I am breastfeeding my 3 month old right now.... I supplement one 4oz bottle a day sometimes more sometimes less. I give myself 300 calories extra. But since you are exclusively, I would give yourself 500... when you log breakfast every day type in breastfeeding and the option will come up... it will give you an extra allowance.

    It's hard to lose weight while breastfeeding (contrary to popular belief) because if you eat to low you can diminish your supply, or store more body fat. The most important thing you can do is to DRINK lots of water. Breast-milk is 50% water and you really can't get enough... I drink at least 12 glasses a day. I also weighed myself every day the first week... if the scale didn't move I upped my calories... you really have to play around and find your magic number. Luckily your child is 4 months, so your supply is less fragile. You just have to find out what works for you, and everyone woman is different.
  • ChrysalisCove
    ChrysalisCove Posts: 975 Member
    I am nursing my 13mo son 4-6x daily & log it each morning as -300cal under "Breastfeeding, Older Baby". If I were still EBFing, I would add 500cal. Also, expect to have temporarily higher calorie needs during growth spurts. Trust me, you'll KNOW when that happens! Lol
  • 4life78
    4life78 Posts: 5
    Thanks for this post. I didn't know how to adjust things for breastfeeding so I was having a couple of cups of milo a day and not tracking it, making up for the calories I would spend breast feeding. Now I can track everything!
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    great question - I am past that point in my life but here you go

    http://kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-calories-fluids/
  • 2BFitHealthy
    2BFitHealthy Posts: 23
    Everyone I've talked to... doctors, forums, friends has said to add the 500 calories. I'm gong to add it as exercise

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