The Total Calories Needed for Nursing Mothers

Women who are breastfeeding have to take good care of themselves to make sure they make enough milk for their babies. This care includes eating enough food, drinking enough water and getting enough rest. Exactly how many calories a woman needs to eat while she is breastfeeding depends on her weight, how much she exercises, how much her baby nurses and how much she ate before she became pregnant.

  1. Nutrition Needs

    • Each woman's total calorie needs are different. However, the Kelly Mom website says that breastfeeding moms need about 300 to 500 additional calories over what they were eating before they got pregnant. Therefore, if you ate a 1,500-calorie-per-day diet, you would need to eat 1,800 to 2,000 calories. Most women already eat about 300 extra calories per day during pregnancy, so most breastfeeding mothers will only need to eat about 200 additional calories beyond what they were eating during pregnancy. The Kelly Mom site says that the total additional calorie needs are the equivalent of about two snacks.

    Calories and Milk Supply

    • New mothers often want to lose their baby weight as quickly as possible, but skimping on eating can negatively impact their milk supply. Breastfeeding mothers need to eat a diverse diet. Dr. Jay Gordon recommends that mothers eat nutritionally dense foods These are not the same as calorically dense foods, which may include fried or fast foods. Nutritionally dense foods have plenty of fiber, protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. These nutrients help mothers to protect their milk supply and their health while they are nursing.

    Cutting Calories

    • It is possible to cut calories while you're nursing, but you must be careful not to cut too far and negatively affect your milk supply. The La Leche League International website says that mothers can cut calories as much as 25 percent without hurting their supply. However, nursing mothers should not eat less than 1,800 calories per day. Losing weight too rapidly will not only impact milk supply, but it can also release dangerous toxins into your milk, according to the LLLI site.

    Losing Weight

    • Mothers who wish to lose weight should strive for slow and steady loss. Dr. Jay Gordon recommends getting a little bit of exercise each day, such as a 20- to 40-minute walk or a little bit of yoga. Doing these activities with your baby can make it easier to fit them into your day. Drink plenty of water instead of juice or sugary drinks, and focus on energy-dense foods, such as healthy fats.

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