Weight loss while breastfeeding/low supply?

lreed217 · April 2015

I lost 35 lbs with MFP 2 years ago and then I got pregnant and gained 50. I am currently 25 lbs over my pre-preg weight. I have been exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and have never had any issues with my supply. I started logging again on Monday and since then have noticed a huge decrease in my supply

I also went back to work this week and have not been able to pump enough out while I'm at work. So I need to figure out how to do this correctly. I have been eating 1800-2000 calories a day. The lactation nurse said no less than 1800 so I don't know why I'm having this problem. I'm "lightly active". I really need to lose weight but obviously my baby comes first. I don't get why I was making more milk when I was eating crap all day and guzzling dr pepper.

jlpuckett85 · April 2015

I'm having the same problem, however I am not exclusively BFing. I had twins, so I was never producing enough to keep up with both of them. I have tried everything I can think of and it seems like my supply is getting lower and lower. I am at about 1-2oz on each side at each pumping. It's so frustrating.

LKArgh · April 2015

You need to be starving for your supply to be affected, like consistently below 1000 calories, and then your health will be affected before your supply. Creating a reasonable deficit of 500 calories or so will not affect supply. You need to make sure your baby's feedings are paced when you are not home (small bottles, stopping frequently to burp) so not to get the baby too full from the bottle, nurse on demand when home (which might mean way more than you used to before returning to work) and figure out a way to pump at work, if not for every feeding your baby would have, at least for most of them. And make sure you have a good pump, it makes a huge difference.

kgeyser · April 2015

Your diary isn't open, but when I started here I was BF as well. I calculated my MFP goal, then added back a portion of calories to account for breastfeeding (you can find breastfeeding in the food database), and ate back a portion of my exercise calories.

The other thing that might impact your production is the return of your menstrual cycle. I don't know if that's happening for you, but my supply would always tank a few days before and my daughter wouldn't want to nurse - I think the hormones did something to the taste and she just didn't like it.

lreed217 · April 2015

I nurse on demand at home which is every 2 hours for us, and even more than that at night. I don't work very long hours. I feed him before leaving, miss one feeding, sometimes 2, and then feed him when I get home. I pump on schedule at work. I will make my diary open. My cycles returned 3 months ago and I'm currently in between cycles. I'm at a loss here

thanks for the replies.

zdyb23456 · April 2015

Definitely a double electric pump for while you're at work. Make sure you are pumping for at least 15-20 minutes.

Drink lots of fluids and eating oatmeal (or granola) seemed to help me. I'm not sure if it was psychological or just the extra calories, but it seemed to help.

emmavagg · April 2015

I am bf my four month old and logging with no problems with supply. As others have said make sure you are drinking lots. Is your baby not satisfied after feeding? I am just curious as to how you know you are making less. Maybe baby is a very effective feeder and your supply might have just settled? I have been told in the past that Oatmeal is very good for milk supply. Good luck and I have sent you a friend request

lreed217 · April 2015

I know I'm making less because normally my breasts are heavy and I can feel the milk in there. Now they feel like deflated balloons.

and I'm not getting as much as I used to when I pump. I'm going to up my water intake. And I had oatmeal for breakfast

Weight loss while breastfeeding/low supply?

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