Breastfeeding and my own eating

[Mrsols828]

Okay so I EBF my baby. Tho he always seems hungry. Im wondering if i myself am not eatting enough. If I don't not eat enough will it affect how much my baby eats? Its hard for me to explain. Like if I don't eat enough does it affect how full my baby gets I guess?

[clazzat]

If you're not eating a good, healthy diet and drinking plenty of water then your supply is likely to suffer so your lo will not get enough milk. I have found that I am constantly hungry when bf'ing, so I try to eat regularly throughout the day to keep me going. You need something in the region of 500 extra calories a day to bf, I believe, so you should be eating more than usual.

If you think you are suffering from low supply, there are ways to increase it - pumping after feeds, drinking plenty of water, taking fenugreek, eating oatmeal for example.

[oneplusone]

Making milk burns a lot of calories so it is important for the mother to maintain good nutrition as well. I am always starving. Especially in the first 6 weeks when he ate every 1-2 hrs I would also eat every 1-2 hrs and I lost all the 30 lbs I gained while pregnant.

[stevesmum]

Sorry to highjack but oatmeal? Is that like rolled oats that make porridge?

[clazzat]

Yes, although your best way to take it is to make porridge with it.