I am breastfeeding, Why am I so hungry all the time and how can I control my cravings?

Question

I thought your apetite was supposed to go down after having a baby.

Answer 1

when you are nursing you are actually needing just as much calories as you did when pregnant. the reason is that you are producing milk, which takes a lot of calories. just make sure it's not empty ones, eat a balanced diet that way your child gets the good nutrients as well. drink plenty of fluids, and eat smaller meals more often, just like when you were pregnant. if you are having cravings, then eat, or drink water. i nursed for about a year, and for the first few months, i ate just as much if not more than i did when pregnant. i also lost a lot of the weight i gained too, because i was using so many calories producing milk, nursing, and keeping my own body working. take heart this doesn't last forever, and when you stop nursing your appetite will return to normal.

Answer 2

no!! breastfeeding uses at least half as much again of what a non-breastfeeding female needs in calories! your body now has to make a constant supply of milk which gets all its nutrients and fat from your body so your body has to make sure it has a good supply of nutrients and fats.. otherwise you will end up getting tired and run down because your body will use everything it can find for the milk leaving you with hardly anything if you don't eat up!! also don't worry so much about how much you are eating just make sure you have a well balanced diet, lots of fruit and veges and lots of water.. breastfeeding is natures way of getting your body back inshape, so just because you are eating more than you think you should, remember it is all being used to supply your baby with milk! basically when you were pregnant you didn't really need to eat for two.. now that you are feeding baby literally.. you need to eat for two :) your appetite will decrease as baby gets on to solids and as baby weans :) cravings are your body's way of letting you know what it needs.. try having a drink fo water and waiting for half an hour or so doing something else (not sitting there waiting for it to be half an hour hehe that ill just make you want it more).. then if you still 'crave' it then go ahead and eat it lol.. if you have it of course!!

Answer 3

Breastfeeding takes an additional 500-800 calories a day than when you were pregnant. Can you believe that is takes more calories to feed a baby than to grow one? Anyway this adds up to an additional sandwich, fruit or crackers and peanut butter. Drink plenty of fluids and eat numerous small meals and not just three big ones. This will help wiht your cravings and hellp you to feel fuller. Keep getting in the water and this will help clean out your system too> GOOD LUCK

Answer 4

If you're breastfeeding your body needs so much more energy, so you will definitely be more hungry! I remember I wanted to eat all the time. You don't want to "control" the cravings, it's your body telling you what you need. It's important to keep healthy snacks that are easy to eat (especially with one hand!). I bought the Boppy pillow, and I got very good at breastfeeding and eating at the same time. Try to eat whenever you feed your baby. You can try to lose weight after you wean your child. Try to eat things like yogurt, apples, bananas, crackers- if you snack on junk food, you'll just gain more weight but you won't have the nutrients for your baby.

Answer 5

Be very careful. I gained 75 pounds breastfeeding my second, because no body told me how hungry you get. What seems to be helping me this time around is water. A lot of water and bananas. I'll crave something sweet and those do it for me. If you find that you cant control them by having say two cookies instead of the whole box, buy them in bulk, but only a few at a time. Keep telling yourself "I don't need it" (Thats for junk food mind you) If its not in the house its harder to eat.

Answer 6

My daughter is 3 months old and I breastfeed as well. I have read that you need an additonal 500 calories a day to maintain a good milk supply. I know that even though breastfeeding has made me hungry ( and especially thirsty) I have lost almost all of the baby weight.

Answer 7

You need to feed yourself in order to feed your child. Just eat as healthily as you can, if you have a craving just enjoy a smaller portion of the craving food.

While eating more lean protiens fruits and veggies.

I have never had a child so I really do not know a heck of alot about breast feeding, but I would think that you would have to eat a little more in order for you to produce a nutritious milk for the baby, so there is nothing wrong with indulging your cravings once in a while.

Answer 8

Don't control your cravings - just try to get in alot of healthy food. I breast my second daughter and I thought I ate more than when i was pregnant. Think about all the energy your body uses to create the milk and look after bubs. It will settle down but at the moment just eat when your hungry.

Answer 9

Remember -- you are providing nutrition for 2 people and need more fuel to enable your body to properly create the necessary milk for the baby. At this time you may want to consider eating more. Consult a Neonatal nutritionist for some healthy methods of eating.

Answer 10

You still have to keep up with the increased metabolism as you are burning more calories than before - this is why you are so hungry all of the time. Just try eat healthy and enjoy this time with your baby...it's the best!