Please help me to eat more- I'm BFing and have lost 2 stone.

[hakunafrittata]

I've been ill for a total of two weeks, with tonsillitus and fever, so my appetite hasn't been great. I am trying though. Even before I was ill I've been a lot less hungry. Today I had 3 Weetabix, a punnet of strawberries, half a tub of natural yoghurt, a couple of pickled onions and some Ritz crackers... not great, I know. I'm worried my baby isn't getting enough nutrients/ calories in my milk :(
My HV after my DS was born was an incredibly judgy bitch, who had a go at me as I had eaten a Pot Noodle (as well as other, healthier things). She made me cry... I know it wasn't the best of foods to have but it was literally one of the only things in MIL's house and I hadn't done a shop. I needed support but all I got was judgement.

I don't think I have an eating disorder- I do love food when I am hungry but my appetite is in the shitter at the moment. I'm crying just now with guilt! I know I'm unwell with fever at the moment but I can't go on like this. I've not been 8st since I was a pre-teen.

I'd second things like flapjacks and eggs, also, along with flax seed oil you could add a tablespoon of nut butter and maybe chia seeds to your smoothie, mash up some ripe avocado with lime juice and some chopped fresh or dried chillies with a drizzle of olive oil to make guacamole (on toast or as a dip), nut butter and banana is a fab snack, on toast or not. Houmous also good. Please don't get stressed about the quality of your milk, it will be fine.

Avocado with chicken, bacon, prawns. Is great and easy to eat.

Snack on nuts. V high in cals. I can eat 500cals of nuts in 5 mins

Cheese with whatever you fancy or even cheese grated over pasta (not hugely nutritious but higher cals). Better with veg also.

Peanut butter on toast, almond butter on toast or hazelnut butter on toast. High cals. Easy to eat and delicious.

Your appetite will improve.

Firstly your hv was ignorant about bf, twelve pot noodles a day would have no impact on your milk quantity or quality. Really true!

Secondly get your thyroid, vit D and iron levels checked Asap.

Thirdly loads of great suggestions up thread.

You used to get something called Complan from the chemist which was supposed to help (shake-type thing with added vitamins etc)

I think you lose your appetite when your weight drops - (I dropped to 7st 10 when bf twins and gave up at 7 mths). It comes back when you get going again. I used to like things with mashed potatoes and lots of gravy :D

how could I forget Flapjacks!?! breastfeeding staple.

I was the same. Iv always been around the 8 stone mark, but breastfeeding was making me loose weight quickly.

In the end I breastfed both times for 2 years, but the first 6/7 months was when I lost quickly. To stop this I started having a medium glass of milk and handful of nuts during each feed ( at home anyway, so about 5 glasses a day). I also ate a lot of avocado and bacon and cheese!

Now not breastfeeding I still do need to eat quite a lot of calories compared to others daily to maintain weight and not loose, but no where near as much as when I was feeding