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You are here:
Breastfeeding
and weight loss
- During pregnancy, an adequately nourished woman gains more
weight than the total weight of the baby and the support system
(mainly the placenta).
- Part of this extra weight is due to fat stores laid down
during pregnancy in preparation for breastfeeding.
- A breastfeeding mother consumes around 500-800 extra calories
per day to produce breastmilk.
- Part of this extra energy comes from extra foods that a
breastfeeding mother should eat.
- Some of the extra energy, however, comes from the fat stores
laid down in pregnancy.
- Thus, a breastfeeding mother can eat more and still lose
weight.
- This way, breastfeeding helps you return to your pre-pregnancy
weight and shape sooner.
- No crash diets:
- You should not diet during
breastfeeding. Crash diets are always a bad idea, but
especially so during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- The quality and quantity of your breastmilk will not suffer
appreciably unless you are severely malnourished.
- If your diet is deficient, your own body will be robbed of
essential substances to make sure your breastmilk contains
them.
- Eat and drink well, but don't overdo it:
- You should eat some extra food to provide for some of the
extra energy required for lactation. But don't overdo it! Let
hunger, not habit, be your guide.
- You should drink plenty of liquids to avoid being
dehydrated. But don't overdo it! Let thirst, not a schedule, be
your guide. Make sure you have a drink ready while you're
nursing your baby. Often, you will suddenly feel thirsty when
let-down occurs.
- If you are concerned that your baby reacts to something you
eat, see the fussy baby page.
Back to the breastfeeding
page
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