Breastfeeding and calorie loading

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I’m EBF my almost sixth-month-old, and having trouble maintaining both a good diet and a good supply. Basically, I’m trying to eat healthier (not necessarily to lose weight, but just because I should) but after a few days of this, my milk supply just dropped. Luckily, I have a large stash of pumped milk so it wasn’t an emergency.

Now I’m eating crappy sugary carbs and having no issues at all. I don’t want to continue this though, any advice for sneaking in healthy calories? (Please, no fenugreek tea. I hate smelling like maple syrup).

I plan to transition DS to solids soon, which may also help?

Unless your calorie intake dropped suddenly and significantly and to below 1000 calories there is no reason why a normal healthy diet should have any impact on your supply. What do your healthy days look like? You don’t need sugary carbs to maintain supply.

I agree - a change of diet in the way you describe would not cause a sudden drop in supply. What makes you think your supply has fallen?

My healthy days involve a breakfast of eggs, raw greens and smoked salmon; lunch is usually a beany curry or veggie soup, and dinner would be a protein and stir fried vegetables. I can always feel when milk is coming in, so am aware when not producing. I don’t CC as I just can’t be arsed.

I didn’t think supply could suddenly drop, but I was, for lack of a better word, deflated, and neither could I pump. Usually I could easily get 4 ounces per breast/session. I only got 1 ounce after pumping, trying both. It was a problem off and on for a couple of days until I started back on the carbs.

I did wake up ravenous in the night a few times, but I didn’t bother to eat (very particular about nighttime eating and won’t do it unless I know I’ll brush my teeth—it’s weird, I know).

I’m due to start the LO on solids, though, so think that will help.

I’d plug that into My Fitness Pal or similar to be sure but I would suspect that you aren’t taking in enough calories. High protein diets are very satiating, which is why they work for weight loss. If you add low GI carbs like oats, or lower-sugar fruits like berries, then you can increase your calories sustainably.

It might be a few months before weaning makes much difference. Babies only take tiny amounts at first and he may not drop any milk feeds to begin with.

Also - fats. Full-fat dairy if you aren’t already, which will have the further benefit of improving your vit D levels.

I had the same - any calorie deficit and my milk supply dwindled really quickly. I was exclusively expressing so the change was very visible. I had to keep my calorie intake up until I stopped bfing.

It might be carbs you're missing, you can still eat healthily but, as I understand it,carbs are important. Well done on getting this far, it's a doddle from here ;)

Your milk hasn’t dropped at all - at six months your boobs change - they are old hands at breastfeeding now and just produce when baby is feeding. It’s a really common mistake that loads of breastfeeding mums make. Loads of people think their supply is dropping and give up but it is isn’t.
Think of it like joining and driving on a motorway, your body has accelerated up through the gears and you’re up to max speed now, your body clicks into 6th gear and cruise control and relaxes ready to reduce milk as baby takes up solids

Btw I would start baby soon on solids - I know they say 6 months but no one I know waits for this. They used to advise 3 months!!! Between 4-6 when your baby is ready seems right for most people. If you wait until 6 months you have to speed through the weaning process as a bit of apple purée doesn’t cut it for most 6.5 months olds! You know your baby best though - look for all the signs of whether they are ready or not.

Btw pumping doesn’t give accurate results of how much milk you have after the first few months (unless you pump every day)