how many calories do you burn when you are nursing your baby?

Answer 1

An exclusively breastfeeding mother, on average, needs to take in 300-500 calories per day above what was needed to maintain pre-pregnancy weight. Since the recommended added calories during the last two trimesters of pregnancy is 300 calories/day, an exclusively breastfeeding mother will typically need either the same amount of calories she was getting at the end of pregnancy, or up to 200 additional calories per day. That's the equivalent of adding 1-2 healthy snacks per day.

Studies have shown that most healthy breastfeeding women maintain an abundant milk supply while taking in 1800-2200 (or more) calories per day. Consuming less than 1500-1800 calories per day (most women should stay at the high end of this range) may put your milk supply at risk, as may a sudden drop in caloric intake.

Answer 2

It all depends on how often and how long you nurse your baby. The longer you nurse the more calories you burn, so make sure you are getting enough caloric intake and fluids to support milk production. You should be eating an extra 500-600 calories when breastfeeding.

Answer 3

I agree with everything the first poster said, but I will add this: you need to drink a LOT more water when you're breastfeeding.