Skipping meals while BFing

[blueberrypudding]

I don't know if anyone else has this but DD's constantly fussy and I often don't have time to make myself lunch. She often won't be put down at all throughout the day.

Most of the time I've got leftovers in the fridge that I can microwave one handed but occasionally my fridge is bare aside from stuff I've got to make from scratch and I'm getting a little worried. I often skipped meals while at work before pregnancy so I'm not hugely fussed about getting my three square meals in, but will skipping meals affect my supply?

I don't think it will effect your supply-women bf where resources are very scarce. But...it isn't very good for your well being. Sling?? It isn't the end of the world if the baby is left somewhere safe whilst you get a cuppa and a sandwich! Can OH/mum/friend make sure there's SOMETHING in the fridge you can have? i don't think you need to worry about starving your baby though.

you will still make enough milk but at your own nutritional expense. Keep some dried fruit, nuts, crackers, cheese, and snack on the hoof if you have no one to help you prepare meals and your health won't suffer that way. Trying to think of some more healthy food to eat on the go...Glasses of milk, fruit juice, cherry tomatoes, toast etc?

Really and truly, put her down and eat. She will live and she won't be scarred.

If it helps, remember that to look after others well we need to take care of ourselves.

I lost too much weight when bf-ing because of this. It did my physical and mental well-being no good whatsoever.

Agree with the idea of eating nutritious snacks throughout the day rather than thinking in terms of 'meals'. Also, making sure each evening that there will be something for your lunch the next day.

Drink plenty of fluids too.

I have possibly eaten 3 meals once or twice in a day since dd was born. She's fine but I feel a bit knackered.

Not ideal but just the way it is most days!

Get a sling if your baby screams when you put them down or just put them down for a couple of minutes . First time around I didn't do this. Now I have a toddler which needs feeding as well as me so it has to be done! Otherwise I would have a screaming hungry toddler. I have also found DD will cry for a v short amount of time and will sometimes settle to sleep so your baby light surprise you.

I'm lucky if I get breakfast before midday.

I have been home alone with DS for 2 weeks now that DH is back at work and in the 10 days I've been home alone I reckon I've probably had lunch on about 3 occasions.

This is why I lose no weight breastfeeding, I eat like a fecking pig. There is no chance of me missing a meal! Seriously, I have a 3yo as well as my 5wo so every day I need to get breakfast, lunch and dinner. I also need to get toddler washed, dressed, toileted, to pre-school and back on time - I do this every day and manage to have a bath or shower and feed myself (constantly!) as well.

I give the baby a dummy, I use the sling, I put him in his bouncer or playmat and sometimes he has to cry for the two minutes it takes to wipe toddler's bum/put on a load of laundry/make a cup of tea. I would definitely struggle without the dummy in particular, I do admit. Sometimes I make dinner in lots of separate five-minute chunks whilst the baby cluster-feeds.

If I didn't feed myself, I would be grumpy and lacklustre.I wouldn't enjoy mothering - and time with my young children is so precious. Yes, it can be stressful and demanding and I understand that some babies are more difficult than others but you are important as well and you deserve looking after in orderto look after your babies.

If your OH takes a packed lunch, he could make double and leave half for you. You can try to batch cook a couple of meals at the weekend and have plenty of grabbable snacks in. Eat, drink and enjoy your baby!

My DH makes me a packed lunch, I wouldn't eat all day otherwise, stupidly it wouldn't be a priority for me. I have been home alone for a couple of weeks now and am fast learning what the others say above, thd world won't end if the baby has to cry for a couple of mins so you can get things done! Not been lucky enough to have him self settled yet, hopefully that day will come!

Bananas, nuts, bagels, brown soda bread and cheese were a lot of what I ate when bf. If need be, drape a muslin over baby's feeding so you can eat without too many crumbs!