Nursing and calories

girlwithgoldeneyes
girlwithgoldeneyes Posts: 44 Member
edited November 27 in Health and Weight Loss
I have a 2 week old and am nursing, what should my caloric intake be? Anyone else in the same boat? Would love to make friends with other bf mommas who can encourage and support. :-)

Replies

  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    edited December 2015
    several options:

    - talk to a lactation consultant, women's/infant dietician or doctor
    - set up mfp as usual, then manually reset the goal it gives you to 500 cals higher than what it spits out
    - set up MFP as usual, then daily add "breastfeeding" to your food diary - it is actually in the database and will add "-500" calories to your bottom line for you to "eat back"

    Edit to add: stay well hydrated and monitor your milk output; eating too little, not enough water, pumping, stress, lack of sleep, going back to work - all these can upset your production and the first thing to go if your supply starts to dip should be the thought of dieting. Well at least, in my book. Nursing your babe is much more important than the pounds.

    PS - even though breastfeeding is oft touted as a magic "the pounds melt off" kind of deal, a good number of women, for whatever reason, don't lose until they wean. I was one. I was also cool with that because I nourished my child with my own body for over 2 years, which is pretty fricking cool.
  • girlwithgoldeneyes
    girlwithgoldeneyes Posts: 44 Member
    Awesome, thank you for the help. :)
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    girlwithgoldeneyes wrote: »
    Awesome, thank you for the help. :)

    no problem... I made some edits to my post above but I think you replied while I was still editing!
  • girlwithgoldeneyes
    girlwithgoldeneyes Posts: 44 Member
    I totally agree, making sure milk supply is good and babe is fed is MUCH more important than loosing some weight. I am slightly worried right now I'm not eating enough, so I would like to track and see where I'm at before I worry about dropping some pounds. I need to work on being hydrated also. So far I'm really proud of being able to nurse, as I haven't been able to previously. I want to be able to for at least 6 months if not a year.
  • princessirakeita00
    princessirakeita00 Posts: 6 Member
    Hi I am
  • princessirakeita00
    princessirakeita00 Posts: 6 Member
    Hi am a mom of 1month old. I am breastfeeding too.i just started using this apps to watch my calories and so far it's pretty good.
    Advice :
    -take an Oatmeal for breakfast with lot of water about 1 gallon through the day.
    -Eat lot of protein
    -drink a smoothie before going to bed (spinach and blueberry )
    -for dinner cabbage are perfect (chopped it, boiled it and seasoned it)
    I have lost 5bls in 6 days so far.
    "And take your vitamin"
  • janjunie
    janjunie Posts: 1,200 Member
    edited December 2015
    princessirakeita00 wrote: »
    -take an Oatmeal for breakfast
    -drink a smoothie before going to bed (spinach and blueberry )
    -for dinner cabbage are perfect (chopped it, boiled it and seasoned it)

    This isn't necessary and 5 lbs in 6 days is part of the immediate post partum weight drop.
  • girlwithgoldeneyes
    girlwithgoldeneyes Posts: 44 Member
    Thank you all for the insight :-) I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions
  • ladylisel
    ladylisel Posts: 1 Member
    I am just starting to count calories again. I'm so glad someone has addressed this issue on MFP. It wasn't in here with my last baby.
  • FitGamerSmoak
    FitGamerSmoak Posts: 224 Member
    Yup agreed with all the above. Make sure your supply is good before cutting calories and then when you do still keep an eye on output. That's the main goal. And water, water, water. Did I mention mention water lol. That is a huge deal in breastfeeding and losing weight. Good luck and congrats on your new little one!
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Eat as you would prepregnancy. If you plan to count calories (and I cannot imagine going into the trouble with a brand new baby) set MFP to maintain. Do not eat extra for breastfeeding, but do not eat less than you would to maintain your weight either and breastfeeding will create a reasonable deficit for you.
    Just do not starve yourself, and your milk supply will be fine.
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