breastfeeding........

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smb0701
smb0701 Posts: 234
in Health and Weight Loss
i am still breastfeeding my son and my caloric intake is set at 1540. now the thing is there are sometimes i feel extremely hungry after i nurse him and a lot of times i am already at my intake for the day. what do you guys suggest for those times i do feel hungry...:smile:

Replies

  • juliehiggins
    juliehiggins Posts: 14
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    I think that you should eat if you feel hungry! When I was breastfeeding I did, and it is best for your body and for the milk your body produces for your baby! As long as you are breastfeeding, I think you need to eat when you are hungry, it will keep you healthier now and in the long run.
  • bagaydina
    bagaydina Posts: 46
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    Well, I nursed my first daughter and was always hungry and then i ate, ate and ate... I ended up with 40 extra pounds that never came off. Then I got pregnant with my 2nd and i nursed her as well but i controlled myself and it wasn't easy but i was counting calories and i lost the weight after pregnancy right away she is only 5 months now. I think you should eat healthy control yourself. The lactation specialists tell you that you only need 500 extra calories for the baby while breastfeeding.
  • TwinMama
    TwinMama Posts: 8
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    I am just wrapping up feeding twins (two weeks left). I am cutting them off at 12 months. I'm tired.

    I was told an extra 1,000 calories a day but I gained about 70lbs with the girls so I have lactation insurance. I think 1,000 is a little generous (500 for singletons). The hardest thing is are you getting enough sleep? That really slowed my metabolism down. I noticed it picked back up after the girls started sleeping through the night at eight months.

    Does the baby seem full? Can you express any milk manually to make sure you are not completely empty after the feeding? The baby weight can wait until he is on solids. I know in the last month or two, I feel better about cutting calories knowing that they have other food sources available.
  • fvoice313
    fvoice313 Posts: 7 Member
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    I am also nursing my 3 month old and I nursed my son. It burns between 500 and 600 calories a day. I was told a breastfeeding mother should never go below 1800 calories because it can harm your body. Whatever you don't eat to gain quality in your breastmilk your body will take from itself to nourish your baby. It's normal to feel hungry while your nursing I sit down with some lowfat popcorn it has fiber in it to make you feel full, just watch the serving size 1 big bag has 2.5 servings.
  • smb0701
    smb0701 Posts: 234
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    thanks you guys. i guess i should have also told you that my son is 16mths but he isn't really ready to stop nursing and i am not so much either. i am trying to allow him to stop on his own as my daughter did the same thing. i get a lot of negative feedback when i tell people how old he is. even from my family. like my parents and brothers. they all think its crazy but i hear them and i don't hear them, you know what i mean. thanks for the responses though.:happy:
  • jolinemariem
    jolinemariem Posts: 462 Member
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    breast feeding burns about 300 calories and hour even if it doesnt seem like it to you your body is working and your child is taking your nutrients so you have to be carefull with everything like when you were pregnant
  • czewwhat
    czewwhat Posts: 8,715
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    thanks you guys. i guess i should have also told you that my son is 16mths but he isn't really ready to stop nursing and i am not so much either. i am trying to allow him to stop on his own as my daughter did the same thing. i get a lot of negative feedback when i tell people how old he is. even from my family. like my parents and brothers. they all think its crazy but i hear them and i don't hear them, you know what i mean. thanks for the responses though.:happy:

    My children all breast fed. first child 18 months, second child 14 months, third 3 years!. my point is all children are different! You get to be their mother don't let anyone dictate to you your child's most bonding needs! I used to joke back at those who tried to dictate to me and say, As long as they quit before the Prom I was Okay with it! They are babies for such a short time, each child deserves their own time to nurture! Gods blessings on you! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

    Will Ramadan allow you to feed him during the day? Certainly a baby won't be required the fasting period!
  • Queenie000
    Queenie000 Posts: 113 Member
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    Hi there -
    Don't let your family or anyone else make you feel bad for breastfeeding your son! It sounds like you are doing what is right and is working for the two of you.
    Anyways, my daughter is 1 and i add in my exercises daily breastfeeding, which i have preset to add 200 calories to my daily intake. If your son is 16 months, i am guessing he is eating some solids, so you may not need the whole extra 500 calories that they recommend. I have only been on mfp for a month now, but that has been working for me, and i have been losing anywhere between 1-3 pounds a week. Also, it hasn't affected my supply. I think it depends on you and how many calories your body actually needs. I also read that most moms can't go under 1500-1800 calories per day without effecting their supply. This link has some more info in it if you are interested in reading it.

    http://kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-calories-fluids.html

    Good luck!
  • ilike2moveit
    ilike2moveit Posts: 776 Member
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    Anytime I am truly hungry-I eat. I just make sure that I am making healthy food choices. I breast fed 4 babies and it's such a wonderful bonding experience. My pet peeve is when people tell you what they think your child's "deadlines" should be. I also lost the last 10 pounds, with each child, after I stopped nursing. Best wishes to you.

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