Weight Loss Benefits From Breastfeeding

Breast-feeding your baby not only provides her with enormous health benefits, but also helps you get back into your pre-pregnant size sooner. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1993, breast-feeding mothers have a net loss in triceps-skinfold thickness whereas mothers who formula-feed gain fat at this site. The same study states that continual breast-feeding for at least 6 months postpartum enhances weight-loss. When combined with a sensible diet and exercise regime, you can achieve better health, lose weight and provide your baby with the best food on earth.

Features

Normal breast milk contains about 20 calories per ounce and an average baby consumes about 25 ounces of breast milk per day, which means that an exclusively-breast-feeding mother expends about 500 calories from breast-feeding each day.

Time Frame

You should postpone weight-loss dieting and exercise until after 2-month postpartum, during which your body is in recovery mode and establishing milk supply. After 2-month postpartum, you might start a sensibly weight-loss program and exercise to lose weight. You can safely lose up to 1.5 pounds per week without affecting your milk supply, according to the Kellymom website. However, do not consume less than 1,500 calories per day, as it may cause milk supply to decrease.
According to Anne Smith, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, the most significant weight-loss in nursing mothers happen between three to six months postpartum. According to La Leche League, on average, nursing mothers lose about 1.3 to 1.6 lbs. per month in the first four to six months.
Compared to mothers who formula-feed, nursing mothers lose an average of 4.4 lbs. more by the end of the first year.

Misconceptions

There is no need to avoid exercising only because you are breastfeeding. Lactic acid from exercise has little or no effect on milk production or milk quality. In fact, study has shown that breastfeeding women have slightly higher milk volume, according to La Leche League. Therefore, you should combine a healthy exercise routine with a well-balanced diet to achieve maximum weight-loss result.

Considerations

It is important to eat a balanced and varied diet to ensure nutrition for both you and your baby. However, if you are limiting your caloric intake, pay extra attention on your calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6 and folate level. If those requirements are not met through your diet, you should consider taking supplements.

Warning

Experts recommend that nursing mothers consume at least 1,800 calories per day in order to maintain an abundant milk supply. Talk to your doctor or a lactation consultant if you are concerned about your nutrition or milk supply.
Talk with your doctor before taking any supplements.