Loss of appetite and breast feeding - has anyone had this?

[pgwithnumber3]

BF DD3 (11 days old), she's a textbook feeder, every 2/3 hours. Problem I am having is that I am barely hungry (and I am a BIG eater usually) and when I BF DD1 and DD2, I was ravenous all the time. Has anyone else suffered with lack of appetite whilst BF? I am worried I could affect my supply.

Hi pgwithnumber3 not had this myself but one of my friends did. Her DS still fed pretty well but she became quite tired. I think that it is important that you try to keep your calories up, as much for you as anything. Are you feeling well in yourself otherwise? I've had depression in the past (before I had kids, not PND) and the only thing I really noticed to start with was a loss of appetite (I lost about 2 stones in weight as a result). Of course I don't mean to suggest that you have PND and please don't be offended, but I didn't realise I was depressed until very late and kept wondering why I wasn't eating.

I did notice in the first couple of weeks of ds's life I didn't eat at thing. I think it was a combination of being high as a kite on some kind of hormonal madness, I barely slept either, I was the original Duracell bunny! My appetite did come back eventually, but not before I'd dropped three stone. Sadly I put on over four stone when I was pg, and I still can't shift that last one

yep I had the exact same thing for a good few weeks after having ds2. just wasn't hungry at all.

appetite came back with a vengeance after a little while thouhgh, so don't worry.
but do try and eat, even if you have to force yourself.
your supply shouldn't suffer

pgwithnumber3 - don't worry you are not going bonkers! For about six weeks after you give birth your metabolic rate is much higher because your body is trying to recover it's equilibrium. For many people that means they don't feel so hungry. It won't affect your supply.

Just make sure you are getting at least 1500 calories a day - suggest you try full fat milky drinks to get something down you even if you aren't hungry.

However if it does go on, go to the GP and ask for a thyroid test ( a blood test) because it's quite common for hyperthyroidism to kick in during the post partum period (and utterly treatable btw!)

Congratulations!

BTW with 3 kids how do you find time to eat?

Thanks, I was beginning to think I was abnormal! I am eating 3 meals a day but find that I have to force myself too eat them. SO unlike me. Just had a Magnum Ice-cream though!

chocolate - DD3 sleeps ALL the time so I still feel like I only have 2!

That's the way to do it - Magnum Ice cream is practically the same nutritionally as breastmilk anyway!

I always take a bit longer after I have them but then suddenly lose my appetite and drop at least a stone.