Breastfeeding mothers, calorie help...

WildePillar
WildePillar Posts: 120 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi Ladies,

I was wondering if any of you breastfeeding mamas noticed a drop in milk supply if you don't take in enough calories. I eat A LOT every day... most days I'm maintaining at 2,3000 / 2,500 calories. I feel like my milk supply is dropping a bit and I know this could be due to many factors (the baby's appetite changing, pumping at work, etc.,).

For those of you who are breastfeeding, do you mind sharing your caloric intake and whether or not this has impacted your milk supply?

Thank you so much!

Replies

  • kindyteacher
    kindyteacher Posts: 11 Member
    edited September 2015
    I am not sure what my exact calorie intake was but once I started restricting the calories I had a drop in supply. I noticed if I stayed around 2,500 I was good. I also had to eat more if I worked out. It seemed at the time like it was counter productive but I still lost. I made sure to make better choices on what I was eating :) Then as my guy got older/eating more food, I dropped down to 2,300 and went from there.
  • WildePillar
    WildePillar Posts: 120 Member
    kindyteacher wrote: »
    I am not sure what my exact calorie intake was but once I started restricting the calories I had a drop in supply. I noticed if I stayed around 2,500 I was good. I also had to eat more if I worked out. It seemed at the time like it was counter productive but I still lost. I made sure to make better choices on what I was eating :) Then as my guy got older/eating more food, I dropped down to 2,300 and went from there.

    Thank you! I've noticed that I drop a bit if I go below 2500 as well. I also excercise very often. I'm drinking fenugreek tea but so far I think it's only making me smell funny haha
  • janjunie
    janjunie Posts: 1,200 Member
    If I drop below 1900 I get moody, I've never gone below that. My milk supply hasn't dropped, at least that I've noticed. Right now I eat about 2100-2300 calories on average, but my baby is 10 months old now.
  • bendyourkneekatie
    bendyourkneekatie Posts: 696 Member
    When I started here I dropped to 1500 and my supply dropped and I felt rubbish. I've been on 1700 for about 5 months now and have dropped 11kg and am still breastfeeding my now 1 year old.
  • rspeelman1234
    rspeelman1234 Posts: 5 Member
    I have an almost 10 month old. I'm eating around 2200 calories for the last 3 weeks and all of a sudden my supply is dropping. She is eating more solids but I've also lost 8 lbs so think that may have something to do with it. I'm drinking 2-3 cups of mothers milk tea and that seems to help.
  • andihwc
    andihwc Posts: 14 Member
    How do you know your supply is decreasing? Is your baby hungry/not getting enough? I have MFP set to lose 1lb/week, add 375 calories for breastfeeding a 7month old, and eat back between 50 and 100% of exercise. I'm losing slightly more than one pound per week and baby isn't hungry/refusing the breast. During breastfeeding your apparent supply (fullness of breast/leaking/etc fluctuates and changes). If baby is growing/content then your supply is fine.
  • WildePillar
    WildePillar Posts: 120 Member
    andihwc wrote: »
    How do you know your supply is decreasing? Is your baby hungry/not getting enough? I have MFP set to lose 1lb/week, add 375 calories for breastfeeding a 7month old, and eat back between 50 and 100% of exercise. I'm losing slightly more than one pound per week and baby isn't hungry/refusing the breast. During breastfeeding your apparent supply (fullness of breast/leaking/etc fluctuates and changes). If baby is growing/content then your supply is fine.

    My seven month old actually lost weight this month and when I pump I'm not getting as much :/
  • andihwc
    andihwc Posts: 14 Member
    WildePillar wrote: »
    andihwc wrote: »
    How do you know your supply is decreasing? Is your baby hungry/not getting enough? I have MFP set to lose 1lb/week, add 375 calories for breastfeeding a 7month old, and eat back between 50 and 100% of exercise. I'm losing slightly more than one pound per week and baby isn't hungry/refusing the breast. During breastfeeding your apparent supply (fullness of breast/leaking/etc fluctuates and changes). If baby is growing/content then your supply is fine.

    My seven month old actually lost weight this month and when I pump I'm not getting as much :/

    Please see a lactation consultant if you haven't yet: I hope you get some good answers and help. You are unlikely to get enough fenugreek with tea: high dose supplements are necessary to increase. Best of luck: I nursed my babies until 15 months, 26 months and my third child is 7 months old and nursing well.
  • seb4790
    seb4790 Posts: 3 Member
    My calories are set to 1260 and I put 500 calories in for exercise every day because I am nursing a 1 month old. So my allowance is 1760 a day, and sometimes I go over but I can still shoot milk across the room and my son keeps on gaining and is going to the restroom. I've never had milk production problems on the past, but I never restricted calories then either. Have you thought of making lactation cookies?
  • WildePillar
    WildePillar Posts: 120 Member
    seb4790 wrote: »
    My calories are set to 1260 and I put 500 calories in for exercise every day because I am nursing a 1 month old. So my allowance is 1760 a day, and sometimes I go over but I can still shoot milk across the room and my son keeps on gaining and is going to the restroom. I've never had milk production problems on the past, but I never restricted calories then either. Have you thought of making lactation cookies?

    My allowance is 2500 for the day, and I'm still have difficulty. I love lactation cookies :) mmmmm....
  • ashleyfreeman17
    ashleyfreeman17 Posts: 34 Member


    My allowance is 2500 for the day, and I'm still have difficulty. I love lactation cookies :) mmmmm....
    [/quote]

    What are lactation cookies?

    I am also nursing, my daughter is almost 3 months. My calorie goal is 1590 a day. I try (key word) to stay 100-200 calories under that a day and do not eat back my exercise calories and so far haven't noticed a problem. But, I really listen to my body. If I need a snack, I eat it. If I need a bit more at supper, I take it. Some days I skip running to make sure my body has a break too.
  • WildePillar
    WildePillar Posts: 120 Member
    ashleyfreeman17 wrote: »

    My allowance is 2500 for the day, and I'm still have difficulty. I love lactation cookies :) mmmmm....

    What are lactation cookies?

    I am also nursing, my daughter is almost 3 months. My calorie goal is 1590 a day. I try (key word) to stay 100-200 calories under that a day and do not eat back my exercise calories and so far haven't noticed a problem. But, I really listen to my body. If I need a snack, I eat it. If I need a bit more at supper, I take it. Some days I skip running to make sure my body has a break too. [/quote]


    Lactation cookies (especially those made by Milk Makers) contain brewers yeast and supposedly help with lactation... and they're delicious!
  • Bowsergirl
    Bowsergirl Posts: 89 Member
    My calories are set for 1660 and I'm nursing a very big 8 month old. For me the key has been to eat back all my exercise calories and do a cheat meal once a week. If I don't eat back my exercise calories, I think my supply drops a little, and I'm HUNGRY.

    There are a lot of recipes for lactation cookies on Pinterest, but I'm never tried them.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    When I was nursing I tried to cut back on calories and I noticed a huge drop in my supply as well. I had to stop cutting calories.
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