5d • General discussion
How Many Calories for Nursing?
Many women are assuming they don't need more than 500 extra calories a day while nursing, *especially* if they are trying to lose weight.
But it's not that simple, nor is this number accurate.
Tissue healing takes energy.
Making the enzymes to digest extra food that won't be staying with your body takes energy.
A baby who is active takes a ton of extra energy - not only nursing, but all the carrying and following the baby around.
I used to joke that I thought I had a 1000 calorie cushion when I was a young mom, but I never actually calculated anything.
This research showed that the average was about 700 calories, and one mother had to consume nearly 4000 calories a day to have an adequate milk supply.
Truly, I don't think mothers need to worry about their weight in the 3-6 months postpartum, and should focus on the social and emotional adjustments, sleep, and enjoying their baby.
But in our weight-focused culture, it's worth saying that eating enough for milk supply and feeling good postpartum might be a lot more than you are in the habit of eating.
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How Many Calories for Nursing?
