How soon can I begin a diet and exercise after I have my baby, since I plan to breastfeed for 6 months?
I would like to begin dieting (safely) as soon as possible after my daughter is born.
I am wondering if my diet and exercise will have a negative effect on me or my newborn, since I have been told that I should be consuming more calories while breastfeeding than if I wasn’t.
April 12th, 2011 at 1:12 am
Go and talk to a medical professional. If you can’t afford to go to a doctor try a nurse or even a pharmasist. Don’t gamble with your’s or your babies well being. Yes you need to consume more calories when you are breastfeeding. You also need to make sure you are getting the right nutrients for yourself and your baby
April 12th, 2011 at 1:24 am
Exercise is usually determined by your Dr. (like after your 6 week checkup). Although he may let you do some mild to moderate before depending on your condition after birth. As for diet, obviously no extreme diets, like low carb, etc. But a well balanced diet to maintain your weight + the needs of baby while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding should help you lose weight in and of itself. Always check with your Dr.
OB/GYN RN & mom
April 12th, 2011 at 2:21 am
There are guidelines for *safe* ‘dieting’ while breastfeeding that you can begin when your baby is about two month old:
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-weightloss.html
If you aren’t trying to ‘crash’ diet… if you are watching your milk supply and drinking water to your thirst… you should be fine. Of course breastfeeding in itself can help in weight loss… buring around 500 calories a day… but like everything else the effectivness varies ‘mommy to mommy’.
ETA: LOL… lot of thumbs downs on the answers that are here but nobody coming in to offer their different solutions! Really… if your milk supply is well established and you are completely healed from the birth… you *can* do this. A good dieting program will often have an option that allows breastfeeding mothers extra calories… because you do need more, you burn more! But if you follow reasonable guidelines you are in good shape.
April 12th, 2011 at 2:40 am
Eating WELL will be beneficial for your baby so the sooner you begin to do that the better, but you do need extra calories when you are breast feeding:
Department of Health guidelines suggest the following amounts of extra calories during the first three months of breastfeeding:
Up to one month – 450 calories
Up to two months – 530 calories
Up to three months – 570 calories but so long as you draw these calories from fresh , healthy foods then you will be fine. As for exercise it will depend on whether or not you have a natural birth. if you do then you will probably feel up to walking after a week maybe even a few days, if you happen to have a c-section then give yourself ATLEAST 2 weeks to recover and then make sure you listen to your body it will tell you when you are ready and when you do start ensure you just start with gentle walking and build up from there. Also make sure you drink atleast 10 – 12 glasses of water a day this will haelp your milk supply and make sure you dont dehydrate……..hope i could help and good luck with your impending journey into motherhood:)
April 12th, 2011 at 2:50 am
I was told to wait about 2 months until I started dieting to assure that you build an adequate milk supply that wont be affected once you lower your calorie intake. As long as you are eating a nutritious foods you will be fine. I think you burn about 500 calories a day breastfeeding so that will make up for the extra calories you have to consume to breastfeed. You need to make sure that you eat around 1800 calories a day or more while breastfeeding. Most moms can safely lose up to 1.5 pounds per week or 6 pounds per month after the second month and not affect milk supply or baby’s well being. Also when you start to diet decrease your calorie intake slowly. Don’t just make a sudden drop since this can affect your milk supply. For me I feel like breastfeeding actually helped tone the muscles in my abs.
April 12th, 2011 at 2:52 am
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April 12th, 2011 at 3:25 am
Don’t take any anecdotal information when it come sto matters of you and your baby’s health.
These all sound like they are the right answers but I would only trust my doctor to know ME!
October 9th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
This is great information! My girldfriend was telling me about it last month!