Breastfeeding and diet

[ginandtonic1]

Hi,
I've had a relatively big baby, nearly 9lbs, and she's a week old. She's breastfeeding well, but i'm worried that she's not getting enough milk. I'm not really a big eater, but should i be looking at a minimum amount of calories? I'm wondering if this is why she may be not settling at night? Any suggestions and ideas would be welcome with open arms.
Thanks
x

If your having three meals your fine. If your after a minimum amount then below 1500 calories, but ideally not less than 1800. Listen to your body, if your hungry eat. You can have lots of snack handy for when your feeding (plus remote, plus laptop [grin)]

link for more info.

Size doesn't matter baby wise, if people can BF twins, you can BF one largish baby

Your baby isn't settling at night, because she's a one week baby. Sorry, welcome to the club btw huge congrats on your LO

cluster feeding is also normal, where they cry for food more than once an hour and want to feed constantly for up to 6hrs plus. Just your babies way of ordering in the milk. She cannot feed too much and this won't be a sign that your not producing enough, my little baby did this as well.

Let her latch whenever she's want to (or more) and you'll be fine supply wise

I agree with CC, she's talking sense.

I would also ask, though, how are your nipples doing?

Congratulations on yuor baby :o
The way to tell if she's getting enough is plenty of wet and dirty nappies, content (as far as a week old baby can be) between feeds and not losing weight (although lots of babies lose some in the first few days). Your MW should still be visiting - does she have concerns?
If breastfeeding is going well and you're feeding whenever your baby shows any signs then unless you have a specific reason to be concerned, she's almost certainly fine :_

Is that a Joey-style chat up line NQC?? :o

Congartulations!

Don't worry youu will be perfectly able to make enough milk for your lo (baring a rare condition that your MW should know about)

At this stage just keep popping a nipple in your lo's mouth at every opportunity! It'll give you both chance to practice your latch, get your supply going nicely and keep your baby satisfied (their tummies are the size of a marble at this point so they feed very frequntly, which helps your body produce more milk).

Youu can't overfeed with bf so just feed everytime you think youur baby might be hungry and they'll pop off when they've had enough.

And as other's have said, most babies don't settle at night, some for quite some time!

Good luck and don't forget your BF cake allowance!

Let LO feed feed feed, and you will not have any supply problems. You will feel routed to your seat a little at first, but enjoy the cuddles. My DS is now 6 months and wish he would slow down and feed more again!

Oh, you can eat more when BF and plenty of water...I was really thirsty.

If mothers needed a minimum amount of calories to feed their babies, then women in the developing world would not be able to breastfeed. You'd have to be severely malnourished for it to affect your milk supply.

Agree with all other posts about feeding lots- maybe just go to bed and have the baby skin to skin if you can.

I think even Joey was more subtle than that :-P

thanks all for feedback and valid point about the developing countries! Don't think brain was at it's sharpest at that time in the morning. thanks again, and here's to the next 18 years (not of breastfeeding!)
xx