? for Breastfeeding moms

Yes, you should account for breastfeeding. You can log it under exercise. Since you exclusively pump, you have the advantage of knowing just how many ounces you are producing. Breast milk account for ~20 calories per ounce of breast milk. So, lets say you are pumping 20 ounces a day. That is an extra 400 calories you are burning. If you truly are eating only 1000-1200 calories per day, it does sound like you are not eating enough to nourish your body. However, if you have been able to feel content eating that few calories, it is possible you are eating more than you think if you are not using a food scale and logging accurately.

1000-1200 calories is not enough for most non-breastfeeding women unless you are really short. I find it very hard to believe that is enough for breastfeeding and am very surprised you still have any supply. Many breastfeeding moms on here set their goal to maintenance and let breastfeeding create the deficit.

natalierobite wrote: »

My current plan recommends a 1200 calorie a day diet, which I usually hit between 1000-1200 of since I only eat twice a day. My baby is 8 months old and I exclusively pump every 3-4 hours, and plan to for 4 more months. My question is, do you log/factor in breastfeeding or pumping? I have been told that I’m not eating enough to support my milk supply.

devinneleigh wrote: »

I have an almost 1 year old that I'm breastfeeding, and I've been eating about 1000-1200 calories for almost 6 months now. I'm not pumping so I don't know how many ounces she's getting, but she's gaining weight, and in the 97th percentile.

Think of it this way. Your body is a machine that has a certain level of fuel (calories) and fuel additives(nutrients) it needs to keep it functioning properly, keep all the gears and computer parts and such working.

And now your machine has added on a new part: breastfeeding.

And the breastfeeding part requires it's OWN fuel supply and its OWN fuel additives. And the way your body works, it has prioritized your new part over your body, unless it endangers your life, and THEN breastfeeding will just stop because the machine can't support that part anymore. This is good when there is a famine, or the mom isn't getting enough nutrients, because the breastmilk composition will remain fairly stable unless things get life threatening.

But it also means that essentially, natalierobite, your breastmilk is getting about 500 calories, and YOU are getting about 500-700 calories daily. Devinneleigh, with your itty bitty likely eating food some, your breastmilk is probably getting about 300 calories and you're getting around 700-900 daily.

While I don't have the details, you're going to find a similar split for nutrients for the breastfeeding vs. you, too, both macro and micro nutrients. And while eating these few calories, and the resulting lower levels of nutrients too, CAN support breastfeeding, that's only because your body's machine is prioritizing breastfeeding over YOU. Which means that your body - your organs, brain, immune system, bones, all of it - are going to be suffering a lack of nutrients and calories as a result.

So while low calories can work for your breastfeeding and the baby, it's not healthy for YOU, I'm afraid.

I ate at maintenance + 200 kcal while breastfeeding (6 months) and lost all my pregnancy weight by that..I probably walked around 12000-15000 steps a day at that time

Hi, my guy is 7 months as well, and he's on exclusive breast milk plus a puree twice a day. I don't log the breastfeeding, but I also do not always hit my deficit. I'm still losing weight, with 10 pounds to go at 7 months postpartum. Everyone is different, but my plan has me at 1490, and I usually eat around 1800 or else I'm starving. I run a few times a week and get 12000-15000 steps on average daily. Again, everyone is different, but my supply dips if I go under 1600 calories, and I'm always ravenous and usually eat more.

Have you hit your pre-pregnancy weight yet?

I know this one from the other side.

When I was breast feeding I could eat like a horse - and developed a lovely daily cake habit. I still lost weight

When I stopped breast feeding - I still had the daily cake. I put on weight.

So about 500 cals a day I reckon..,,

I have to eat at least 1300 calories and my 21 month old feeds just once a day

I'm still breastfeeding (a toddler) multiple times a day. I'm very slowly losing the last 5lbs at 2100 calories.