How much should i eat a day if breastfeeding to make sure baby is getting enough.?

Question

How much should i eat a day if breastfeeding to make sure baby is getting enough.?

Answer 1

There is no special diet, but usually about 200 extra calories is a general rule of thumb. Most importantly, you need to stop periodically and ask yourself if you are hungry. If you listen to your hunger (but not boredom LOL) you should be getting just what you need. And don't worry.. your body is smart. Your breastmilk will not suffer if you are eating at least somewhat decently, even though you might feel run down, etc.

Answer 2

http://www.unicef.org/malaysia/media_855...

Mr. Youssouf also explains that virtually all mothers can produce adequate amounts of breastmilk unless they are extremely and severely malnourished.

“There is a common misconception that malnutrition greatly reduces the amount of milk a mother produces. Studies show that the amount of breastmilk produced depends mainly on how often and how effectively the baby sucks on the breast. If a mother temporarily produces less milk than the infant needs, the infant responds by suckling more vigorously, more frequently, or longer at each feeding,” says Mr. Youssouf. “This stimulates greater milk production.”

In such situations where the mother is under-nourished, UNICEF stresses that it is better to address the nutritional status of the mother, rather than ignoring it.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/12more_bf...

2. A breastfeeding mother has to eat more in order to make enough milk.

Not true! Women on even very low calorie diets usually make enough milk, at least until the mother's calorie intake becomes critically low for a prolonged period of time. Generally, the baby will get what he needs. Some women worry that if they eat poorly for a few days this also will affect their milk. There is no need for concern. Such variations will not affect milk supply or quality. It is commonly said that women need to eat 500 extra calories a day in order to breastfeed. This is not true. Some women do eat more when they breastfeed, but others do not, and some even eat less, without any harm done to the mother or baby or the milk supply. The mother should eat a balanced diet dictated by her appetite. Rules about eating just make breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated.

3. A breastfeeding mother has to drink lots of fluids.

Not true! The mother should drink according to her thirst. Some mothers feel they are thirsty all the time, but many others do not drink more than usual. The mother's body knows if she needs more fluids, and tells her by making her feel thirsty. Do not believe that you have to drink at least a certain number of glasses a day. Rules about drinking just make breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated.

Answer 3

3 meals a day, healthy snacks and plenty of water.

Answer 4

You should eat about 300-500 more calories than if you were not breastfeeding.  Try to eat a healthy diet with a few snacks and plenty of water.

Answer 5

With a newborn, it's often hard to get 3 "real" meals a day. What I did was try to get one healthy snack in each time baby ate. For example, a handful of carrots and some ranch dressing, or some crackers and cheese. Do try to get ONE good meal a day, at least. This may mean that you and Daddy take turns eating for a while, as my husband and I did. Make sure you drink alot of water (64 ounces or more). Best of luck!

Answer 6

Your baby will get enough, almost no matter what. It's yourself you need to worry about. If I remember correctly it's 300 extra calories a day while breastfeeding. You don't need to worry about it too much. Just eat healthy and continue taking prenatal vitamins.

Answer 7

"...you do not need to maintain a perfect diet in order to provide quality milk for your baby. In fact, research tells us that the quality of a mother’s diet has little influence on her milk. Nature is very forgiving – mother’s milk is designed to provide for and protect baby even in times of hardship and famine. A poor diet is more likely to affect the mother than her breastfed baby.

It's common to hear women say that they want to wean (or not breastfeed at all) because they miss drinking coffee, or want to have an occasional glass of wine, or don't like worrying constantly about everything they eat. Guess what? You can drink caffeinated beverages (in moderation), have an occasional drink, eat what you want and still provide your baby with the absolute best nutrition and immunological protection - mother's own milk.

According to Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D., breastfeeding researcher and anthropologist, women throughout the world make ample amounts of quality milk while eating diets composed almost entirely of rice (or millet or sorghum) with a tiny amount of vegetables and occasional meat.

Are healthy eating habits recommended for mom? Absolutely! You will be healthier and feel better if you eat well. It is best for anyone to eat a variety of foods, in close to their naturally-occurring state, but this is not necessary for providing quality milk or for maintaining milk supply. Although it is certainly not recommended, a breastfeeding mother could live on a diet of junk food – mom would not thrive on that diet, but her milk would still meet her baby's needs."

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mo...