Calories required to exclusively breastfeed a baby

[Babieseverywhere]

I am not dieting but I am watching my food intake using My Fitness Pal.

I have a lovely week old DD3 (9lb 7oz) who I am exclusively breastfeeding, plus couple of daily feeds for toddler DD2.

I know I would have to be on the verge of starving before it affected my milk quantity and quality. But as I am aiming for healthy food intake, I was wondering how many additional calories I need to eat to make sure I am feeding myself reasonably.

My Fitness Pal suggests an additional 500 calories daily for an ebf baby, it seems rather high....any thoughts ?

I think 350-500 is the number generally given for the calories needed to EBF. Certainly the weight dropped off me when ebf ds

I'm glad I didn't listen to my midwife when she said 3000 EXTRA per day!

Midwives (at least 3) have said to me recently that you need 500 extra a day. Eating (and drinking) well is going to be important for milk supply (though you probably don't need the large bags of veggie percys I've been eating in the interests of a good supply )

500 extra a day is what I have also been told. However, it is perfectly acceptable to not eat those 500 extra and just have the usual 2000 a day and let 500 be taken off your fat stores if you have weight to lose. What is not ok is to go below what would be a "normal" intake as then your milk supply might suffer.

iggi, eating and drinking well isn't curial for milk supply apart from extremes. Yes mum won't feel great but milk will be just fine.

Thanks ladies :)

Yes, I am not going to try and eat my nursing calories, just wanted to track them. I have lost nearly 60lbs pre/during pregnancy but I still have a few more to go. I am aiming to maintain my weight for the next few weeks and look to lose some more, when I am feeling more with it (had very bad iron problems and blood transfusions to partially correct it)

11mo ds was ebf for 6 months and is still bf v v frequently now. I eat to appetite. Sometimes I am absolutely starving (growth spurts, extra nightfeeds etc), sometimes I don't eat much more than I ordinarily need to. And the weight has melted away. Granted I haven't put him down for 11 months and walk about 4 miles a day on top of exercising regularly.

I know you want to track your calories but I'd recommend having really good, healthy snacks ready to hand because through experience of ebf two dc, when they suddenly up the feeds to account for a growth or developmental spurt, the hunger appears suddenly, often in the form of sugar cravings. I've found having home baked wholemeal muffins, veg, dips, dried fruit etc in the house at all times means that when I do need extra calories, they're to hand and healthy. I also make sure I have a bottle of water with me and sip regularly as I dehydrate really easily whilst bf, which increases sugar cravings too ime. I wouldn't doggedly stick to exactly 350cals per day for example. If you find it isn't cutting it, listen to your body and accept you can't have that rigidity sometimes when ebf. You will have hungry days just like the baby I reckon.

Congratulations. On the baby and the v impressive weight loss. You've done brilliantly.

Thanks ShowOfHands :)