any moms breastfeeding older children on here?

lilmzzgreeneyez
lilmzzgreeneyez Posts: 133 Member
edited December 23 in Health and Weight Loss
I am still breastfeeding my 19 month old (he doesnt want to wean yet lol) and he gets at least 60% of his nutrition from me it seems. he doesnt get regular milk, only water and my milk) and he eats snacks and small bits of food throughout the day but breastfeeds probably 5-6 times a day at least and 2-3 times a night still. can anyone tell me how many calories this is PROBABLY burning. i know that the database says 300 for an older child but i feel like im feeding him more than most older children eat at this age....

Replies

  • kmtbest
    kmtbest Posts: 8 Member
    I never bother to include it and just think of it as bonus calories burnt :)
  • lilmzzgreeneyez
    lilmzzgreeneyez Posts: 133 Member
    i guess thats true but i have been told to try to make sure im eating so many calories and im trying to figure it all out lol
  • mmarcy7
    mmarcy7 Posts: 227 Member
    I'd say if you are hungry, eat more. I gained all this weight I am currently losing AFTER I stopped breastfeeding. Breastfed my 2 kids a combined total of 5 yrs and lost the pregnancy weight no prob. Then packed it all on after they were done nursing. Enjoy the calorie burn as long as you can.
  • lilmzzgreeneyez
    lilmzzgreeneyez Posts: 133 Member
    i never lost all the weight honestly. i have gained 100 lbs int he past 6 years and 3 pregnancies and about 150 in 8 years total because with my oldest daughter i was 145 when i got pregnant with her 9 years ago. i was 305 lbs a month ago... yea....i breastfed all 4 of them but i could never lose the weight...
  • TheyCallMeTaterSalad
    TheyCallMeTaterSalad Posts: 41
    If he is still nursing 5-6 times a day and a few times at night I would say it burns closer to 500 (like when nursing younger babies that require more feedings) instead of 300.
  • sweetybird09
    sweetybird09 Posts: 70 Member
    Its been a lot of years but I nursed my youngest till she was 3 and breast milk was her main source of nutrition so much so that she did not really need to eat baby food at 6 months I just gave her a little cheerios, so she felt like she was involved when we were eating meals and she was in a highchair.

    Good for you to be nursing your child at 19 months, so many people do not get the older kid nursing thing...Good job Mamma!!!!!!
  • lilmzzgreeneyez
    lilmzzgreeneyez Posts: 133 Member
    okay thats honestly wat i think too. most days anyway. there are a few days a week sometimes that he eats more food becuase we are out more throughout the day and he doesnt "comfort" eat lol (i only let him do that sometimes anyway which is why i offer more other options to get him to try regular foods)
  • lilmzzgreeneyez
    lilmzzgreeneyez Posts: 133 Member
    Its been a lot of years but I nursed my youngest till she was 3 and breast milk was her main source of nutrition so much so that she did not really need to eat baby food at 6 months I just gave her a little cheerios, so she felt like she was involved when we were eating meals and she was in a highchair.

    Good for you to be nursing your child at 19 months, so many people do not get the older kid nursing thing...Good job Mamma!!!!!!

    lol i dont ever care what other people think about it. i think as long as me and my child are happy and hes getting his nutrition they can all go jump off a cliff LOL i just want to make sure im producing enough for him to eat while im losing weight you know? thats why i worry about my calories. i want to lose some weight yet have enough to produce the milk he needs which takes at least 300 calories but it may take as much as 500 it seems.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    I never lost the weight until after I weaned my 3.

    I googled and found that a toddler needs 1,000-1.400 calories per day. You estimate that you are providing 60% of his nutrition, so you may be giving him 600 calories a day! You could probably get away with calling it 400-500 calories that you need extra to provide for him. Maybe add calories 100 per day, then if you still don't feel it is right, add 100 more per day the next week...eventually the scale will tell you if you need more or less!
  • lilmzzgreeneyez
    lilmzzgreeneyez Posts: 133 Member
    okay i didnt know those numbers at all. thanks. i am just gonna try to eat that little more on nonexercise days and try to up my calories on exercise (I dont ever completely eat all my exercise calories) plus i dont want to plateau from eating too litte.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    I totally understand where you are coming from. My boys nursed for 2.5 and 3 years before they were 100% weaned.

    I know you don't mind nursing him, but it would not be a bad idea to contact early intervention in your state and ask them to do a developmental eval on him. Disinterest in solid foods at that age *could* indicate a problem, such as a sensory issue. If it is caught early, he can get free/low cost therapy up to age 3, then possibly free preschool through the school system for 2-3 years. My youngest had a speech delay diagnosed at 2yo --he got 9 months of speech and 3 years of preschool! He is now the smartest one in his class!
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