Has anyone else experienced this when you really started excercising and watching what you ate? My little guy was born May 22-its been (almost) 2 months and I thought it would be safe to kick everything up a notch, but after a few days of great workouts and really clean eating I was without milk for almost 12 hours-scary! My SIL said it takes 3 months for your milk supply to become established, and not to cut calories (via workouts or diet) at all before then...just wondering what everyone elses experience has been. Thanks!
drop in milk supply!
- Thread starter lhirko
- Start date
annettej123
Cathlete
Good for you, for being able to get back into a routine and strict healthy eating so quickly. I am sorry I don't have a ton of help for you, because I did start exercising really hard at 6 weeks post-partum, but I wasn't very strict on my diet until about 5 months post-partum. At 6 weeks I made myself eat almost all healthy foods, I did allow myself to eat anytime I was hungry without too many restrictions. I have just slowly tried to get to eating a little less. I am now 26 weeeks post-partum and have lost all my pregnancy weight plus 5 pounds (it is just still not shaped quite the same). So maybe you could try being a little less restrictive on your diet?? I also still try to eat lots of little meals, instead of ever going very long without eating. I don't know if any of that helps, but I haven't had a supply problem doing the above. Good luck!
Hello,
I'm not sure what caused your exact milk supply, but I have been warned about excercising. I know that studies have shown that if you consume less than 1800 calories, that can cause a drop in milk supply, and that's for someone not excercising. I know it may be hard, but if you want to excerise while breastfeeding, make sure you eat 300-500 calories above what you need for yourself, Breastmilk has 20 calories an ounce, so you can compute how many calories you need for breastfeeding from that and how much you think your little guy is eating. ALso, of course make sure that you are drinking plenty of water!!!
Veronica
I'm not sure what caused your exact milk supply, but I have been warned about excercising. I know that studies have shown that if you consume less than 1800 calories, that can cause a drop in milk supply, and that's for someone not excercising. I know it may be hard, but if you want to excerise while breastfeeding, make sure you eat 300-500 calories above what you need for yourself, Breastmilk has 20 calories an ounce, so you can compute how many calories you need for breastfeeding from that and how much you think your little guy is eating. ALso, of course make sure that you are drinking plenty of water!!!
Veronica
Hi Laura
I'm a labor and delivery nurse and breast fed my children. Probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. I did a quick search online and found this from American Baby:
4 Things That Can Hurt Your Milk Supply
1. Skipping feedings: For the first four to six weeks, your newborn should be nursing as often has every two hours around the clock. After that, you may be able to drop some nighttime feedings so that your child sleeps for four to seven hours at a stretch. However, until then, or if your baby is sleeping more than four hours during the day, wake him up to breastfeed.
2. Not drinking enough liquids: Your body needs a lot of water to make milk -- and to keep you healthy as your recover from childbirth. Drink water all day long, as well as healthy beverages such as milk and juice. Drink sugary sodas and caffeinated drinks such as coffee in moderation, since they may not keep you as well hydrated.
3. Dieting: A breastfeeding mother needs roughly the same number of extra calories as a pregnant woman. You're still "eating for two," which means an extra 300 to 500 calories a day, or about the amount in a container of yogurt, a cup of cereal, and a piece of fruit. Dieting, or cutting back calories, is the opposite of what you need to do -- you can hurt your milk supply and make yourself feel run down as well.
4. Stress and worry: Unfortunately, worrying about your milk supply can hurt it. Nursing is both a physical and a psychological thing -- if you can stay relaxed, think about the happy aspects of parenthood and your new baby, and remain confident about breastfeeding, you boost your chances of success.
An excellent resource is LaLeche League, either online a local meeting. I never went to one until I had my 'baby' (now almost 15) and wished I'd gone sooner. Lots of good information and great support. Like all advice, "take what you want and leave the rest!"
Good luck and congratulations.
Valerie
I'm a labor and delivery nurse and breast fed my children. Probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. I did a quick search online and found this from American Baby:
4 Things That Can Hurt Your Milk Supply
1. Skipping feedings: For the first four to six weeks, your newborn should be nursing as often has every two hours around the clock. After that, you may be able to drop some nighttime feedings so that your child sleeps for four to seven hours at a stretch. However, until then, or if your baby is sleeping more than four hours during the day, wake him up to breastfeed.
2. Not drinking enough liquids: Your body needs a lot of water to make milk -- and to keep you healthy as your recover from childbirth. Drink water all day long, as well as healthy beverages such as milk and juice. Drink sugary sodas and caffeinated drinks such as coffee in moderation, since they may not keep you as well hydrated.
3. Dieting: A breastfeeding mother needs roughly the same number of extra calories as a pregnant woman. You're still "eating for two," which means an extra 300 to 500 calories a day, or about the amount in a container of yogurt, a cup of cereal, and a piece of fruit. Dieting, or cutting back calories, is the opposite of what you need to do -- you can hurt your milk supply and make yourself feel run down as well.
4. Stress and worry: Unfortunately, worrying about your milk supply can hurt it. Nursing is both a physical and a psychological thing -- if you can stay relaxed, think about the happy aspects of parenthood and your new baby, and remain confident about breastfeeding, you boost your chances of success.
An excellent resource is LaLeche League, either online a local meeting. I never went to one until I had my 'baby' (now almost 15) and wished I'd gone sooner. Lots of good information and great support. Like all advice, "take what you want and leave the rest!"
Good luck and congratulations.
Valerie