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Fasting / 5:2 diet

Talk about intermittent fasting and 5:2, including what’s worked for others. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

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Original poster

Anyone do 5:2 and breastfeeding?

13 replies

sparklekitty · 27/07/2013 14:03

I need to shift baby weight. I think this would be a good way for me to do it, am good at fasting, but not sure how it will effect my milk. Should I give it a miss till I've finished feeding?

OP posts:

Rooners · 27/07/2013 14:16

I would give any organised dieting a miss while BFing but then, you know, it's your body and I don't know if it would actually impact on your supply etc.

Personally I like to eat as much as I feel like I need - the baby weight I thought would never leave has gone and he's only 6 months. Still bfing almost exclusively (he has a bite of something now and again and drops most of it!)

How old is your baby?

Original poster

sparklekitty · 27/07/2013 14:31

DD is 10mo. Planning on bfing to a year at least. I have a big wedding in a year and really don't fancy stuffing myself into a bridesmaids dress!

I was a 8/10 pre pregnancy, I'm now a large 14!

Maybe ill leave it till Sept then. Last thing I want is for my milk to dry up, it's the only thing that makes DD sleep atm!

OP posts:

Londonmrss · 27/07/2013 16:16

I am. I've been doing it for 2 weeks, no supply problems. But I've started mix feeding in preparation for going back to work so I'm only bf a couple of times a day now.

HappyAsASandboy · 27/07/2013 16:34

I don't think it will affect your supply, or the quality of your milk. You have to be seriously malnourished to see any effect on breastmilk.

You may notice that you feel more drained on/after your fast days, as the milk will take precedence over your energy levels. But I don't think you'll really notice much with just reduced calories for two days.

mamamidwife · 27/07/2013 16:40

I did 5/2 when bf my 9 month old, I actually found a problem with my milk supply and had to up my fluids and I ended up having about 600 calories a day, which seemed to work fine, any less calories though and i noticed, still lost the weight I wanted and carried on feeding until DD was 15 months :)

BeingMoreDog · 27/07/2013 16:45

I wanted to ask the same question, thanks OP!
DS is 8 months so may give it a go now that he isn't feeding constantly!

berri · 27/07/2013 17:31

DD is 14 weeks and I've been doing 5:2 for 3 weeks. I express once a day and haven't noticed a drop in my milk. I don't worry too much if I go over, I normally go up to around 600 cals on fast days.

TrucksAndDinosaurs · 27/07/2013 17:42

I'm BF 4x daily and am fine.

Original poster

sparklekitty · 28/07/2013 08:31

Thanks all. I was told by doc that you have to do quite a lot to effect milk supply (they were worried about previous anorexia raising its head after I gave birth) but I am a little worried about feeling drained because of it.

I have quite a full on baby (as if they're not all full on) so really can't do the drained feeling. (I used to be able to just work through it and sleep lots but not an option now)

Think maybe I'll drop my cal intake and see how I go. Just want a quick fix I guess (previously I would have just eaten a small amount every other day and fasted totally every other day but not an option now)

OP posts:

cakesonatrain · 31/07/2013 16:46

Ooh, I was hoping to find a thread on this!
So it can be done, that's good to know.
I think I will give it a go, but maybe not go as low as 500 calories on fast days.

Bakingtins · 31/07/2013 16:53

Isn't 500 calories the amount you need to produce milk? I'd be really worried that your body is going to really struggle metabolically to keep you going and make milk if there is effectively zero calories for you.

I did Slimming World whilst breastfeeding, you are allowed additional "healthy extras" to make sure you get enough calcium. I lost about 2lb a week consistently without feeling hungry or drained and my milk supply was fine. Weight watchers also has allowances for nursing mothers.

I think this means fasting is maybe not psychologically very healthy for you as an individual??

YankNCock · 31/07/2013 16:55

I'm starting 5:2 tomorrow, but DS2 has just turned a year so not feeding as much. I suspect that's why I seem to have piled on a stone all of a sudden in the last 2 months!

mamamidwife · 31/07/2013 17:49

It seems most people aim at around 600calories, which is the balance I found right ( I think I chose that as its the calories allowed for men from memory) I also fasted 3 days instead of 2.
What I found really helped was that my appetite (which is where I always am weak) shrank so even on the days I could eat what I wanted I ate smaller quantities which was great

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