Why does breast-feeding burn calories?

Question

Does it keep burning the same amount of calories all throughout the time you are breast-feeding, or do the amount of calories you burn decrease as you continue to breast-feed over a period of time? Thanks

Answer 1

omg maybe thats WHY im so super SKINNY! my husband says i lost my BUTT lol i was not even aware of that been almost 6mos now (baby boy turns 6mos on WED) he been latching on **sigh** i need to eat a lot more

Answer 2

I feel like I am still burning the same amount of calories, my daughter is 13 months old.  Breastfeeding burns so much because all the nutrients that you take in are being turned right around and being put into the breastmilk and given to the baby.  My daughter has just recently gone to only breastfeeding in the morning and evening, she's done that herself and I can tell I'm starting to put on weight again.  I was 165 before being pregnant, 173 when I gave birth to her and I'm down to 130, I was down to 130 only after about 3 weeks after birth. That's all thanks to breastfeeding b/c I definitely don't excercise and I eat like a hog lol.

Answer 3

you burn as many calories as you do because yopur body is not only producing food for your child but you are also giving them calories too.

when i was pregnant i went from 133-196 after i had her i was 160 withen 3 months i was back down to 139.

Answer 4

Clarizza is dead on.  

Answer 5

Basically what you eat the baby eats. It takes a lot of work to convert your food into milk for the wee one! Thus it burns calories! If you do not have enough calories your body will also take from the maternal fat stores (fat deposits) you aquired during pregnancy or even before to help it make your baby's food!  

Answer 6

every function your body does burns calories, eating, your heart beating, your kidneys processing substances. in the same way your b*****s making milk burn calories, calories are like gas for your car and making breastmilk is another task for you to do that burns calories. i'm sure that if you are breastfeeding full time you will continue to burn around the same number of calories. as you decrease the amount you need to make (like when you start weaning) it won't take as many calories for your body to make less milk so you won't "need" as many extra calories to make that milk. hope that made sense.

Answer 7

It burns calories because your body is making calorie rich food for your baby.

I would imagine the amount varies with the amount of milk you produce in line with what your baby demands - breast feeding is a supply and demand operation!

I guess you use more for a newborn than maybe a 1 yr old having morning at night breast feeds simply because you are using less milk for the latter.