How Can You Lose Weight Breastfeeding If You Must Stay On A Diet To Produce Adequate Milk?
December 25, 2009 by Guest Author
Filed under Breast Feeding Supplies
I’m a first timer debating between breastfeeding/bottle feeding and would like to know how it is still possible for a breastfeeding mother to lose weight while being on a diet to produce milk?
I heard it can burn 500 calories a day to breastfeed, but I also heard you have to consume more calories in order to produce breastmilk?
Just an honest question, if anyone has experience with this I need help! = )
You will definitely lose the weight faster if you breastfeed. No, you can’t restrict your calories, but you can eat sensibly. Between that, breastfeeding, and taking the baby for walks in his stroller, you should lose the weight in no time.
You probably have spent the past 9 months eating healthy – just keep doing it, more or less. You don’t need to be on a specific diet to breastfeed, but if you were taking a prenatal vitamin, it’s good to keep taking it.
It does take about 500 calories per day to produce milk, as opposed to the 300 calories per day extra that most women consume during pregnancy. You don’t need to eat more to make milk, though you’ll probably be thirstier (and should drink more).
I have been nursing for almost 10 months. Without watching my diet at all, I lost the pregnancy 30 lbs by 3 months and since then have lost another 10-15. My husband thinks I’m eating more than when I was pregnant – and he’s probably right.
Wanting to lose weight isn’t the best reason to nurse, but it’s a common consequence. You can always give it a try. It’s harder to re-lactate (yes, this is possible) than to switch to bottles after having difficulty breastfeeding.
They used to say it took 500 extra calories per day to produce milk, then information pointed to closer to 300 calories. But if you are anything like me and start out with some extra weight, you can burn what you already have. There is no need to stay on any special diet or consume any extra calories (unless you are undernourished) while breastfeeding.
See http://www.llli.org/FAQ/diet.html
I breastfed my son and lost most of my pregnancy weight by my 6 week check-up. (I had 5 lbs to go) I did eat more while breastfeeding than I did while I was pregnant, but the weight still came off very quickly. I would recommend that you do breastfeed if you are able. Not only will you loose weight, but it is also very healthy for the child (so it is a win win situation)
You will produce milk no matter what and you do burn massive calories. I lost all my weight in less than a month with both children. In fact, I weigh 14 lbs less than prepregnancy! Besides, breastfeeding is SO much healthier for your baby and gives them antibodies so they don’t get sick as much while you are nursing.
the only extra calories you need to breastfeed you can get from a tablespoon of peanut butter. that isn’t a lot. i was just watching a show on it the other day and they said that if you are breastfeeding you can do around a 1500-1600 calories a day safely
The key to lose weight after pregnancy is to breastfeed. I lost all the 25 pounds I gained because I am still breastfeeding. As long as your baby is continously nursing your milk supply will not go down, so KEEP IT UP!!!!
No you don’t have to stay on a specific diet to make enough milk. You should eat to hunger. If you eat good quality food, not fatty junk food and you exercise you will likely loose weight.
Can I diet while breastfeeding?http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mo…http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mo…
Do I need to maintain a perfect diet while breastfeeding?
The short answer to this question is NO – you do not need to maintain a perfect diet in order to provide quality milk for your baby. In fact, research tells us that the quality of a mother’s diet has little influence on her milk. Nature is very forgiving – mother’s milk is designed to provide for and protect baby even in times of hardship and famine. A poor diet is more likely to affect the mother than her breastfed baby.
It’s common to hear women say that they want to wean (or not breastfeed at all) because they miss drinking coffee, or want to have an occasional glass of wine, or don’t like worrying constantly about everything they eat. Guess what? You can drink caffeinated beverages (in moderation), have an occasional drink, eat what you want and still provide your baby with the absolute best nutrition and immunological protection – mother’s own milk.
According to Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D., breastfeeding researcher and anthropologist, women throughout the world make ample amounts of quality milk while eating diets composed almost entirely of rice (or millet or sorghum) with a tiny amount of vegetables and occasional meat.
Are healthy eating habits recommended for mom? Absolutely! You will be healthier and feel better if you eat well. It is best for anyone to eat a variety of foods, in close to their naturally-occurring state, but this is not necessary for providing quality milk or for maintaining milk supply. Although it is certainly not recommended, a breastfeeding mother could live on a diet of junk food – mom would not thrive on that diet, but her milk would still meet her baby’s needs. http://www.kellymom.com/newman/12more_bf…
2. A breastfeeding mother has to eat more in order to make enough milk.
Not true! Women on even very low calorie diets usually make enough milk, at least until the mother’s calorie intake becomes critically low for a prolonged period of time. Generally, the baby will get what he needs. Some women worry that if they eat poorly for a few days this also will affect their milk. There is no need for concern. Such variations will not affect milk supply or quality. It is commonly said that women need to eat 500 extra calories a day in order to breastfeed. This is not true. Some women do eat more when they breastfeed, but others do not, and some even eat less, without any harm done to the mother or baby or the milk supply. The mother should eat a balanced diet dictated by her appetite. Rules about eating just make breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated.