Breatfeeding and calories

Does anyone know what the minimum amount of calories you can eat while breastfeeding??? I've heard sooo many differences, anywhere from 1500-2500. any advice?

*watching*

Everything I have read has said to stay at 2000 as a minimum. Bfing takes up about 500 calories and you would want a minimum of 1500 calories for yourself!

Quoting Zoes_mommy:“ Does anyone know what the minimum amount of calories you can eat while breastfeeding??? I've heard sooo many differences, anywhere from 1500-2500. any advice?”

I've heard 2000. I'm not sure if I intake 2000 calories a day, however.

Do breastfeeding mothers need extra calories?


In general, you should simply listen to your body and eat to appetite - this is usually all you need to do to get the calories you need. When exclusively nursing a young baby, it is very common to feel hungry much of the time... listen to your body. Mothers of older babies may feel hungrier when baby temporarily increases his or her milk intake (for example, during a growth spurt)... again, listen to your body. Counting calories is rarely necessary unless you are having problems maintaining a healthy weight.
If you really want (or need) to count calories...


Studies have shown that most healthy breastfeeding women maintain an abundant milk supply while taking in 1800-2200 (or more) calories per day. Consuming less than 1500-1800 calories per day (most women should stay at the high end of this range) may put your milk supply at risk, as may a sudden drop in caloric intake. (See Can I diet while breastfeeding? for more information on calorie restriction).
A mother's "baseline" need for calories (not including lactation) depends upon her activity level, weight and nutritional status. A mother who is less active, has more fat stores, and/or eats foods higher in nutritional value may need fewer calories than a mom who is more active, has fewer fat stores, and/or eats more processed foods. This link from the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine has more information (including a handy calculator) on determining your individual caloric needs: Research helps fine-tune a woman's true caloric needs.
An exclusively breastfeeding mother, on average, needs to take in 300-500 calories per day above what was needed to maintain pre-pregnancy weight. Since the recommended added calories during the last two trimesters of pregnancy is 300 calories/day, an exclusively breastfeeding mother will typically need either the same amount of calories she was getting at the end of pregnancy, or up to 200 additional calories per day. That's the equivalent of adding 1-2 healthy snacks per day.

thanks ladies! its just so hard when the internet is full of conflicting advice!!! i make sure to get at least 1800, but most days its aroung 2200.

Quoting NonsenseMom:“ Do breastfeeding mothers need extra calories? In general, you should simply listen to your body ... [snip!] ... pregnancy, or up to 200 additional calories per day. That's the equivalent of adding 1-2 healthy snacks per day.”

I definitely think that's the best advice I've heard. I usually eat when I'm hungry and I seem to be doing fine. I'm sure some days I get the full recommended calories... especially when I get Coldstone. Yummm.

Quoting sarahperez:“ I definitely think that's the best advice I've heard. I usually eat when I'm hungry and I seem to be ... [snip!] ... and I seem to be doing fine. I'm sure some days I get the full recommended calories... especially when I get Coldstone. Yummm.”

Hahaha...I do the same thing. If I'm hungry, I eat. Bfing has not been a weight loss godsend for me like it si for some people, but the weight is slowly coming off. Maybe if I skipped out on the coldstone the very few times we get it, I'd do a little better!  

Quoting Momma&MarineWife:“ Hahaha...I do the same thing. If I'm hungry, I eat. Bfing has not been a weight loss godsend for me ... [snip!] ... weight is slowly coming off. Maybe if I skipped out on the coldstone the very few times we get it, I'd do a little better!  ”

Ya I have actually heard some people hold onto a little weight until they quit bfing then it all comes off, that is the hope for me.

Quoting jamils_mommy:“ Ya I have actually heard some people hold onto a little weight until they quit bfing then it all comes off, that is the hope for me.”

Thats my hope as well!!! i've been losing 1/2-1 lb a week...its just kinda frustrating beacause before i had the baby i would count calories and lose weight sooo fast!

Everyone is telling me to breastfeed in order to get the weight off. I want to do it to give my baby the nutrients she needs. I exercise throughout my pregnancy and hope that I can start to workout maybe 2-3 weeks after the birth of Ayzha.