Dieting and reduction of milk supply?

[jonesso]

Hi mummies

I have recently started dieting and exercising as I am about 30kg overweight and feeling awful. I've reduced my meal sizes, stopped snacking and cut down on a lot of dairy and carbs that I was having before. The good news is that I am starting to lose weight and my bub is less colicky than he was, but the bad news is that my already lowish milk supply is fading fast. At the moment the only breastfeeds that satisfy bub are the night feeds and the one first thing in the morning. The rest leaves him screaming and screaming.

Prior to the diet bub had 5-6 breastfeeds and 2 bottles of 150mL formula each day. The past three days I have had to give him 4 bottles of formula as only 3 of the breastfeeds have satisfied him.

My bub is 4 months old and getting very active, rolling everywhere and trying to get up on all fours, so part of it may be that he is hungrier than he used to be too, but there is definitely less milk than before. If I try to hand express after he comes off v. little, if anything at all, comes out.

Is it the diet? Is it just that bub needs more? Is it feesible to keep the 3 feeds I can still do going and bottles for the rest? I'd be quite happy with that if it were possible.

Thanks girls.

[Manxie]

Hi Sonia

Sorry I dont know the answer but thought I'd help get your post back out there :D . Also I've just started cutting the "crap" out of my diet so do have a vested interest in someone giving you some answers :D

Gd luck

[drewid]

Hi there

I just want to start off by saying its not recommended that you diet while breastfeeding. (According to all the literature I've read) Your body needs all that caloric intake to be able to sustain your body, and to produce your milk. Its a big job!

Also, I've read that when you are supplementing with formula, that also discourages your milk supply. Plus, if bub is having bottles and breast, he might not be working as hard at the breast, and therefore your breasts aren't getting stimulated enough to keep producing the same amount of milk.

I'm sure he is getting hungrier as he grows and gets more active!

Also, the amount you can express isn't a good indicator of your supply. I have hardly been able to express at all, and yet I know I have a good supply cos bub is happy and thriving.

I think you need to work out what is going to work for you. If you dont' think he is satisfied on the breast, then go with the formula. Just follow his cues and feed him when he's hungry, its all you can do!

[drewid]

Hi Sonia

Sorry I dont know the answer but thought I'd help get your post back out there :D . Also I've just started cutting the "crap" out of my diet so do have a vested interest in someone giving you some answers :D

Gd luck

Oh, just wanted to add. Its a GOOD thing to cut out the 'crap' from your diet. But just make sure you are eating enough, including lots and LOTS of the good stuff, fruit,veg etc. You need to make sure your body has enough fuel to do what it needs to do.

[aardvark]

My understanding is that breastfeeding women should never diet below 1800 calories per day.

I'd be more inclined to look at something like a Low GI regime, which is based on protein sources, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and the right carbohydrates - the ones which are slowly metabolised.

I've followed a Low GI regime during my pregnancy, and it has controlled the weight gain compared to my previous pregnancies.

I'll be sticking with it when I am feeding, but not restricting the amounts - I'll be eating if I am hungry, but eating the right stuff.

[OM]

Wow up on hands and knees already, that is wonderful.

As for the milk diet prob, what sort of diet are yo following at the moment?

[Manxie]

Hi

See I'm hijacking this thread now Sonia!

Nicole79- Your advice sounds right :D , I had just got a bit out of control and evil choccies and biccies etc had crept into my diet to give me those extra calories. So I am just trying to eat more fruit, veggies etc.

aardvark- I'm a big fan of low gi and suprise suprise since I've reduced my "crap" intake dont feel so hungry anymore.


One question though and I know that we need the calories to maintain the supply etc but the thought does cross my mind-can you body use any of your fat stores to help produce the milk? I guess I just see all the mums and my mums and bubs group and they seem to not have an ounce of fat on them and I want to look like that too :rolleyes: I have PLENTY of fat stores.

Thanks

[LucyE]

One question though and I know that we need the calories to maintain the supply etc but the thought does cross my mind-can you body use any of your fat stores to help produce the milk?
Everybody's different but for me, a big, definite YES. I was a size 8/10 pre-pregnancy, went up to a size 12/14 for the first few months after the birth (because I had a HUGE appetite from exclusively breastfeeding DS) and 18mths on, I'm now back to a size 10. My DH is so jealous that I've lost so much weight so easily :)

[FluffyDucks]

Hi All,

I have been wanting the post the very same question to get the opinions of other dieting/breastfeeding mums out there as I really want to lose weight but dont want my supply affected.

The only problem with this topic there seems to be different information wherever you go (I guess thats the same with any topic!).

To quote from What to Expect when your Expecting, p 361; "The levels of protien, fat and carbs in your breast milk arent usually affected by the levels of nutrients in your diet; however some levels of vitamins are. But though the quality of your milk isnt always directly related to the quality of your diet, the quantity of milk usually is. Women whose diets are deficient in protien and/or kilojoules for example may produce milk of good composition but in smaller amounts".

And from What to Expect when your Expecting, p 368; "Breastfeeding mothers with considerable excess body fat can cut their kilojoule intake somewhat without cutting into milk production and also lose weight. They will usually take off any remaining excess kilos when they wean their babies".

So does that help? Well from what I have read I am not going to drastically cut my kilojoules as I dont want to lose milk production but I have cut back somewhat and am slowly but surely losing weight. I have 1 1/2 kilos to go to get back to pre-pregnancy weight but as I was overweight anyway I am still going to keep going.

But if you are really keen to lose weight my health nurse said that Weight Watchers has a program specifically for breastfeeding mothers.

And re: low supply the have a look at ABA website -
http://breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/lowsupply.html

Cheers,

Michelle

[jonesso]

One question though and I know that we need the calories to maintain the supply etc but the thought does cross my mind-can you body use any of your fat stores to help produce the milk? I guess I just see all the mums and my mums and bubs group and they seem to not have an ounce of fat on them and I want to look like that too :rolleyes: I have PLENTY of fat stores.

That's my thought exactly.

Let me give you my scenario - it may help you to understand why I am so keen to lose weight now...

When I fell pg I was 98kg. I put on 15kg during pregnancy - that's 113kg. Bub arrived, I breastfed, ate quite a bit as I was hungry and told "the weight will fall off, eat what you want as your body needs all the cals to make milk" and 2 weeks ago weighed in at 115kg :eek: I have never been this big and feel awful, it is wrecking my head. So I decided something had to be done and I could not stay this way any longer.

To be honest, I did not think about the possibility that dieting could affect my milk supply, but it obviously has. However, I won't stop what I'm doing as it has come to a point where my own mental health outweighs the benefit of breastfeeding. Surely a healthy mum is better than having me curled up in the corner in the foetal position depressed because of how huge I have become and how physically awful I feel. I would love to have it both ways as I love breastfeeding my boy and I think it is so important for bubs to get the best start in life through the goodness of breastmilk, but honestly I have to do this, and if it means that having less milk - or worse case scenario, no milk - then it has to be.

[jonesso]

Oscar's mum, I'm not following any particular diet. I don't know how many cals I'm having. This is a typical day...

Brekky - Apple and nectarine
Lunch - Salad with either ham, cheese or tuna
Dinner - 1 serve of protein (e.g. chicken), 1 serve of carbs (e.g. rice), lots of vegies or salad, then small low-fat yoghurt and a hot choc for dessert.

I have cut out snacks almost completely - my only concession is some watermelon now and then in the arvo if I get hungry.

Sorry to sidetrack the issue...

My reason for this thread is to see if other breastfeeding mums have had a reduction of milk when they have dieted, and if so, if they have been able to sustain some form of breastfeeding. Ideally I would love to still do the nightfeeds and the early morning feed - can you sustain a low breastmilk supply? Or will it now just cut out completely?

Nicole, thanks for your post. What you say is true, I know, but hopefully you can see I'm not just being paranoid about having a couple of kilos to lose - I am borderline obese and I just had to stop the spiral before it got any worse.

The formula is unrelated - Nathan has been both breast and bottle fed from v. early on, but thanks for the thought.

Thanks girls.

P.S. Michelle just read your post, yes it does help. Congrats on being almost at your pre-pg weight, and good luck with the rest of your weightloss.

[OM]

I don't mean to sound rude, but I am thinking that you may want to add a bit more calcium into your diet, as I am not sure if a small yoghurt, a smidgen of cheese in a salad and a drop of milk will be adequate for a daily intake of calcium.

Just mentioning, but if you are after a snack peanuts are great, they actually curb the appetite. And they are good for you.

[draught]

Sonia
Just a thought that might help - my lactation consultant told me that to improve the quality of milk, and therefore satisfy baby's hunger more easily, I should increase the amount of animal protein in my diet - she encouraged things like sardines, pate or savoury mince for breakfast :eek: and similar things for lunch. The CSIRO well being diet also encourages more protein for lunch and dinner, with less carbs....so maybe that is one way to combine dieting with maintaining breast milk that keeps him happy? The theory behind more protein from the CSIRO is that it gives you energy that lasts longer and stops you from feeling hungry.

I also agree that your mental health is the most important thing right now and will keep my fingers crossed for you that you find a balance that helps with the weight and doesn't affect your milk.

[jonesso]

Thanks Theresa. And Oscar's mum, will take that into consideration too.

Wish me luck!

[Mary_T]

I saw on the today show this morning that you should have 3 servers of calcium a day to help you loose weight. Apparently if you don't get enough calcium your body stops you loosing weight to ensure you have enough calcium left. No fat reduced sugar is a great source of calcium as is skim milk and low fat ice cream.

[OM]

I heard similiar to that too.

[aardvark]

Brekky - Apple and nectarine
Lunch - Salad with either ham, cheese or tuna
Dinner - 1 serve of protein (e.g. chicken), 1 serve of carbs (e.g. rice), lots of vegies or salad, then small low-fat yoghurt and a hot choc for dessert.



If that's a typical day, then it's going to be deficient. The first thing is that breakfast should be larger. Your breakfast sets your metabolism level for the day, two pieces of fruit is not going to be enough for such an important meal. You'd do better even if you just moved the yoghurt to breakfast time.

If you are worried about carbs, then the rice should be Basmati - Low GI, and very nice. If you have pasta, it should be wholemeal (lower GI), and if you have potato, it should be sweet potato.

You also need some essential fatty acids in the mix. A small amount of extra vigin olive oil is very good for you and baby, you can use it to dress a salad with a splash of your favorite vinegar or lemon juice.

You can easily add more food to the regime without substantially increasing the calories. Berries are a good source of fibre with few calories.

Also for breastfeeding, you should avoid too much celery or too much parsley, as it can reduce your milk supply. Fenugreek is a useful herb for increasing supply.

[OM]

This Fenugreek, how do you eat it, is it in a tablet, do you cook it. Stupid question I know.
:confused:

[Dynamite]

Hi,

I have taken Fenugreek in tablet form in the past, and found it increased my supply. I was also drinking more water and allowing bubs to stimulate my nipples as often as possible (slept with her next to me, suckling).

Alas - over the past few days I have been on somewhat of a diet and tonight I found that my supply has diminished (again!). I figure its because I hardly ate at all today. Not good. I've been reminded that good nutrition and exercise is the way to lose weight, not by starving myself.

Thanks ladies! :o

[aardvark]

You should be able to obtain Fenugreek tablets or Capsules at a health food shop.

[OM]

Aha thanks for that.

[jonesso]

Would you believe I just started on Fenugreek tabs last night??? Have had 2 good breastfeeds so far today so fingers crossed...

Also Aardvark, thanks for your suggestions. I am already onto the basmati rice but have not tried wholemeal pasta, will give that a go. And you're right, the brekky I'm having isn't enough, went to fitball class this morning and felt very faint halfway through. Not good. It's all a work in progress!

BUT! The good news is that I have lost 7kg in the last 2 weeks and am halfway to my first goal, and a quarter of the way to my total weightloss goal. I know that things will begin to taper off and stabelise in terms of weight lost each week, but I have made a good start and that will motivate me to continue to work hard.

Hope the Fenugreek works!

Thanks for all your input. Will keep you posted.

[MissSparkle]

I semi dieted while breastfeeding! It wasn't as much of a diet as just changing my bad habits. I ate ever 3hours to get my metabolism up and running and didn't cut anything out fully! I lost 24kg since July but most of that is due to alot of exercising!
As long as u dont cut out any food groups and u are eating plenty, it shouldnt affect ur milk! Just remember u r still kinda eating for 2!!!

[Poppy'smum]

I agree that u shouldnt diet too extremely during BF but you can definitely use up fat stores that u laid down in pregnancy.
I think your supply probs should be tackled with more suckling! The more bub suckles from you the more milk your body will make,
so even if you have to top him up with formula, make sure he suckles for a while first to get your supply going again
Allso, it may help to express regularly, a couple times per day, maybe after a hot shower ??
even if you get nothing for the first week, the stimulation will help the supply!
Good luck!!