breastfeeding help

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elread1026
elread1026 Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
So not only am I exclusively breastfeeding my 3 month old I'm also breastfeeding my 2.5 year old a couple of times a day. I have no clue how much I need to eat. Help!
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  • NotGnarly
    NotGnarly Posts: 137 Member
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    I breastfed all 3 of my kids and my nutritionist always made me eat 2000 calories and I lost weight at that calorie range. I also did moderate exercise for about 1 hour, 3 times a week. I wouldn't eat below 2000 cals because you will more than likely become very hungry or it could decrease your milk supply.
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
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    http://kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-calories-fluids/

    It's estimated you need 500 more calories a day for exclusive nursing. I don't think I would increase it by another full 500 for the toddler, even though my toddlers nursed a lot. Listen to your body at first. I knew right away when I wasn't eating enough.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
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    This is probably a question best suited for your doctor. We may be able to help if you provided more information - such as your height, weight, and goals (lose, gain, maintain?).

    ...is it normal for a 2.5 year old to still be breastfeeding? If so, is there a valid reason to do it that long? I've honestly never known anyone to breastfeed after the first year, so this is a legitimate question. I can't imagine a toddler that can walk and talk and say the alphabet drinking from my boob.
  • ourtruelovewillneverdie
    ourtruelovewillneverdie Posts: 170 Member
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    LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
    This is probably a question best suited for your doctor. We may be able to help if you provided more information - such as your height, weight, and goals (lose, gain, maintain?).

    ...is it normal for a 2.5 year old to still be breastfeeding? If so, is there a valid reason to do it that long? I've honestly never known anyone to breastfeed after the first year, so this is a legitimate question. I can't imagine a toddler that can walk and talk and say the alphabet drinking from my boob.

    Many cultures worldwide breastfeed longer than two years. The world health organization recommends nursing for at least two years.
  • 0somuchbetter0
    0somuchbetter0 Posts: 1,335 Member
    edited December 2014
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    LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
    This is probably a question best suited for your doctor. We may be able to help if you provided more information - such as your height, weight, and goals (lose, gain, maintain?).

    ...is it normal for a 2.5 year old to still be breastfeeding? If so, is there a valid reason to do it that long? I've honestly never known anyone to breastfeed after the first year, so this is a legitimate question. I can't imagine a toddler that can walk and talk and say the alphabet drinking from my boob.

    Yes it's "normal." It's not common but it's not "abnormal." It's called extended breastfeeding. Google it. :\

    babycenter.com/0_extended-nursing-is-it-for-you_8496.bc

    500 calories was spot on for me. I added 500 calories to my daily intake and still lost all the baby weight and then some. It was awesome!
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    edited December 2014
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    LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
    This is probably a question best suited for your doctor. We may be able to help if you provided more information - such as your height, weight, and goals (lose, gain, maintain?).

    ...is it normal for a 2.5 year old to still be breastfeeding? If so, is there a valid reason to do it that long? I've honestly never known anyone to breastfeed after the first year, so this is a legitimate question. I can't imagine a toddler that can walk and talk and say the alphabet drinking from my boob.

    Yes it's completely normal. Pleased to meet you, both of my children weaned at 3.5. I imagine it's harder for people to admit to you they nurse past a year when you ask them if they are normal.

    Also it's an appropriate question for a certified lactation consultant, which is why I linked it in my reply.
  • Organicgasm
    Organicgasm Posts: 592 Member
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    I added 500 calories for the exclusive nursling. I add 300 on top of that for being pregnant again or tandem. It seems to work well. Drink lots of water and eat nutrient densw foods... 350 cals or McDonald's does NOT equal 350 calories of vegetables and clean proteins. ;)
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
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    lyttlewon wrote: »
    LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
    This is probably a question best suited for your doctor. We may be able to help if you provided more information - such as your height, weight, and goals (lose, gain, maintain?).

    ...is it normal for a 2.5 year old to still be breastfeeding? If so, is there a valid reason to do it that long? I've honestly never known anyone to breastfeed after the first year, so this is a legitimate question. I can't imagine a toddler that can walk and talk and say the alphabet drinking from my boob.

    Yes it's completely normal. Pleased to meet you, both of my children weaned at 3.5. I imagine it's harder for people to admit to you they nurse past a year when you ask them if they are normal.

    Seriously? Come on...get over yourself. It was a simple question. By "normal," I meant common, which I thought was quite clear.

    Thanks to those of you that asked my question without taking offense where there was none to be taken. Yay for not having a stick up your *kitten*.
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
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    LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
    lyttlewon wrote: »
    LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
    This is probably a question best suited for your doctor. We may be able to help if you provided more information - such as your height, weight, and goals (lose, gain, maintain?).

    ...is it normal for a 2.5 year old to still be breastfeeding? If so, is there a valid reason to do it that long? I've honestly never known anyone to breastfeed after the first year, so this is a legitimate question. I can't imagine a toddler that can walk and talk and say the alphabet drinking from my boob.

    Yes it's completely normal. Pleased to meet you, both of my children weaned at 3.5. I imagine it's harder for people to admit to you they nurse past a year when you ask them if they are normal.

    Seriously? Come on...get over yourself. It was a simple question. By "normal," I meant common, which I thought was quite clear.

    Thanks to those of you that asked my question without taking offense where there was none to be taken. Yay for not having a stick up your *kitten*.

    It's not common in the US to nurse as long as a year. Our breastfeeding rates are extremely low. The WHO recommends nursing a minimum of two years, where the AAP recommends a minimum of one.

    I don't have a stick up my *kitten*. Extended nursing occurs in less than 20% of the population, and it's common for people to be extremely abusive towards women who nurse toddlers. It's good to be mindful of the words you use when asking questions. That's all I was talking about.
  • elread1026
    elread1026 Posts: 3
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    I'm currently
    LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
    This is probably a question best suited for your doctor. We may be able to help if you provided more information - such as your height, weight, and goals (lose, gain, maintain?).

    ...is it normal for a 2.5 year old to still be breastfeeding? If so, is there a valid reason to do it that long? I've honestly never known anyone to breastfeed after the first year, so this is a legitimate question. I can't imagine a toddler that can walk and talk and say the alphabet drinking from my boob.

    I'm 5"7' and just over 200 lbs. I'm hoping to lose about 40 lbs by early spring-ish.

    *lights patchouli incense, grabs handful of granola and starts folding cloth diapers* I'm happy to answer any questions you have about tandem and extended breastfeeding. Lots of valid nutritional reasons to do so, lots outlined in the links above.

    How the hell did that happen? For us, I got pregnant (a little bit by surprised) while still breastfeeding and I never lost my milk supply. During pregnancy he stopped nursing on my right side at the end and maybe once nursed every other day. Now, he nurses once or maybe twice a day and he'll want to nurse more if he's ill.

    How we do it? It's generally a one at a time policy if I can help it. But that doesn't always work out. So I always latch my little one first, then let my son latch on. It's a challenge for sure. He sometimes gets impatient, I often have to remind him not to crush his little sister.
    It's usually one gets one side and the other gets the other side. My son will want to switch but usually reminding him that that's baby's side settles him.

    But TEETH!?! Yep, he's had a mouthful since he was 8 months. This is nothing new for me. He went through a biting phase at 11 months that lasted 2 days. It does feel different. I sometimes have to remind him that he can't talk with boobie in his mouth, it changes the latch and can make it a bit uncomfortable

    But he'll remember it - Yup. I'm not too sad that his first understanding of breasts is that they're used for feeding babies. *insert rant about the pornification of breasts*

    But he can ask for it! Yup and so can my daughter. She cries and sticks her hand in her mouth, he says boobie please. Potato, Potahtoe. *shrugs*

    What do people around me think? Most friends are totally supportive. So is my sister. My parents totally disapprove but I don't really give a *kitten*. Husband is completely on board with whatever works for me and us as a family. I don't nurse him in public unless I can do so discreetly - Nursing a toddler is taboo as is, nursing two at the same time would probably have people people looking at me like I was a freak show.

    Biggest challenge? Getting kiddo number one to wait while I latch number two. Trying to figure out if he wants to nurse or if he's just super hungry and doesn't want to wait for me to get food for him. Oversupply, I have too much milk. Little one doesn't have the best latch because she had a lip tie, so she can be overwhelmed by the letdown when it happens. Do I love it all the time? Nope. But it's such a source of comfort to him, why would I stop? And people that formula feeding think they have the market cornered on judgement. Nope! Just nursing an infant not under a blanket comes with oodles of judgement.

    Best part? His health. He's never had an ear infection. Or been on antibiotics. I didn't have to take to the ER those times he had a stomach virus (he wouldn't eat or drink at all, but he'd breastfeed). Seeing them hold hands while they nurse, him stroking her head. I think it makes them closer. He's never been jealous of his sister. He shares his cars with her (this is huge!). I love nursing the two of them first thing in the morning. It's quiet, just the three of us snuggled and often my son holding his sister's hand.

    tl;dr - Yes it's normal to nurse a 2 year. It works for us. Haters to the left please.
  • elread1026
    elread1026 Posts: 3
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    Organicgasm wrote: »
    I added 500 calories for the exclusive nursling. I add 300 on top of that for being pregnant again or tandem. It seems to work well. Drink lots of water and eat nutrient densw foods... 350 cals or McDonald's does NOT equal 350 calories of vegetables and clean proteins. ;)

    I drink about 2 - 3 litres of water a day. I'm thinking that I've been underestimating how much I need to be eating. I'm struggling with the quantity of quality food I'll need to eat. 700-800 calls seems like so much!
  • mykaylis
    mykaylis Posts: 320 Member
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    according to anthropological data (both a worldwide survey and a comparative study with other apes) the natural weaning age of a homo sapiens child is between 2-7 years. so yes, you are well within normal! north americans have a tendency to cut the nursing relationship short.

    nutritionally breast milk is the perfect food for human beings of any age. as the child goes through toddlerhood to early school age, the milk INCREASES its immune factors (which makes sense, because a 3 month old baby and a 3 year old toddler are going to have a VERY different microbe exposure profile).

    for the youngester i would add 500 calories and adjust from there. if you still feel hungry all the time, add another couple hundred for the toddler, assuming the toddler is feeding less often (at that age, mine only fed 4-6 times a day, while as a baby it was 10-12 times a day).

    hope this helps :)
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
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    Add 500 calories for BF the infant, don't worry about more for the toddler

    And good job :smile:
  • natte77
    natte77 Posts: 2 Member
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    LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
    This is probably a question best suited for your doctor. We may be able to help if you provided more information - such as your height, weight, and goals (lose, gain, maintain?).

    ...is it normal for a 2.5 year old to still be breastfeeding? If so, is there a valid reason to do it that long? I've honestly never known anyone to breastfeed after the first year, so this is a legitimate question. I can't imagine a toddler that can walk and talk and say the alphabet drinking from my boob.


    Breastfeeding a toddler is normal. In Africa they normaly breastfeed till 3 years.


    see what the WHO says about breastfeeding - so why not, if the kid wants it..
  • mykaylis
    mykaylis Posts: 320 Member
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    my best friend breastfed til he was 5. he has fond memories of it. he was a real cheering squad when i bfed my eldest for 4 years. :)
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,520 Member
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    I doubt a 2.5 year old nursing only once/maybe twice a day is a huge demand on your body. I bfed my kids both (but not simultaneously) for over year...I added about 500 cals to my diet until about 6-8 months of age; reduced down to about 300 cals extra from about 8 months until weaned.
    At 6 months, I started light cardio, increased cardio over the next few months. I lost all the baby weight with the first baby at 9 months postpartum and 8 months postpartum with the second. My supply was never negatively effected. Both kids nursed frequently, which led to the higher supply. Once the lactation consultant called me a "cow," b/c I had a very large supply. So the way I figured my calories/exercise/nursing schedule seemed to work for me.
    I would probably consult with a lactation consultant, but I can't imagine a 2.5 year would require 300+ extra calories a day.
  • looopyloops
    looopyloops Posts: 84 Member
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    LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
    This is probably a question best suited for your doctor. We may be able to help if you provided more information - such as your height, weight, and goals (lose, gain, maintain?).

    ...is it normal for a 2.5 year old to still be breastfeeding? If so, is there a valid reason to do it that long? I've honestly never known anyone to breastfeed after the first year, so this is a legitimate question. I can't imagine a toddler that can walk and talk and say the alphabet drinking from my boob.
    It is very normal for a 2.5 year old to nurse, the world health organization recommends nursing to two and beyond, in many countries mothers nurse their babies til five years of age, it keeps the babies healthy and works as birth control. as for calories burned a toddler may not nurse as much as a smaller baby , they do get the important antibodies though that keep them healthy
  • suzynam
    suzynam Posts: 14 Member
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    For many women it's really hard to lose while breastfeeding, so don't get discouraged if it is for you, too.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
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    looopyloops wrote: »
    LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
    This is probably a question best suited for your doctor. We may be able to help if you provided more information - such as your height, weight, and goals (lose, gain, maintain?).

    . works as birth control.

    breastfeeding does not work as birth control. you can still get pregnant while breastfeeding,please do some research on that. I know many women who believed this old wives tale and got pregnant right away. some a few months later.It will not prevent you from getting pregnant.
  • mykaylis
    mykaylis Posts: 320 Member
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    breastfeeding will prevent you from getting pregnant - as long as you have a certain hormonal profile. trouble is it's hard to predict when your hormones will change enough to allow ovulation. my friend didn't have a period until her kid was 15 months old. my kids were 5 and 4 months respectively. now, if i had assumed my bfing would prevent ovulation for 6 months like some people say, i'd be in a heap of trouble wouldn't i!

    in my experience (talking to MANY women on the subject) it is not uncommon for the mom to hang on to 10-20 lbs of baby fat while breastfeeding. my best guess is that the body wants to make sure there are enough calories there for both mom and baby in case of famine. which, really, is frustrating in this non-famine age of ours.

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