Information I found on Dieting while breastfeeding

Unfortunately I found that dieting while breastfeeding may harm my milk supply - so I need to have more patience (which I'm not feeling at the moment)

Here is what I found at
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-weightloss.html


Six guidelines for safe dieting during lactation

Wait until your baby is two months old before dieting
It's best not to do anything consciously to lose weight until after the second month. This gives your body enough time to successfully establish a healthy milk supply that is less likely to be adversely affected if your caloric intake is restricted. Breastfeeding your baby, on average, burns 200-500 calories per day (above what you needed to maintain your pre-pregnancy weight) -- so keep in mind that even without a weight loss program you are burning extra calories.

Breastfeed without restriction
Research tells us that both more frequent breastfeeding and breastfeeding longer than six months increases maternal weight loss.

Eat at least 1500-1800 calories per day
While nursing, you should not consume less than 1500-1800 calories per day, and most women should stay at the high end of this range. Some mothers will require much more than this, but studies show that going below this number may put supply at risk.

Keep weight loss at less than 1.5 pounds per week
Most moms can safely lose up to 1.5 pounds per week or 6 pounds per month after the second month and not affect milk supply or baby's well being. One study has suggested that short-term weight loss of 2.2 pounds (1 kg) per week is not a problem (in this study, moms dieted for 11 days).

Decrease the calories gradually
A sudden drop in calories can reduce milk supply. Some moms notice this during an illness, although dehydration and/or medication use could also be a factor in reduced milk supply when mom is sick. It has been hypothesized that a sudden calorie decrease can cause mom's body to go into "starvation mode" and cut nonessential resources such as milk production.

Avoid quick-fix solutions
Liquid diets, low-carb diets, fad diets, weight loss medication, etc. are not recommended while breastfeeding.

What might happen if a nursing mother loses weight too quickly?

• In most instances of too-rapid weight loss, it is not the breastmilk (composition or supply) that would suffer, but mom's nutrition and/or health.
• Excessive dieting can result in a reduced milk supply.
• According to Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (3rd Edition, Riordan, pp 440), it is noted that fad or rapid weight loss programs should be avoided because fat-soluble environmental contaminants and toxins stored in body fat are released into the milk when caloric intake is severely restricted. I was unable to find a definition of "severely restricted" but I expect that it is significantly under 1500 calories per day (which they called a "modest intake"). I've included information on a study on this subject below. See also the info at this website regarding environmental contaminants and breastfeeding.

Still 252

Still 252lbs - not much has changed - having trouble getting motivated to cut out carbs - Finding my body is sore from the birthing (Stitches) and not able to be as active as I wish to be.

I am cropping myself out of the baby pictures - too hard for me to look at

Namast
B

Wednesday

Well today is Wednesday the scale said 253lbs again

Hard to tell what my weight is with the breast milk factor

Overall - not doing well - again got into sugar today - for breakfast I had 60seconds inbetween feedings so I had a peanut butter and honey sandwich - and there were Jelly bellies on the coffee table I got into.

Yesterday over a 24 hour period I fed Philip 23 times - today we are already up to 15 times since midnight and it's only 11:35 now - and he is in the background wanting more! He is gaining weight every day - and must be going through a growing spurt!

I'm finding I have no "me time" and that is creating an in-balance - even when I sleep I listen for him. I went to have a bath last night - and within 10 minutes of getting into the Tub Chris comes upstairs with the baby - he needs to feed again.

Today my parents are coming to visit overnight to help me clean out some rooms.
I'm finding I can't even get to the dishes etc.. - I know he is only 2 weeks old and we will eventually settle into a routine - I think Chris expects that now I'm home that the house will be cleaned, dinner on the table, laundry done, as well as doing 23 feedings a day plus diapers. I'm feeling that I can't do it all - and when I do get a few minutes between feeding I grab anything quick from the fridge that I can eat myself - and shove it down my throat as quickly as possible.
This happens when we've gone out to eat too - we both keep an eye on Philip wondering when he is going to start crying for his "boob feeding" - It seems to be my responsibility to "power eat" to be ready for the calling!

Even now I'm typing this as quickly as I can - the little guy is moaning in the background making sucking noises - shoving his hand in his mouth looking for more boob.

Philip is the most amazing thing - I love him more than I thought I could - and I'm very happy with him - I'm just starting to feel burnt out - not uncommon I hear - so I'm taking it in stride the best I know how - I'm finding this week "lonely" without Chris around. When he was here he could take the burping sessions during the day, gave me a 5 minute break. With Philip's current feeding patterns being "all the time" I'm not sure how to even get out of the house on my own without a crying hungry baby. Tomorrow I have to take Philip to the doctor at 3:30pm (another prime feeding moment) - I'm dreading it - Chris doesn't understand. When I told him I didn't want to go grocery shopping on my own - he accused me of finding excuses of not going outside - and was upset that I expected him to pick up groceries - Made me angry inside as I'm the one who has to be up all night and day to feed - He doesn't understand how exhausted I am. The idea of packing Philip up, getting to the grocery store - praying the whole time he doesn't cry for a boob - With my back and shoulder pain I can't carry the car seat around on one hip - I need to put him in the stroller to move him about. So I have to figure out how to get him into the grocery store - gather groceries - hope he doesn't get hungry -put groceries in the car - him in the car - unpack him and groceries - all by myself - It's not like going to the mall to pick up one item that is easily bought and brought back - groceries are a big move of items -takes a long time to do. I suggested we do a grocery night together - not sure how well that went over.

I'm not very domestic and Chris expects that the domestic fairy to sprinkle me with fairy dust and turn me into a homemaker now I'm a Mom - guess what - I still think making dinner is torture - and last night I wasn't even able to eat my dinner because I handled the meat raw which makes me feel ill - so I had a bowl of cereal once Chris went to bed for the rest of my dinner.

Well, Philip is starting to cry again - end of this post

Namaste
B

Tuesday - day 2

Day 2 weighed in at 252lbs

Not doing so well with Day 2

Philip has been up all night long - Between 12:30 am and 11:30 am (11 hours) he has fed 13 times - sleep deprived I have fallen off the wagon already eating sugar and too much food to get through the lack of sleep.

He has just got himself to sleep now (12:30pm) - So I now have to go for a nap and forgo walking and cleaning the house - as I'm working on 3 hours sleep myself.

Namaste
B.

July 2nd 2007 - starting the weight loss all over again plus some!

Well here I am
I had a baby and gained 63lbs
I am now 253lbs - largest weight I've ever seen
I'm disappointed in myself for not maintaining control while I was pregnant
The last 11 weeks were the hardest - as my blood pressure went up and I was ordered to "bed rest" at home - no walking, no vacuuming, no exertion - and lots of time to think and eat out of boredom.

I did not resist any cravings during my pregnancy - I ate all the burgers, chocolate, desserts etc.. I ate through my emotions of being pregnant.

Now here I am, 63lbs heaver - I did it to myself again! When will I learn?

I have the tools to correct this
1. Eat well
2. Exercise
3. Meditate
4. Sleep (well sleep may be difficult with a new born!)

I'm frustrated and disappointed in myself and I sure don't want any pictures of me taken these days - and there seems to be camera's everywhere with the new baby.

I don't want people to see me at this weight - I know what they say "She gained a lot of weight during her pregnancy" - Each time I've run into someone in the last two weeks post pregnancy my heart sinks as I know what I look like and it breaks my heart to not be me anymore in body.

Namaste
B

Philip Arrived

Hello

Baby Philip arrived on June 18, 2007 at 6:00pm at 8lbs 1oz he was 21 inches long!