Breastfeeding and calorie intake

jkchs2003 · July 2011

So I signed up for MyFitnessPal.com and it's telling me to only eat 1200 calories a day to meet my goal. Well, my concern is that I should be eating more calories than that for DD's sake. Won't I have issues with milk supply if I am eating so little? Any insight?

fluffybuns · July 2011

I've been eating everything in my sight, not dieting here! And I'm still losing weight. I've lost almost 40 lbs since lo was born!

jkchs2003 · July 2011

fluffybuns:
I've been eating everything in my sight, not dieting here! And I'm still losing weight. I've lost almost 40 lbs since lo was born!

I was losing like crazy I, but I have plateaued.

Jenn0810 · July 2011

My LC and Pediatrician said to eat 300-500 more calories a day when breastfeeding. I would imagine you could just add those to your 1200.

OliveBaby · July 2011

Jenn0810:
My LC and Pediatrician said to eat 300-500 more calories a day when breastfeeding. I would imagine you could just add those to your 1200.

This. I cut calories for a while, not accounting for BF'ing and it definitely made my supply tank for a couple days.

rae_dylanzmom · July 2011

There's another post here somewhere in bump-land about weight watchers and BFing. They have the ability to account for what calories she needed and she was really surprised by her points (I have no idea how ww works, just saying IMO the program you're doing should be tailored to BFing... not just adding 300 calories to a non-BFing program)

Tinybride08 · July 2011

I don't always get to eat the recommended amount of calories and my supply doesn't tank. It's been pretty consistent.

EJChapman123 · July 2011

You are still eating for 2 - maybe even more so than when you are pregnant.

Everyone wants to lose weight - but safely and without killing supply is the key. My personal opinion is to eat reasonably - lean protein, whole grains, etc, but thats a lifestyle not a diet per se. 1200 calories is as low as they let any person go without consulting a physician, so if you are breastfeeding I would suspect that calorie count is much too low.

Just be healthy and don't do calorie counts right now unless they are accounting for breastfeeding. Its a huge demand on the body, and like I said, you are still eating for 2.

Temp38995750004016 · July 2011

I don't count calories, but I estimate I eat around 2000 per day. I have lost all my weight (25 lbs) and haven't worked out at all per doctor's orders. I'm still losing some, too...about a pound a week since I lost the initial weight.

virginiagirl11 · July 2011

1200 is way too low imo. That's like the amount most people require to survive if they just lay in bed all day. Some of those diet websites are way off.

JMU_Bride09 · July 2011

I'm no expert, but the way I understand it is that your supply won't be affected until you have lost a significant amount of weight. Your body will provide the calories and nutrients your diet would be lacking. So baby will be fine for a while, but it's not healthy for you. My doctor suggested keeping to around the same caloric intake as while pregnant (2300-2400). I would talk to your doctor for some guidance. GL!

jkchs2003 · July 2011

thanks ladies, i kinda figured that amount was way too low.

BSbean · July 2011

Its true that you actually need more calories when breastfeeding than when pregnant. I have a hard time believing this myself sometimes, but it means I can justify that extra snack/dessert during the day!

You need an additional 500 calories per day, which is about 200 calories higher than when you are pregnant. Enjoy those extra calories!

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