Looking for Advice About Nutrition and Breast Feeding

A.,
I have two kids 3 and 5 mo. I found eating smaller snacks through out the day was better for me. I ate lots of fruit and veggie's. Both my kids seemed to responed better to my milk that way then some of the dinner choices i would make. Also don't stress to hard about it that will make milk slow down. Drinks lots of fluids:)
I hope this felps

This did happen to me with my 2nd son. I just wasnt hungry, which was really odd for me as well. I think you'll be better off trying to do smaller meals and snacks more frequently than larger meals, you'll feel better. One thing I really liked were Balance bars. I know they are processed and all, but some are good. I also tried to eat lots of fruit. I hope this helps. Good luck!!

I would try some shakes for lunch. Frozen Yogart, little bit of milk and some frozen fruits, put it in a blender and that should fill you up and give you some calories :o) Congrats on the new babe, they are a lot of fun!
MCC

The samething happened to me. I was so busy being a Mom that I would forget to eat. My milk supply did go down. I started eating PB&J sandwiches. Just to get something into me. I learned this that my son had problems when I ate anything Mexican(even if it was spicy) and onions. It made him very crabby and give him bad gas pains.

You need to make sure you are getting enough protein and dairy. Plus I would try and drink a lot of water. I have a 4 mo. old that I'm nursing and haven't had any problems.

I would try and eat several small meals a day, even when you aren't hungry. Keep some in the diaper bag for when you are out and about with the baby.

Some snack ideas for you:

Cheese sticks
PB sandwiches
I like the 100 cal snack packs
carrots
pudding
crackers
nuts (almonds, etc.)
apples
bananas
fruit cups
applesauce

Hope that helps!

Steph

Hi A.,

I just wrote a long e-mail to you but don't know if it went through so I am sending it again.

1. How about nuts? Make a mixture of dried fruits (raisins, cherries, cranberries, blueberries) and nuts (almonds, pecans, peanuts, sunflower seeds--preferably raw or ltly roasted) and leave it sitting around. Grab some each time you go past or snack on them as you nurse.

2. Roast chicken for the evening meal and then make sandwiches for your noon meal and snack times the next few days.

3. Try making your food pretty! A beautiful salad can look so luscious full of fresh greens and other dark veggies and some of that chicken or taco meat from the night before or some canned tuna. Finish off with a delightful vinaigrette!

4. How about a smoothie? Blend 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 banana, 1/2 cup other fruit (frozen/fresh strawberries, raspberries, peaches or frozen juice concentrate--use about 2 Tablespoons), 1 Tablespoon wheat germ, 1 Tablespoon granular lecithin, 1 teaspoon powdered kelp, and 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla or almond extract. Sip through a straw every time you sit down to nurse!

To make this a SUPERB MILK PRODUCER add the B Vitamin, Inositol. It's the greatest!--originally known as "the Lactation Vitamin" --you can add 1 teaspoon of this sweet, pleasant tasting white powder to your smoothie. Also, nutritional yeast--very high in B vitamins which are so necessary at this time in your life. This can be a intestinal gas producer :) so start with 1/4 teaspoon and gradually work up to 1 Tablespoon.

If you are used to sweeter concoctions, you can add 1 teaspoon--1 Tablespoon of sugar to your smoothie but try to go with as little as possible.

You can also make a whole quart and sip on it all day!

If you are unfamiliar with any of these items your health food store can help you find them.

Hope this helps a little! G-ma R.

Now is a time when you can start a bad body trend...a lot of women think they need to eat all the time when breast feeding and most just wanna eat so they let this be their excuse.
But your baby and you now and in later years will thank you if you do not diet but eat wisely.
Try relaxing and not worrying before you feed baby.
Let your body and mind know it is ok to eat and relax.
Try to schedule some alone private time with baby also when before feedings.
But also use this as a time eat healthy snacks...like a apple, nibble from a bowl of carrots- fruit or other healthy food.
Or sit and relax and read and munch on a sandwich and sip milk.
Try having hubby or a friend part time bottle feed so your mind will see it is ok to relax and eat well and this is not a most do chore punishment.
The dog would love the attention of belly rubs,talking to him and walking him and will reward you with a relaxed ahh ...break time.
Dont stress ...relax...all Moms are human and all humans are not the same.
Find your own nitch and enjoy it.

HI, my name is E., and when I was breastfeeding both of my kids, I had the same situation. Being overweight, I didn't really need to worry about having enough calories if I forgot to eat, but I still worried about proper nutrition, which is really the key for proper body functions. My advice would be to try to make a routine for eating. Make sure you eat a good breakfast to keep you going and give you your morning boost. Try to at least get in a salad for lunch. (If you have time, preferably when baby is sleeping, boil an egg to put on you salad for protein.) And keep up on your good dinners. Also, you could go to a health food store and pick up a little vial of geranium essential oil, as geranium is an appetite inducer. You can just put a couple of drops on pulse points, like perfume, in the morning, and throughout the day as you need it. Best of luck to you and your family.

First of all A., congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! Also good for you for giving breastfeeding a try--your baby will definitely thank you :). With my son, I was starving all the time when I breastfed him; now with my daughter (almost a year now and still BF!) I do not get as hungry. So I keep ready-to-eat things on hand at all times and if nothing else, I have a protein shake. Cheese, yogurt, snack crackers, canned fruit and those individual microwavable veggie servings are great too! It is a good idea to eat even if you're not hungry, especially since your baby is so young and you're establishing your milk supply. A good multivitamin or your prenatal vitamins are also essential at this time. Lastly, you may want to buy a good Omega3 supplement (found one from Herbalife that is excellent).

I wish you well on your parenting and breastfeeding adventure!

i was the same way with my first. i didn't have an appitite but also didn't feel like i had the time to eat. my son would nurse for 45 minutes or longer at a time. my mom had the same experience with us kids (8 of them) so she cut up veggies for me with dip, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit - stuff i could grab and snack on while i was nursing. Easy access stuff. it helped a ton. i hope it will work for you. btw, congrats on your first baby.

I too am breastfeeding a 7 week old and my appetite has decreased a lot as well. I think the main thing needed to keep up the milk supply is staying hydrated. Try to drink lots of water and eat when you can. Take vitamins to help fill in nutritional gaps and I'm sure you'll be fine.

Sometimes it hard to take time to eat - but really important to do so. Maybe appetitie is down because you are stressed, tired, a little depressed? Don't ignore it if that's the case. Quick little meals are probably more realistic for you. I'm a fan of cheese, crackers and apples or grapes cut up and ready to eat. I also found breakfast protein shakes to work for me. I made it with milk - so I got my calcium and they were easier to carry around the house or drink while nursing. Take a multivitamin as well and consider fish oil since you are nursing. You need those calories for the baby. Enjoy a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich too :) It has the good fat in it for you and the baby.

Make sure you drink lots and lots of water, and I also continue to take prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding to make sure my son gets the nutrition he needs. You'll feel hungry again when you're not so tired.

A.,

I had a similar problem when I was nursing my newborn. I was so tired and worn out that I would simply forget to eat. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and it hit me that I forgot to eat dinner. Everyone told me to snack, but even that was hard. Someone told me to try Carnation instant breakfast shakes. They give you adequate nutrition and it's like drinking chocolate milk. My milk supply didn't decrease and my appetite eventually returned.

Good luck,
L.

I had the same problem after the birth of my daughter, now 4. I found that I had to carry snacks with me at all times, healthy ones. I also tried to eat foods high in nutrition and drink lots of water. I found that I HAD to eat, otherwise neither of use would be healthy. Are you still taking prenatal vitamins? If not, you should be. Hopefully this will go away as your babe ages, as it did for me. Good luck!

Hi A.,
Good for you for making it through the first few weeks with breastfeeding! My suggestion is that you need to double almost double your calorie intake, breastfeeding takes more calories from your body than pregnancy. You could possibly be experiencing some "baby blues" even though you are thrilled to be a mommy. I would suggest eating small frequent snacks with protein, toast with peanut butter, cheese like string cheese, fruits and of course plenty of water. The baby will get what she needs from you, but I do suggest adding snacks during the day to help keep your blood sugar more stable. So, to get this all into a practical schedule, eat when your baby eats even if you don't feel like it, sleep when your baby sleeps and buy paper products so you don't feel like you need to do dishes. Right now, your job is to take care of your baby and your self so try not to feel like you need to do stuff while the baby sleeps. I hope this is helpful! Congrats!

I eat Juice Plus Complete. It is not just a protein shake, but a complete meal with fruit and vegetable juice power in it. It uses Soy Protein so some peole say it can help regulate hormones. It has less sugar then carnation instant breakfast. It is all natural and has the insoluble and soluble fiber that you need. It is wheat free, dairy free, and completely vegetarian. It took me a couple times trying it before I liked it. Now I love it and drink it as an inbetween snack. A freind of mind even started putting it in her daughters milk when she switched from formula. you can check out the prices at www.Juiceplus.com/+jb73889

I am a single mom of 2 girls, 5yrs (BF until 2yrs) and 16 months(still nursing and loving it)

I was exactly the same way after my first son. I ended up getting so paranoid that my milk supply would go down that I ate too much and gained a ton of weight. I am now on my 3rd child, breastfed them all and am still breastfeeding my now 9 month old. Woman in 3rd world countries are still able to breastfeed even with poor nutriotion and bad water. The keys to breastfeeding are REST! Drink your water and your nutrition. When you are breastfeeding you are burning about an extra 500 calories a day. I have done a lot of research on nutrition lately and found an awesome supplement that is safe for nursing. I started it about a month ago and feel really good. I can get you more info if you would like. Otherwise relax, rest, eat nutritious snacks and take care of yourself. I also use the mother's milk tea that I saw someone else suggest and it does work well.
~M.

Hello-
I just had my second baby on february 8th! Congrats to you. Breastfeeding usually makes me very thirsty, but I'm not hungry either. Keep in mind, though, that at about three weeks of age infants go through a growth spurt, and tend to nurse more. My son nursed every 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for 2 days! I was beside myself. Make sure that you are getting enough protein and fluid to keep your milk supply up. And continue taking your prenatal vitamin. Otherwise, if your not hungry, your not hungry. Don't worry too much about it. A nice snack for me is hummus on whole grain crackers or edamame. Also, I have been eating Clif protein bars when I have no desire to sit down and eat a meal.
Hope that helps-M.

Hi A. -

The same thing happened to me when I first came home. People had to make me meals or I would just not think about eating. In time, my appetite did perk back up. During the first weeks/months I just made sure I drank a lot of water, milk and other nutritious liquids, and when I ate it was ultra healthy.

You may want to make a pitcher of smoothies or something easy to grab. My husband would make me sandwiches each night so they would be ready for me the next day. Anything that is healthy and EASY - that's the key for these early weeks!

My production did not suffer as far as I could tell. If your baby appears satisfied when feeding and is gaining weight, chances are your production is just fine! I think my appetite got back to normal probably within the second month or so...

Good luck, and enjoy every blessed moment - and believe it or not, it just keeps getting better and better!

First of all, congratulations on your wonderful new addition! I hope I can help. After my first daughter was born, she is now 8, I can hardly believe it, but I really had no appetite either (new for me then and wish I still had that problem). She took almost 2 months to get the hang of breast feeding, though, so I'm so happy to hear that it's going well for you already. Anyway, it was either the doctor or lactation consultant who had me drink Ensure to make sure I was getting enough calories, and it was an easy, small drink that really was kind of yummy. I think I enjoyed the vanilla, but they have other flavors as well. You might try comparing those type of drinks since there are so many out there, to see what has the best nutrients, or easier yet, call or have hubby call, and ask your doctor or pediatrician which is best. Don't stress, hang in there and just enjoy your beautiful girl every minute you can!
Good Luck,
C.

Drink, drink, drink!!! A good friend of mine got me in the habit of grabbing a bottle of water everytime I sat down to nurse and drinking it all before we were done nursing, I think as long as you are hydrated your milk supply will continue. Maybe also try grabbing a snack too when you nurse, it can be something small, an apple a couple of crackers etc this could increase your appetite too.
Do you have any other symptoms? If you notice flu like symptoms, acheness, temp, check with your MD it could be Mastitis (infection of the milk gland) I had this nursing and I lost my appatite.
It is always good to check with a Lactation consultant they can answer many questions
Good luck

I wasn't hungry after either one of my children either. I think it might be the hormones just trying to get back to normal. I'm not so sure about the nutrition. I used to eat small snacks all day, like granola bars and such. About the milk supply, I noticed that mine would decrease if I didn't drink enough water. I believe that it is the amount of fluids that you have the best determine how much milk you have, besides how much your babe eats. I'm not expert. I just noticed that between my friend and myself.

Hey there. Good for you for figuring out breastfeeding! I think my appetite fluctuated, but had a lot to do with getting enough water to drink. If I start to get dehydrated, I don't feel as hungry and it's even worse while breastfeeding. I would say start with watching your fluid intake and see if that helps your appetite. Also, there are snack suggestions (make a little tray of nuts/crackers/cheese, granola bar or whatever to eat while your daughter is nursing. I know Dr. Sears also has a smoothie recipe (you can probably get it off of www.askdrsears.com)that should help you get some extra nutrition and help keep your milk supply up. If your baby starts to get fussy after eating like she hasn't gotten enough, I'd go see a lactation consultant or someone to talk about it or your Dr.
Good luck!!

Congratulations on your baby and choosing to nurse her! Many, Many benefits she will get from that. I have 4 children and have breastfed them all.

You need to eat protein with complex carbs. Peanut Butter is a quick source. 1/2 cup of cottage cheese is 13 grams of protein. I always keep mozerella string cheese in the fridge for a quick snack. Also, you would benefit from keeping almonds, peanuts, cashews on hand. Display them out with some fruit so when you walk by them you can grab a handful. Are there any protein bars that you like? We always keep those on hand too. I don't have to think about what to eat and I just grab it quick.

Whatever you do, you MUST drink lots and lots of water. I'm sure you've read this too before deciding to nurse. It takes about 6 weeks to establish a good milk supply.

Good luck! The breastfeeding experience just gets better and easier!

Excellent job on sticking out that trial and error period of nursing. The link between nutrition and a wonderful breast feeding experience is vital. I would highly recommend Adelle Davis' book Let's Have Healthy Children. I have used it with my three children, 5, 2 1/2 and almost 1 and have had a great pregnancy, labor and nusing expeience each time. I have very healthy, calm, well adjusted little people. I have nursed them until the 2 year mark. So, keeping a good milk supply was vital for me, especially being a nursing mom and being pregnant. Adelle Davis' book is easy to find on www.ABEbooks.com or in a used book store.

I had the same thing happen to me. It didn't last. I started getting depressed right around two to three weeks and food just didn't seem appealing. It did pass it just took some getting out of the house and getting adjusted to my new life. Your appetite will come back, trust me. It's those hormones I tell you! You should call your doctors office if you are concerned and your lactation consultant as well. I wouldn't worry too much about your supply dwindling. At this point your body is probably still producing much more than baby needs anyway. Just make sure you are having the recommended wet diaper amounts and you'll know your dearest is getting enough to eat. I'm no expert, but I believe it will pass for you based on my experience. You could take this opportunity to try new foods that you don't normally eat which would be fun. Good luck!

I breast fed all three of my children and never had a problem with not producing enough milk. When your children are young and very needy your time is very limited. I would not worry about getting enought to eat, your body will let you know if your not. I was never ravenous when I was breast feeding. That actually might be a good time to grab a snack bar or piece of fruit. When your daughter is hungry, grab some finger food and eat while you are breatfeeding. Hopefully my ramblings helped.

I had the same problem, i would get so caught up in taking care of the baby and the house that I usually didn't eat my first meal til about 4 pm, then another later in the evening, and another about 4 am. Snack when you can, but drink plenty of water. I make sure to have water bottles around and usually chug a 16 oz bottle just to make sure that I drink it and don't forget til later (at least 4-5 per 8 hour workday). Your bladder will adjust to it. Don't stress about it (stress makes you decrease supply), your baby will get all the nutrients from your milk, your body will suffer (quick easy weight loss for me!). I did get my appetite back about 6-8 weeks and am conscious of what and how much I eat since I don;t want to gain all the weight back (obesity runs in my family). Quite often I have "breakfast" at 4 am or in the middle of the night since it is so hectic to get out of the house for work in the morning and it is hard to get up early enough to get a real breakfast in.

A.,

I was the same way. My guess is that I had a lot of extra fat stored from being pregnant and my body didn't need a lot of calories after giving birth. Just wait. When I started dropping my baby weight (4-6 weeks after birth) I became unbelievably hungry - ate everything in site.

Congrats on the new baby,
S.

Good morning, A.!

My name is T., and I have a DD who turned 3 last month; I am a SAHM, also, but am certified in home childcare here in Fargo (including Monster I have 3 little ones!).

I BF'd my daughter for almost 6 months; like you the beginning was rough and then it went great! I know I didn't eat a whole lot, like what you're doing now, due to being so wrapped up in caring for baby. I wouldn't suggest making yourself sitting down and eating big meals - if you're not that hungry don't force yourself to eat by any means. Smaller meals throughout the day are usually best for a person. BUT....you do need to eat something - toast, an apple, oatmeal, cheese and meat with crackers...... Set aside a time each day for you to eat; perhaps making a schedule like that for yourself will help? (you know, perhaps like you had before Maura arrived?) Just as she will have her eating schedule so should you.

BF'ing does take alot out of a person, and you need to have energy during the day to take care of Maura and at night for feedings. If you're really concerned about it, talk to your doctor and see what (s)he says. Are you taking a multi-vitamin? Would be a good idea if you're not so your body gets some of the nutrients and minerals it needs (BTW, eating toast with peanut butter and juice or milk will help your body retain some the minerals and nutrients your body needs because some need fat (i.e., PB - good fat) to cling to, otherwise they'll get flushed out of your system).

I might not have been much help, sorry. Hope you figure something out!

I am exactly the same way. When I was reading your entry, it sounded like I was reading about myself. I have a 2 and a half month old, nursing, and have no appetite. I experienced this with my other 2 as well. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, I did experience lack of milk production for about a day and a half due to lack of calories I believe. I continue to take my prenatal vit. of course. Some ways I keep up during the day is: keep cut veggies and dip in the fridge so I can get at least one to two veggie servings per day, have a nummy mug of hot chocolate with 2% and/or sometimes whole milk in the evenings, put butter on anything that sounds good to me, and just consciously trying to eat at times I know I'm "supposed" to eat. I have found that when I don't eat enough calories, I 'm lacking energy and my body craves a quick hit of sugar (refined). I also have started to have protein snacks on hand. I have a tin of mixed nuts in the car/house, I eat a lot of peanut butter. My kids love pepperoni for snack (with cheese/crackers) so now I've started having this snack as well if necessary. DHA is also very good for you and your baby, so if you don't have fish regularly, a fish oil supplement is a good idea. congrats on your little one. happy eating:)

HI!

Don't rely on your average nurse or health care provider with advice regarding breast feeding. Make sure he/she has taken extra training in breast feeding- - don't be afraid to ask if they have! You will know to seek advice elsewhere if the person recommends formula before every other alternative or scheduled feedings or early night weaning etc. Breast feeding is not even part of the curriculum for an MD and is barely discussed in nursing school and many providers are ill-informed and give poor(if not down-right damaging) advice. Incorrect "advice" has been identified as a significant factor in early weaning. La Leche League is a great resource!

You will make enough milk for your baby as long as you keep nursing her according to her demands: no scheduled feeds, avoid using a pacifier especially before 6-8 weeks (you run the risk of her skipping important feedings that build your milk supply because she is "pacified" by the pacifier instead of with your milk)and don't give her other foods (aka formula) that will fill her up so that she doesn't drink your milk (this is the number one reason women's milk supplies go down- - your body thinks it should produce less milk because baby is eating less from you))

Regarding your appetite: It's normal. While breast feeding we actually produce a hormone that is an appetite supressant- - not sure why...one of the main reasons we put on extra fat while pregnant is to use those stores for producing breast milk. Anyhow, that doesn't mean we shouldn't eat!

So, some great snacks: Any cold left overs from the meal the day before. Make extra food at meal times! If you make chicken or salmon, make an extra piece or two and snack on them cold with toast. Yogurt with granola; raw nuts (almonds, walnuts- - get in bulk at your mega-grocery store or Trader Joes or Fleet Farm or coop--) and seeds (pumpkin, sunflower); dried fruits; avocadoes; cheese and toast; nut butters (peanut, almond, sunflower etc) and toast or with apples, eggs in any form (make some hard boiled to snack on in a pinch); hummus; any fruits; cut up a bunch of raw broccoli, carrots and peppers once a week and snack on those; refried beans and cheese rolled up in a burrito with some salsa heated in the micro; bagels and cheese with a slice of tomato if you feel like it, keep sliced turkey on hand and eat that rolled up alone or on your bread/ toast (I'm a big fan of toast). A bowl of cereal with a hanful of sunflower seeds is a great quick fix.

Tons of water isn't necessary and can supress your appetite even more. So drink to thirst, about 8-10 glasses for the average woman.

Love up your baby! Breast feeding is such a wonderful gift for the two of you. I thank you on her behalf!

Hi A.~

Congratulations on your new daughter. I breastfed both of my boys for more than a year each and I, like you, forgot to eat during the day and honestly, I just had no appetite. My doctor just told me that water water water was so important. You can't force yourself to eat if you are not hungry, but make sure you are getting those fluids in. I always had a huge cup of ice water near me and I made it a goal to drink the cup of water as soon as I was done with each nuring session. Hope this helps...

R.

Hello A. - do not worry, if anything stress will decrease your milk. I have breatfed both my children over 12 months. With my first I hardly had an appetite either - just too busy, too tired, and too caught up in my new baby. My milk flourished, and I lost weight. The baby gets your first nutrition, and you the second portion. For YOUR health try snacking throughout the day on healthy protein snacks, and fruits & veggies. You will get back to an eating routine soon. The main thing to consider is GOD made your body to do exactly what your doing - caring and feeding your baby. It will work if you keep it up, and He will give you wisdom on how to best care for your baby and yourself. Be Blessed - MJM

As many other people have mentioned sleep deprivation does decrease appetite, or at least I found it to be so. I do a lot of snacking during the day and find that when I eat and drink more I want to eat more (my son is 6 months and we are still breastfeeding). I would suggest looking for healthy snacks like a nut mix or string cheese. Also make sure you eat breakfast. That will start your metabolism off right and you will be hungrier during the day. IF food just doesn't sound good try a protein shake. There are a bunch of mixes and you can add fruits and veggies for extra nutrition. If you are concerned about your milk supply, try one of the lactation teas. You can find them in the health-food section of most major grocery stores. Also make sure you are getting enough liquid. Good luck and keep at it! You are doing a great job!

I felt the same way the first month after my son was born last August. AFter a few months of "learning" the ropes, though, my appetite came back full force and now all I think about is food. (We're still breastfeeding and he's six months...I felt "skinnier" when he was first born...) I think when we get so caught up being a new mommy its hard to take care of ourselves. Try to drink enough water...I would drink a glass at every feeding to make sure I was getting enough.

Mother of 4 here, never was very hungry when I nursed my kids either, your baby will get the nutirents she needs no matter what you are eating and how much. Remember though that YOUR body will suffer. This was the advice I got, "even if you are jsut eating an apple or a banana or something small and heathy, eat it WHILE you are nursing. So even if you have to have a box of something next to you or a fruit basket next to your chair, have something there all the time. For me my thought was that I ws drinking so much water I ws almost NEVER hungry!

Congratulations! I didn't take the time to read the other responses so maybe I'm repeating someone else BUT...when I had my first baby I had the same problem. My milk supply was just fine (I nursed her for a year) and my weight dropped below pre-pregnancy pretty quickly. Your appetite WILL increase, and you probably will be hungrier than ever. Until then, enjoy your baby and listen to your body! You'll be great! Keep taking your pre-natal vitamins and drink LOTS of fluids. Good for you for breastfeeding!!!

Hi A.,

I do remember [29 years ago!] when i had lots of energy after having my first child. So, after having a thorough check with your doctor that everything's fine with your system, try making smoothies for lunch. you can throw all sorts of stuff in the blender: bananas, yogurt, strawberries, ice cream, flax seed, whatever gives you calcium and energy and tastes good to you and this will help with your calorie intake. Consider joining a mom's group to share ideas and exercise time. this can keep your spirits up because sometimes - especially if you're an extrovert - it's not easy being along with a baby all the time. And give yourself rewards! Dark chocolate is good for you. Drink lots of water and maybe buy some of the Ceres juices. they're all natural and extremely tasty.

Best wishes,
K. C

My son is almost 9 months and we're still breastfeeding. There are still days where I don't feel like I can eat enough but I also have days where I eat very little. When you're really busy your body tends to go into survival mode and you just sort of forget about eating. I remember the first month or so where it seemed like I never got off the couch I was nursing so often. My advice is put a bucket next to where you nurse with a bottle of water/juice/whatever, some nuts, granola bars, easy but nutritous snacks so you can eat while you nurse. Then if you dont eat the rest of the time at least you'll still be nurished, just dont forget to keep taking your prenatal!! You do need plenty of calcium and iron! Good luck and congrats on your baby girl!

A.,
I had the same problem after I had my son. He is now 8. I was 18 when I had him. I had people telling me the same thing your friends are telling you. Needless to say I had to stop breastfeeding cause he wasn't getting what he really needed. And he was hungry every 1/2 hour to 45 mins. It started for me right after I had him. No appetite at all. I was forcing myself to eat something all the time. You should be eating 6 small meals through out the day if not more. I would suggest contacting a nurse that really knows about breastfeeding and nutrition.

Hi A.,

Congratulations of your new baby daughter! What a blessing she must be to yuo and your husband. Yes, your time is not your own any more. Have you considered doing some excellent source of protein shakes. That would be quick and nutritious for you. I do know of some products that are very safe during and after pregnancy. And know someone that took them to her ob/gyn and was told to keep taking the products as they are excellent. The temperment of her baby, after the birth, was amazing, according to both she and her husband. They feel that it was due to the nutrition that the Mom received during her pregnancy. This was her second baby.
They are all organic. The name of the company is called Dr Organics and I am personally taking them, myself. The taste is by far the best I have ever consumed that are out there in the marketplace and I have tried them all. I have worked in a chiropractic office for 7 years and have never seen anything like this come across our door step. They feed you on the cellular level, balance blood sugar, keep you focused, clarity of mind, help with either weight loss or to maintain,have sea vegetable to slough gunk from your intestines, have your probiotics and digestive enzymes, etc, etc... These products have balanced out my husands body so that he was able to stop taking the blood pressure medication that he had been on for 11 years. Thank the Lord,what a transformation! His blood pressure is lower than it was when taking the BP meds. I can give you the website and you can check them out for yourself. By the way, the Dr that formulated these products works with Dr's at the Mayo clinic in the cellular research dept and they say that these products are excellent and many consume them, themselves. The wesite is www.drorganics.com/9409558.
I wish you the very best in your search and can honestly say that you will not be sorry if you try them and I hope that you will. I do remember what it was like to be a busy Mom. You need to take really good care of yourself, because you deserve it and are worth it!

To your excellent health,
T.

Hi A.
I believe you are doing just fine. Your body will tell you when it needs more just like your baby does. My son is now 2 but I did nurse him until he was 15 months old. I actually felt the opposite. I was always starving and ate twice as much as I usually do. My son was 4 months old when I was introduced to a product called Reliv. It seemed to do me wonders. I believe my body was craving nutrition and this gave me a balance and also gave me more energy than I have had in 15 years which was really helpful being up 3 or 4 times a night.
The first month is probably the hardest and after that you and your baby adjust.
If you want more information on Reliv you can contact me.
God Bless,
L.
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A.,
Hello, my name is C. and I breastfed both of my children. I must admit it does sound a little different not being hungry while breast feeding. Being worried about getting the right nutrition while nursing is normal. Appetite or not, I would strongly recommend forcing some food down throughout the day. It is important for you to maintain your body while breast feeding. Your milk will always have what it needs to for your child, but if your body can not get the vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat, then it has to pull them from your body's own stores(ex. you will leach calcium from your own bones to get enough for baby. Good for her, bad for you). Eating numerous, smaller healthy snacks rather than larger meals during the day will keep your metabolism working throughout the day which will aid in weight-loss too. My husband and I own and operate Wilson Family Chiropractic Center here in Waterloo (we are located behind the Olive Garden near Crossroads). We came across a super juice called Monavie. With only 4oz of juice per day you can get 5-7 servings of your raw fruits and veggies. If you have any questions or would like more information about it, or anything, give us a call or stop in. We are here to help. ###-###-####

Hello! I had Twins in April of 2006, they'll be turning 2 here shortly and I had the same issue. I wasn't hungry at all and with my first son, I was eating all the time. What I did was I continued with my prenatal vitamins, as well Calcium w/D, and had peanuts, cashews, peanut butter crackers, yogurt, fresh fruit, cheese on hand to snack on all the time and I did a protein shake for awhile in the mornings to make sure I was getting enough good nuitrition in for my babies. Part of my problem was all the water I drank filled me up, and I was tired and didn't feel like eating. Food didn't appeal at all. Smaller snack type meals worked!! My doc checked my levels each time I went in and I was good.

Hope this helps.

I would say you can for the most part listen to your body. Sounds like you've got lots of good advice already. My daughter will be 3 in April and I nursed her until the end of 2007 (so for a little over 2 1/2 years)when I found out I was pregnant with our second. What I remember from the beginning is being very very thirsty. I would say as long as you are getting enough water, and stick to natural, nutritional food when you are eating (esp fruits and veggies) you should be fine. Your appetite will def. come back - probably once your baby weight is gone and your little one starts nursing more... just wait until she has a marathon nursing session or two! :) You'll be hungry then. ;)

I don't remember being particularly hungry at first. I think I was just too tired. But as we started getting more active I'd pay more attention to making sure I had good meals. In then beginning I think I relied more on other people coming by at mealtimes and sort of "reminding" me and having snacks near the areas where I'd sit so they would be handy. Like cracker boxes, fruit cups, juice boxes. Snacky things.

SUPPLY AND DEMAND

That would be the title if I was to write an article about breastfeeding.

Don't worry about your appetite. You are still recuperating from the strains of pregnancy and birth (it takes a _whole_ year for your body to get back to pre-pregnancy levels). You are completely taken up with caring for a baby 24-7 for the first time. You have no experience to go back on for this (like with a 2nd child). So it is perfectly normal, if you don't seem to have an appetite or can get by without eating much. Trust your body. When it is ready, you will be hungry. And trust, that your baby will get what it needs from you.

Whatever you do, please, please, please do not try to "do it better" by interfering with formula. Breastfeeding works on the basis of supply and demand. Does the baby's demand rise, so does the milk production. It may take a few days for you to catch up with your baby (hence the ever reocurring feeling that your baby is always hungry), but be patient and let your baby nurse whenever it feels like it. The moment you interfere with formula etc. the less often your baby will want to nurse, the fewer the feeding sessions, the demand on your milk production goes down, as does your milk production and eventually, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, you really will not have enough milk.

More important than eating is drinking, as far as milk production goes. Drink a glas of water, or even better, nursing tea (usually with anis, fennel in it) before or during each feeding.

I nursed my first child for 19 months. My second child didn't get solids until 8 months, is now 16 months and still nursing without any sign of stopping. Not that is is something to live up to. It was a personal decision to nurse so long. That's why it is called a nursing relationship. It's a two way street. Both you and the baby have to really want it.

I wish you the best of luck and a fulfilling nursing relationship with your daughter however long it may last.

This happened to me too. I tried scheduling meals. Making my husband call me from work to remind me to eat. I tried different kinds of foods/drinks until I found something I could stomache. Now I eat the same thing every day. Kind of boring and plain but it's working. I also tried snacking every time I nursed one of the babies. My problem was/is that I'm nursing two boys (one is 20 months and the other is now 6 months old). I have had no appetite since the younger one was born. Which would be great if I was dieting, but calories are a must! Your Milk supply won't go down as long as you continue to put the baby to the breast often. Your eating habits effect the quality of milk not the quanity. Therefore the better you eat the fattier/healthier the milk for the baby. your body will take what it needs to feed the baby first and leave the rest for you. Which could mean that you'll be over tired (more tired than just not sleeping at night) and "weaker" if you don't eat right.
Keep trying! Don't give up on breastfeeding! It's best for you and the baby.

Hey, congrats! I know everything is stressful as a new parent. Not everyone goes through the same exact thing, so don't worry! Enjoy this time in your life and let some stress go. You need to make sure that you are taking a little break for yourself EVERY DAY so that you can survive! Contact a nurse if you are worried - that's what they are there for. They will not feel bothered by any question you have - you are a first time parent!!! My advice: make sure you eat small meals throughout the day if you aren't very hungry. Eat breakfast and make sure that when you get to the grocery store that you select easy to grab items that are healthy. If meat turns you off, get protein through things such as peanut butter on crackers or toast, or cottage cheese, or grab a handful of peanuts. Have fresh fruit on hand that you can eat while you nurse! Buy some snacky things that you usually like to eat such as Goldfish crackers or cereal (or granola) bars. You don't have to eat a lot at one time. Make a rule for yourself as part of your routine to eat something small every time the baby nurses... Whatever works for YOU. You will do just fine!

WOW Tons of Advice! What worked for my sister and I was to have stuff on hand like Hard boiled eggs or egg salad w/low fat or no fat mayo, tuna salad, cottage cheese, and yogurt.

Then you can grab a couple bites several times a day. You can put granola on the yogurt and sunflower seeds on the cottage cheese for extra protein. Multi-grain crackers or bread for the salads.

It's super quick and unlike a smoothie, quiet :o) Another of my favorites was peanit butter and celery or apples. My suggestion for protien bars are the Zone brand...they taste the best :o)

Good luck and have fun! Oh and remember your baby will get the nutrients they need but at what coast to your body? So it is important to keep up the nutrition.

~A.

Hi A.,

I went through what you are going through. I lost so much weight cause I just wasn't hungry and I felt guilty. Prior to my daughter being born I ate lots of pasta so I had a pretty steady weight. After I had her I mostly snacked on fruits, salads, and granola bars. I kept taking my prenatals for the vitamins and I drank this tea called Mother's Milk that helped to keep up my milk supply up. You can google it and there are a bunch of pages on it. I noticed a big difference when I drank it.

Cut and Pasted:
Mother's Milk Tea is a commercially-prepared tea made from these herbs: fennel seeds, coriander seeds, spearmint, lemongrass, borage leaves, blessed thistle leaves, althea root, lemon verbena, and fenugreek seeds. In general, a well-known brand of tea is not likely to produce negative side-effects unless taken in large quantities (over four cups a day.)

HOPE THIS HELPS!
Ann,

My girlfriend wasn't that hungry when she was breast feeding twins and didn't have much time to fix a meal for herself. Most of the time she would drink protein shakes from Arbonne for breakfast and lunch and eat dinner with the rest of her family. The shakes are full of nutrients. She would sometimes make a smoothie out of them with milk, fruit and yogurt. Let me know if this is something you would like to try. I can get you samples of the vanilla, chocolate and chai latte shakes.

A..
I just had a baby 7 weeks ago and am also breast feeding. I was the same for the first 2 weeks, nothing sounded good and I was hungrey but didn't really eat everything that was in sight. I asked my doctor about it and he said that it wouldn't effect my milk supply, it wouldn't even hurt the nutrients in the milk for baby, but that it hurts me. The baby is getting everything it needs and your body is the one that suffers. Also just as a side note, my milk started to regulate around 3 weeks and I thought that he wasn't getting enough or that I wasn't producing enough milk because my breasts weren't about ready to pop at any given time. However, it is normal to not feel like bursting at the seams all day just at night when they sleep longer than 4 hours, or you step out for shopping and forget to pump. The best way to know if she is getting enough food is to check the diaper.
As far as snacks go, I have found that that the little 4oz yogurts like Yoplait YO and Activia are GREAT for more than they taste great and are a perfect snack. I have also been keeping apples around and I snack every time I feed my son. so there you go! I hope that helps.

Babies have periods of time where all they want is to nurse. One of these is about now for you, the next is coming at 6 weeks. When it happened with us, I was too drained to care about eating when she'd finally crash. My nurse-midwife said that when I had a chance, put together a bunch of cut up cheese, crackers, fruit, peanut butter sandwiches, any food I didn't have to prepare or heat, and have it ready at hand. When you don't have to do anything to make food happen and it's right at hand, it might be a lot more appealing. One thing I just thought of along these lines is to heat up some easy to eat/drink soup like tomato or miso and put in a good thermos so there is something hot, too.

That happened to me as well- actually both my husband and I didn't eat much the first month or so!! When we thought about eating it would be time to nurse or making something took so long and he would need one of us for something or we were just too tired!!
I would suggest drinking a glass of milk while nursing- they told me to drink while nursing because you are stuck sitting and then you are for sure replenishing what baby is drinking.
Also- when you do have time make a huge dinner so that all you have to do is reheat really quickly :)

Also- yogurt was a good quick filler- fruit- string cheese- veg. sticks (prep before)....
I ate a lot of cereal and granola bars as well- which are not the best but held off the hunger till I had time to cook.

I also found that if I kept my glass of water full out on the counter I was more likely to drink it.

Eventually it is not so insane and you do get used to your new life :) AND nursing does get easier!!! My son had a horrible time (as did i) learning to nurse but we managed it for 15mo! and he was always a huge baby!

Good Luck- just do what you can :)

The not being hungry part is totally normal and will pass. I had to force myself to eat early on because there was just no appetite. That goes away and then you'll be hungry like you normally are, maybe even a little more! The other problem is being so wrapped up with baby that you forget to nourish yourself. It will take a consistent effort to remember. I've just gotten in the habit of when I put her down to play after nursing I go eat something and drink a lot of water. Your routine will be based on you babies schedule. So just add in eating. Baby wakes up, Nursing, Baby plays you eat, Baby nurses and goes back down for nap.
Congratulations and Best Wishes,
K.

Just try to get yourself to eat 3 healthy meals a day. The best thing you can do for yourself is increase your water intake. The brain will take the nutrients from you and put it in your breastmilk. This should make you hungry, kinda like when you were pregnant. But drinking LOTS of water is very important to keep your milk supply up.

Good Luck!

Hi A.,
Congratulations on your baby girl. Isn't it great? I also had a baby girl on Feb. 8...and we're enjoying every minute of her. My appetite is just starting to come back...but I do have to remind myself to eat. (I normally grab a little snack when she is sleeping). Right now, I'm eating cheese and crackers. It's quick and easy! Dinners have been tough though, thankfully my husband has been cooking.

No need to worry....I had very little appetite when my son was first born and I solely breastfed (he was born in Feb too and we breastfed for a year). Give it time and the appetite will kick in for sure. Right now you are both adjusting to your new life, your body is still recovering, and your daughter might not be eating a lot yet. It took me a good month or so (maybe even six weeks) to get some appetite back. The real hunger comes when they are older and eating a lot of milk, between 6 and 9 months I was starving and couldn't get enough food my son was eating so much. For snacks, just do what's easiest for you....string cheese, granola bars, crackers, fruits and really push the water (and don't be averse to that piece of chocolate cake if it sounds really good!). I kept a large water bottle around and knew how many I had to drink in a day to get enough water. Have fun...it's a great ride!

I had the same thing happen to me, not only was I not hungry, but I would actually throw up at the thought of eating. Throwing up with your not healed body is not fun either. What I found was helpful was to get out every day and move around, then sometimes I could eat. I would also eat whatever sounded like I could get down. Don't worry about Maura not getting enough nutrients she will take from you, but after a while it will drain you. So go to the store and get whatever you want to eat until your body evens out. Good luck!