How to lose weight while breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is one of the best ways of losing weight - FACT.

But it's also true that breastfeeding can give you the appetite of a horse.

So how can you make sure you're eating enough to keep up your strength, while still getting the weightloss benefits of breastfeeding?

Every woman is different, and how your metabolism adapts to enable you to produce enough milk for your baby varies from mother to mother.

Most new mums lose 0.5kg or 1lb a month when breastfeeding - it uses a lot of calories and severe dieting at this time is not recommended.

The following data comes from a 1991 UK Government report on the energy needs of breastfeeding women:

When your baby is aged 0-1 months
He drinks: 680ml a day of milk
This costs you: 570 kcal a day
You should be losing: 120 kcal a day
You need an extra: 450 calories a day

When your baby is aged 1-2 months
He drinks: 780ml a day of milk
This costs you: 650 kcal a day
You should be losing: 120 kcal a day
You need an extra: 530 calories a day

When your baby is aged 2-3 months
He drinks: 820ml a day of milk
This costs you: 690 kcal a day
You should be losing: 120 kcal a day
You need an extra: 570 calories a day

Remember, this is just a general guide, your appetite is the best gauge of how many calories you need: you should eat to appetite as much as possible while breastfeeding.

Thanks to SMA Nutritionist, Anne Sidnell for her advice on an optimum pregnancy and breast feeding diet.

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