While breastfeeding burns about 500-700 calories extra per day to fuel milk making, this may not always contribute to weight loss postpartum – many factors like pre-pregnancy weight, diet, physical activity level, etc will impact weight loss after birth (Institute of Medicine, 2002; Dewey, 1994).
The truth is neither weight gain nor weight loss can be attributed to breastfeeding alone. A range of factors are responsible for your postpartum weight, including the types of foods you're eating, the total number of calories you're consuming, as well as your age, metabolic rate, activity level and cortisol levels.
It is it a myth that breastfeeding burns up lots of calories making milk. You will burn some stored body fat, but your body protects some fat for the purpose of breastfeeding. Many women don't lose all the baby weight until they completely stop nursing.
As I explained above, the body will generally hold on to 5-10 pounds to protect your supply in case of illness or calorie restriction. There may be other reasons why you won't lose the baby weight, but generally it comes down to diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and hormones.
For reasons not quite understood, breastfeeding women tend to be extremely hungry. Your enhanced hunger may mean that you'll consume more calories than you need for both you and your baby. Lack of Sleep. Breastfeeding challenges your ability to get a full night of sleep.
Green tea is an all-around health boost for new mums and babies. The green tea leaves are packed with nutrients and antioxidants, making green tea the perfect drink for keeping you healthy, losing weight and post-baby belly fat safely.
Set realistic weight-loss goals
Losing weight safely — about one pound per week — means that it takes most new moms between six months to a year to return to pre-pregnancy weight. "Half of that weight is typically lost in the first six weeks after delivery," says Dr. Borchardt.
On average, if you're taking in the recommended amount of calories each day and breastfeeding exclusively, you should lose about 1 pound every week or two. That might not sound like a lot, but a steady, gradual weight loss is safer and healthier.
A slow, gradual weight loss of 1 pound per week or 4 pounds per month is a safe goal for breastfeeding moms who wish to lose weight. Women who eat less than 1,800 calories per day may reduce the amount of milk their bodies make. Stress, anxiety and fatigue also can decrease milk production.
This question comes up often as more breastfeeding moms are pumping and often times, exclusively pumping to produce breast milk. Another common related question that moms ask is does pumping burn as many calories as nursing? The answer to this helps answer the first question, which is a resounding Yes!
Intermittent fasting can be done while breastfeeding, but it needs to be done very carefully. If you find that you can't get enough calories, nutrients, or fluids while intermittent fasting, you may choose to hold off until it's safer for you to try. It's not just about whether or not you're still nursing, either.
Sometimes, postpartum weight can be incredibly stubborn. If it's harder to lose baby weight than you expected, there may be several reasons for this, including sleep issues, breastfeeding, and hormone imbalances.
"Bounce back" culture may leave you feeling like you're supposed to quickly shed pounds postpartum, but not losing weight after having a baby is more common than you might think: While on average most women lose about 13 pounds during childbirth (which includes your baby, your placenta, and amniotic fluid), it can take ...
Eat at least 1500-1800 calories per day
While nursing, you should not consume less than 1500-1800 calories per day, and most women should stay at the high end of this range. Some mothers will require much more than this, but studies show that going below this number may put supply at risk.
“It is true that higher [prolactin] production slows down your metabolism. It doesn't prevent weight loss; but some women reach a plateau,” says Meghna Joshi.
In fact, eating too few calories may impact your breastmilk supply. Aim to consume a minimum of 1500 to 1800 calories per day, depending on your individual needs. Any less than this and it may also be more difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs while nursing.
Focus on foods like lean cuts of beef, spinach, lentils, black beans and leafy green vegetables. Eat a diet that rich in complex carbohydrates. Focus on whole grain or whole wheat products and avoid empty calories from “white” products.
Making breast milk and breastfeeding burns calories. Your body generally burns between 200 to 500 extra calories a day while you're breastfeeding. The actual amount of calories you burn will depend on how often you breastfeed, how much milk you produce, and your baby's age.
If you're breastfeeding you should not do a strict low carb diet. You likely need to add more carbs, at least 50 grams per day, to be safe. Remember that it's also important to eat adequate calories in general, and the metabolic demands of breastfeeding will likely require more than your usual amount of calories.