Started dieting, now supply is dipping

hilwithonelary · August 2012

I have 20 pounds to get back to pre pg weight, and 35 pounds to a healthy weight. 10 days ago, I starting getting on the elliptical for 30 minutes a day. On Tuesday, I started tracking my calories. My supply had slipped from 22 oz to 19 oz over the past month, and now the past 2 days I've only produced 15 oz (from a combo of weighed feedings and pumping). Do you think it's the dieting? I'm only having a deficit of 250-300 calories. Has anyone experienced this? Did your supply rebound after a period of time? Right now, I'm just trying to drink plenty of water, pump frequently (I plan on adding an overnight session back in starting tonight), and doing a power pumping session every evening. I'm already maxed out on fenugreek, blessed thistle, goats rue, and dom.

kmhunt11 · August 2012

How many calories are you consuming? I think your body is telling you to scale it back. I'm in the same boat at you- want to lose the same amounts to get to pre-pg and the healthy. I'm trying to take it slow and remember the nine months on, nine months off thing. It's also harder to lose this time around for me.

hilwithonelary · August 2012

I'm eating about 2000-2100 calories. My normal calorie need is about 1750, plus 300 for my exercise (per my heart rate monitor), plus 300-400 for BFing (15-20 oz at 20 cal/oz) is 2350-2450. I didn't think I was cutting back too drastically.

hilwithonelary · August 2012

theresat858:

hilwithonelary:
I'm eating about 2000-2100 calories. My normal calorie need is about 1750, plus 300 for my exercise (per my heart rate monitor), plus 300-400 for BFing (15-20 oz at 20 cal/oz) is 2350-2450. I didn't think I was cutting back too drastically.

Bfing is estimated at 500-600 calories... I'm eating at least 2400 daily.... You should eat more and make sure you are getting enough fat and protein.

BFing with a normal supply is 500-600 calories. Doesn't my low supply mean fewer calories? I thought it was about 20 calories per ounce.

I'm getting what I think is more than enough fat (60-70g) and protein (90-100g).

kami1977 · August 2012

The calorie content in breast milk is variable and goes up as your baby ages. That's why a breastfed can continue to consume about 25oz a day and still gain weight but you have to increase the amount of formula a ff baby gets. I believe the calorie content of breastmilk can be as high as 45 cal/oz. Also not an expert so I could be wrong, but my understanding of biology and chemistry is that when you convert from one substance, food in this case, to another, breastmilk, that energy is lost in the conversion. So your body may be using slightly more than 20 calories to produce milk that is 20cal/oz. I'd calculate it at an extra 500 to 600 calories a day for the breastfeeding at this point. Especially since your supply is on the low end. Also an average amount for a nursing baby is between 19 and 30oz a day so at 20 you're not to low.

Other things that can cause a drop in supply are getting close to your period, LO not eating as much due to teething or illness, or your supply can be regulating this is usually around 6 to 12 weeks but can happen much later also.

If you're worried about supply take a nursing vacation this weekend. Snuggle in bed skin to skin preferably and just nurse anytime she looks hungry.

hilwithonelary · August 2012

mananana:
hilwithonelary:
BFing with a normal supply is 500-600 calories. Doesn't my low supply mean fewer calories? I thought it was about 20 calories per ounce.

I'm getting what I think is more than enough fat (60-70g) and protein (90-100g).
I don't think I'm understanding what you're saying here. If your supply is already low, you want to make sure you're definitely getting in the five to six hundred extra calories to maintain that supply. Restricting those calories could further diminish it. How do you know exactly how many ounces LO takes- do you EP?

DD wasn't gaining weight, so we started doing weighed feedings and supplementing when she didn't get enough. From weighed feedings, I know I was producing 20-22 oz at my peak. Recently (but before I started trying to lose weight), I had been more consistently at 19-20 oz. At this point, I'm not trying to reach a full supply. I'm just trying to maintain what I have. With the exception of yesterday, I gave myself 400 extra calories for breastfeeding. I'm willing to try adding in another hundred or so to see if it makes a difference.

CurbsideProphet · August 2012

I agree that is sounds like you are not eating enough.

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Started dieting, now supply is dipping

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