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Breastfeeding and Dieting.. HELP

dodoodoodo
dodoodoodo Posts: 101 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have a 6-month-old son and have noticed when I am dieting, my milk production goes way down. I need to lose weight (40 lbs by October preferably). If I eat more calories, I won't lose weight. Anything I can do? When dieting, I eat around 1500 calories.

Replies

  • Amanda4change
    Amanda4change Posts: 620 Member
    Exclusively breastfeeding uses about 500 calories per day, obviously part time is 250. Slowly increase your calories (I would add 100 at a time) until you notice your milk supply is normal. Also increase your water, you need to replenish every drop you sweat off. You may only be able to lose 1/4-1/2 a pound a week without effecting your supply.
  • Wiseandcurious
    Wiseandcurious Posts: 730 Member
    They key seems to lose slowly, never more than about a pound a week or so, to avoid releasing too many toxins in breast milk and if you go slow enough, that shouldn't affect the milk supply either. For source see below.

    When I was breastfeeding my best resource for all questions was La Leche league international and a quick google shows they do have info on breastfeeding and weight loss:
    http://www.llli.org/faq/lowcarb.html and you can find more related info on theit website. Their info tends to be very aligned with WHO recommendations on the topic of breastfeeding so I think they are a reliable resource to start with.

    P.s. Not advocating low carb, that's just the first of many google results on breastfeeding + diet + la levhe league, that came up
  • AbsoluteTara79
    AbsoluteTara79 Posts: 266 Member
    What is your current height/weight? Do you think you're right around the 25 ounce average for production? What kind of diet do you follow? I'm 5'5, 157 and eating 1600-1800 a day nursing a 1-year old and I'm losing a lb/week.
  • sadiepatterson5
    sadiepatterson5 Posts: 1
    I'm going through the same thing. My son is 8months old and I'm breastfeeding. I've noticed my supply drastically dropped.... if i eat more then im terrified of gaining the 10lbs I've lost back...
  • 0somuchbetter0
    0somuchbetter0 Posts: 1,335 Member
    I waited until my kids weaned before trying to lose weight.
This discussion has been closed.

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