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breastfeeding

singcoz528
singcoz528 Posts: 154
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm a new Mom and I'm currently breastfeeding. I heard you can burn like 500 calories a day just from breastfeeding.

Does anyone know if this is true? I'm wondering if I should add this to my exercise.

I don't want to eat too little because I want to keep my milk supply up and stay healthy for the baby.

Replies

  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    from what I have read and heard, you eat your maint cals +300 for the milk production.

    :flowerforyou:
  • MacMadame
    MacMadame Posts: 1,893 Member
    It varies... somewhere from 200-500 calories depending on age of the child, how often they feed, if they are supplemented, etc.
  • bettersusan
    bettersusan Posts: 240 Member
    It IS 500. I gained 60 pounds (and lost it...weight watchers) and gained 50 pounds (lost it on weight watchers and then MFP) while breastfeeding my boys. You shouldn't lose more than 1 pound a week (AVERAGE!!) while you are breastfeeding in order to maintain your milk and provide for your little one. Breastfeeding is SO good for both you and your baby...especially with all the stuff going around this year! I miss the days when if my baby got sick at all, he just got a touch of it and quickly got over it because my milk helped him fight it off. It is AMAZING stuff. I nursed one for 12 months and the other for 14. I wish you all the best. Remember to put your baby's health and your health FIRST. You'll get your figure back. :wink:

    Susan
  • bettersusan
    bettersusan Posts: 240 Member
    That 500 is if your are breastfeeding EXCLUSIVELY. :smile:

    Susan
  • bettersusan
    bettersusan Posts: 240 Member
    ...and Congratulations!!
  • DeeDeeLHF
    DeeDeeLHF Posts: 2,301 Member
    Yep, your baby comes first. 300-500 calories extra is about right. Drink tons of water!!:drinker:

    If you are exclusively nursing, especially if you are not using a pacifier you can easily nurse that many calories away!

    If your baby seems hungry and you feel squishy, EAT! :laugh: Worry about "fast" weight loss after you establish a good nursing relationship. Right now your body needs a little extra fat to make that milk.

    These are precious days! Enjoy them and relax with your sweet one.:love:

    After a couple of months when you both have a good feel for each other and the nursing relationship is solid then you can start tweaking the calories to find a good balance for steady weightloss. Nursing is one of the most beautiful calorie burners ever. Try cutting back by about 50 calories a day until you start to see the scales moving. Remember to not lose the weight too quickly.

    Congratulations!:flowerforyou: You are such a good mom!!!
  • MBH3
    MBH3 Posts: 30
    I have heard the same thing...you burn an extra 500 calories per day when exclusively breast feeding BUT you need to make sure you are eating enough so that your breast milk has the proper nutrients for baby. Women who are breast feeding tend to need more water than the rest of us and also you may notice your appetite will increase. I lost weight when I breast fed all 3 of my kiddos. I pretty much ate what I wanted (within reason), watched portions and didn't go crazy over sweets, and by the time they were 6 mos old, I was under pre-pregnancy weight. Things level out though. When I weaned my kids, I typically gained 3-5 lbs back rather quickly. If you count the breastfeeding as exercise calories, I would definitely make sure you eat back most of those.

    I had a friedn (coincidentally she is an OB/GYN) who was so obsessed w/ losing the baby weight, she ate mainly veggies/fruit w/ very little protein or fat in her diet. Her daughter had terrible tummy trouble and horrible bowel issues UNTIL my friend started eating a balanced diet. MAIN THING is to make sure you are eating the right foods b/c you are passing them directly to baby :)

    Congrats on being a new mom! It's loads of work but lots of fun,too.

    Marcy
  • singcoz528
    singcoz528 Posts: 154
    thanks so much you have all been a lot of help! Yea I can tell I need more water now cuz I'm CONSTANTLY thirsty. I probably drink close to 100 oz a day of not more without even thinking about it.

    Thanks again!
  • jljune
    jljune Posts: 59
    Hi
    I was wondering the same thing. I am currently nursing my 9 month old baby and he is currently sleeping through the night so I think I am more on burning 300 extra calories a day instead of 500. I DO add breastfeeding to my exercise. I just made it one of my exercises and count it everyday. I am also confused because sometimes I add this and I might work out also and just feel like I could eat ALL day and still not make it to what my daily calories are supposed to be. I feel like I eat enough for me to get full and of course drink plenty of water. I am still producing plenty of milk for my baby. But I have not lost 1 pound since I started this 2 weeks ago. I don't know what I am doing wrong.
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