Any breastfeeding moms? Question about calories.

bkbusby
bkbusby Posts: 8 Member
edited November 19 in Health and Weight Loss
Just had a baby boy in May and I need to lose 40Ibs. How does the calories work while breadtfeeding? Do I need to add calories to my 1800 goal to account for breastfeeding? If so how many calories do I need to add?

Replies

  • ashliedelgado
    ashliedelgado Posts: 814 Member
    edited June 2017
    The general rule of thumb is 500 for exclusive breastfeeding - your baby takes in no solids, no formula, just breastmilk. Once you add solids or forumal, most women do 250-300 from what I understand. You can add it as excercise, or search the food database for breastfeeding and it will add negative calories.
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    this post has alot of great info about calorie counting while breastfeeding if you are up for a bit of reading:
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10176233/gaining-weight-during-pregnancy-and-losing-it-post-partum
  • bkbusby
    bkbusby Posts: 8 Member
    Thank you!
  • getfitchelle
    getfitchelle Posts: 31 Member
    edited June 2017
    I found I used a lot more than the 500 calorie reccomendation when breastfeeding. I did read a couple of studies that indicated the actual amount of extra energy you need is more like 700-800, but they round it down to account for extra body fat gained during pregnancy, to cover the extra couple of hundred calories.

    While my baby was under 2 months, I maintained weight with an extra 850 calories a day. This has slowly tapered down - she is 11 months now. I add an extra 400ish on to myfitnesspals goal and am still losing weight. She nurses 3 times overnight and about 4 times during the day. When she was a very tiny newborn, I actually ate way more than I thought I should and still dropped about 10lbs when she was between 6 weeks and 4 months.

    I didn't try to lose weight, but to maintain, while she was little. I had a lot on my plate. Now that she's eating lots of real foods and life isn't as hectic, I am back to losing weight again.
  • mom2babyk31
    mom2babyk31 Posts: 22 Member
    I'm a new mom to a 2month old and I can't seem to drop any weight. When I eat clean and exercise I notice a reduction in my milk supply. I can't seem to find that sweet spot.
  • trjjoy
    trjjoy Posts: 666 Member
    How often are you feeding, @mom2babyk31

    You should feed on demand for as long as bubs want to get - and maintain - a good supply. I'm 2kg under my pre-pregnancy weight at 4 months post-partum and my supply is great because I'm nursing on demand 24/7
  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,513 Member
    Im also nursing on demand 24/7 some women find eating in a deficit effects thier supply
    You can set mfp to maintenance and let breastfeeding create a deficit for you. Keep an eye on supply, if the deficit effects you then up your calories a couple hundred and keep a close eye

    I have to carefully monitor my input as if i stray too far from maintenance my supply dips and i have to eat alot more while i feed and pump to get it back up
  • Muana1005
    Muana1005 Posts: 172 Member
    I think you should step back from the app and just eat what you need to, to feel good. You can also go to weight loss after you've finished breastfeeding.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories