Nursing moms - Losing weight = Losing milk supply?!?

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MLangseth
MLangseth Posts: 11
in Health and Weight Loss
HELP PLEASE!!!
I have 2 month old daughter and in the past week I have noticed a substantial drop in my milk supply. Keep in mind I just joined MFP 2 weeks ago and lost about 6 lbs in the first week. This past week I haven’t lost more than a pound or so. I’m wondering if the sudden weight loss could be the reason for the decrease in supply and if so, what can I do to keep my supply up while still being able to lose weight. (I have already started taking Mother’s Milk/Fenugreek)

Currently, I have been doing 30DS for about a week and a half. That's my main 'workout' for the day. I am taking into account the calories lost from nursing so I typically increase my calories by about 300 or so.

All comments are greatly appreciated! I know that stress can be a main factor also in decreased supply, so I am trying not to stress too much about it... but it's hard
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Replies

  • ohthatmomma
    ohthatmomma Posts: 115
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    Hi! I didn't exercise vigorously while nursing because I didn't want to lower my milk supply. My doc told me that I burn about 500 calories a day just nursing. So, I would take my strolls with baby and the weight just came off. My milk supply remained the same.... then again... they call me Dairy Queen :)

    But, I would say limit the amount of exercise you do on a daily basis. Maybe only exercise for 10-15 minutes daily or every other day for thirty. Increase your fluids and check out this website for some really good information.... www.askdrsears.com
  • MellowYellowGem
    MellowYellowGem Posts: 120 Member
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    You need to make sure you eat back all your exercise calories, plus a few more to cover the feeding & drink plenty of water.
    To help get your supply back up try to feed more often if possible for a few days - the more you feed, the more you make.
    A good way to get the milk going again is a day of rest with your baby, skin to skin if possible, as this will trigger all the 'milk making' hormones.
    I'm a LLL b'feeding peer support counseller, so if you'd like any more advice please feel free to message me. x
  • MellowYellowGem
    MellowYellowGem Posts: 120 Member
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    You need to make sure you eat back all your exercise calories, plus a few more to cover the feeding & drink plenty of water.
    To help get your supply back up try to feed more often if possible for a few days - the more you feed, the more you make.
    A good way to get the milk going again is a day of rest with your baby, skin to skin if possible, as this will trigger all the 'milk making' hormones.
    I'm a LLL b'feeding peer support counseller, so if you'd like any more advice please feel free to message me. x

    Sorry for the double post! (Just another thing I should say is that b'feeding burns up to 500 calories a day)
  • suzycreamcheese
    suzycreamcheese Posts: 1,766 Member
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    happened to me when i was breastfeeding my first son.
    I went to an intense aerobics class, and my milk pretty much dried up overnight.

    Some people are fine to exercise and diet when breastfeeding, but i found if i didnt eat enough my supply dropped with all 3, but i never did proper workouts while i was breastfeeding.

    I never really found it possible to lose much till after. Id say just take it easy and try and up your calories a bit
  • kell_riley
    kell_riley Posts: 312
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    Oh wow you have a breast feeding specialist to help that's fab!
    I was going to say water is the key, I lost 2stone while feeding my son, so long as you eat the right amount and drink plenty your milk supply will be fine!
  • MellowYellowGem
    MellowYellowGem Posts: 120 Member
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    Oh wow you have a breast feeding specialist to help that's fab!
    I was going to say water is the key, I lost 2stone while feeding my son, so long as you eat the right amount and drink plenty your milk supply will be fine!

    Not quite a specialist - I'm only a volunteer, but do have a fair bit knowledge after the course I did. :smile:
  • evenidomhnaill
    evenidomhnaill Posts: 50
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    If your not eating enough you cant produce I found this out when after my first I had a problem with my throat and couldn't eat
    ( pretty much anything) for about 5 weeks I was trying to BF but after about 6 weeks my milk supply was gone and for the 6 weeks I was trying I had to also feed my daughter formula as I wasn't producing enough. Then with my second daughter I found that I was over producing as I was expressing some milk most days to store in the freezer in case I went out. I found by expressing my body thought it needed to make more on a daily basis so on the days I didn't express I was in a small amount of pain from being too full. Maybe you could try this to trick your body into think it needs to produce a lot more as baby is hungrier or just get you baby to feed more often this might also get you body to produce more milk as we are designed to supply as much as the baby demands
  • katberz
    katberz Posts: 123
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    I agree with what's been said - increase calories and feed more often to get your supply back up. The more you feed, the more you make!
  • leighkent
    leighkent Posts: 195 Member
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    I'm not sure if you have added the "exclusive breastfeeding" option on mfp, but that gives you another 500 calories per day - I advise eating them and your exercise calories too xx
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
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    I was scared to lose weight when I was exclusively breastfeeding because I had heard that the fat breaking down could release toxins into the milk. I don't know how true this is, but as I fed my son until he was 3.5, it gave me a good excuse not to slim down. :laugh:

    I would think about priorities in your position. If you want to breastfeed and feel you may be eating too little/exercising too much, eat more and tone down your exercise. Breatfeeding isn't for ever, and you can lose the weight later if you want. On the other hand, if breastfeeding is not a priority and getting in shape is, just see what happens.

    And La Leche League leaders are more knowledgeable about breastfeeding than most doctors, so I'd suggest getting in touch with you local group too.
  • cariandy
    cariandy Posts: 175 Member
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    Hi!!

    You might want to take a day to put your feet up and cluster feed your little one! You'll be fine! The stress, workout and diet can relly affect your milk supply..but it's NOT gone!!!!!! Your baby will get your right back up to speed!!!!:wink:

    Make sure you drink a lot fluid and eat your calories! I'd say it's great to workout!! You'll feel better and tone up..But DON"T cut back on calories!!! Concentrate on making really healthy food choices!! (for you and your baby!) Your energy will go up and your will your milk!! And your weight will go down!! I PROMISE!!

    Best of Luck!!
  • DanceMomCG
    DanceMomCG Posts: 47 Member
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    My personal advice...not professional by any means is maybe try eating oatmeal in the morning and drinking lots of fluids. Oatmeal supposedly increases your supply. I nursed both of my kids and found this to be true for me.
  • punkrockmama
    punkrockmama Posts: 142 Member
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    You need to make sure you eat back all your exercise calories, plus a few more to cover the feeding & drink plenty of water.
    To help get your supply back up try to feed more often if possible for a few days - the more you feed, the more you make.
    A good way to get the milk going again is a day of rest with your baby, skin to skin if possible, as this will trigger all the 'milk making' hormones.
    I'm a LLL b'feeding peer support counseller, so if you'd like any more advice please feel free to message me. x

    This!!! Totally!! The more you nurse, the more you produce! Also, when babies go through growth spurts, they need more milk and most women think they aren't producing enough. Nurse, nurse, nurse! Your body was made to do it, so you'll be fine.

    P.s. Only modern women burn so low of calories that exercise is needed. In less developed countries women return to laborious jobs and burn copious amounts of calories--and still successfully breastfeed. You've got this! Don't give up!!
  • punkrockmama
    punkrockmama Posts: 142 Member
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    Stupid double post. SORRY!
  • carrie_lebel
    carrie_lebel Posts: 135
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    Oh wow you have a breast feeding specialist to help that's fab!
    I was going to say water is the key, I lost 2stone while feeding my son, so long as you eat the right amount and drink plenty your milk supply will be fine!
    [/quote/]

    I was the same way. When I breastfed the weight melted off. When my good friend breastfed she didn't lose a pound until she stopped breastfeeding. Strange.
  • MLangseth
    MLangseth Posts: 11
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    Wow! I was so happy to see how many people have responded so far! BFing is definately a priority so I think I will stop concentrating so much on my calorie intake and just eat as I normally would have (plus some healthier choices).
  • Yooperm35
    Yooperm35 Posts: 787 Member
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    lots and lots of water and increase your calorie intake.

    calorie needs calculator for BFing moms http://www.freedieting.com/tools/breastfeeding_calorie_calculator.htm
  • suzycreamcheese
    suzycreamcheese Posts: 1,766 Member
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    Wow! I was so happy to see how many people have responded so far! BFing is definately a priority so I think I will stop concentrating so much on my calorie intake and just eat as I normally would have (plus some healthier choices).

    good plan, youve got all the time in the world to get properly on the diet when youre not feeding anymore. Youre doing such a fab thing for your little one :o)
  • CarolynB38
    CarolynB38 Posts: 553 Member
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    Hi. You're doing great. I was advised not to exercise too much and definitely not too vigorously. I was also advised to make sure I was getting enough carbs and, as others have said, eat an extra 500cals each day. I know this goes against everything they say about losing weight but it is important for making milk.

    The evening and night-time feeds seem to trigger the production of milk much more than any other time of day so if you baby is wanting to feed all evening then let him/her. They'll sleep better too as your milk contains more oxytocin at that time of day. My son would cluster feed for about 2and a half hours in the early evening and then have a final (very long!) feed around 8pm. I reckon he got most of his milk in the evening!

    With my son I lost loads of weight really quickly without dieting (actually I was stuffing my face with cake, probably not the best advice!) but with my daughter I didn't lose a single pound but I can't say I was trying particularly hard, I was too exhausted, lol!

    I'm sure you'll do great. Keep it up and enjoy the process :smile:
  • fitzerin
    fitzerin Posts: 31
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    You can drink a dark beer a day to help boost your milk supply. Drink the beer after a nursing session if you are concerned about alcohol going to the baby through your breastmilk. It will be out of your system come time for the next feeding.

    You an also get "Mother's Milk Tea" or "Fenugreek Tea" I found some at GNC. I think it tastes awful, but I drank it with lots of honey and sugar. It is supposed to up your milk supply.

    These were both things that I was told to do by the hospital's lactation consultant when I was breastfeeding my first baby.

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