calories and breastfeeding

[sarab]

Hi All!

I am a new mother of an almost 3 month old baby girl. (my third baby). I am nursing and plan to do so until she is a year old. Does anybody know an appropriate calorie intake for bfing mothers? I am very active. I workout with Cathe videos/dvds 3-5 times a week and doing yoga inbetween. I am always chasing after my children and doing chores. A lot of the times I feel so hungry so I will crave cookies and sweets. I hate doing this and it makes me wonder if I am not getting enough food for myself. My baby on the other hand is turning into a rolling butterball! Is there anybody out there with a very active lifestyle who knows a proper calorie intake? Do you mind sharing your diet?

Thanks a bunch!!

Sara B

 

[shopaholic]

Hi and congrats on your new addition. I forget the exact amount but you do need to eat almost as much nursing as you did pregnant. Do not skip meals and plan snacks. By doing this you decrease the risk of overeating junk. I was eating a ton nursing but did eat sweets sparingly, once my daughter weaned herself at 9 months the last prego weight came off plus some.

 

[wendymin72]

From what I have heard, so long as your baby is gaining enough weight then you know you are taking in enough cals. My sister's SIL has a newborn (her 1st) and was concerned about this as well. She told my sister how much weight her daughter has gained and my sister assured her she is eating enough since the baby is gaining enough weight....Sometimes I think my sister knows more than the docs do as she has SIX kids---and all of them breast fed!!!

HTH

Have a great work out!

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?WENDYMIN

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[dananmis22]

My son (and my third) is almost a year old and I am weening him now ;( . I am a believer of listening to your body. Some studies say 600 extra calories, some say only the calories that are in 1 pbj. I wonder if all the studies were done by people who have never lactated! If you are hungry, eat woman eat! Make sure you eat plenty of fat, too, that is ESSENTIAL for your health and milk production. I have nothing in my cupboards or fridge that say fat free or low fat. When I make things that call for milk, like mac and cheese or mashies, I use whole milk instead of skim, and it does keep me satisfied longer. When I do crave sweets, I grab a piece of fruit and I do treat myself with dark chocolate a few times a month to satisfy cravings. You have the hardest job in the world, you work hard for it, you deserve it! I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I eat around 3,000 calories a day (I don't count, but that sounds right.) It sounds like a lot, but I do alot, just like you. I work out five days a week and chase kids around. And check this out, since Logan was born I have lost THIRTY FIVE POUNDS eating just like this. I am only five pounds away from my prepregnancy wieght.
Listen to your body. If you crave a 1/2 lb. cheeseburger, eat it because you need the fat iron and calcium that is in it, just make sure you eat plenty of DEEP GREEN veggies and fruit as well.
I hope this helps and isn't too preachy.

 

[lindzebird]

Hi Sara,

I was taking a Nutrition course and this is what the text says more or less:

"The RDA for calories is about 25% higher for breastfeeding women than for other women. Actually, a breastfeeding woman needs about 40% more calories than the RDA for women who are not breastfeeding, but she does not have to consume that level of calories from food. Energy supplied from fat stores that normally accumulate during pregnancy contributes to meeting these needs during breastfeeding, so not all of the calories must come from the mother's diet.

Increases in hunger and food intake that accompany breastfeeding generally take care of meeting caloric needs. Failure to consurme enought calories from food can decrease milk production, however. Low-calorie diets (those providing less than 1500 calories per day) and weight loss that exceeds 1.5 to 2 pounds per week-even in women with a good supply of fat stores-can reduce the amount of milk women produce."

So... for example, if you required 2,100 calories per day prior to pregnancy an additional 25% would be approximately 2,645 calories to provide sufficient calories for breastfeeding. (If I did my math right)

I hope this helps...
lindzebird