post partum eating!?

Question

I had my daughter by C-section 6 weeks ago. At first I was fine with not loosing any weight because I was recovering from the surgery and was not able to move around to great also I was not too carefull about my eating because people were bring us tons of food and I figured I would start a healthy eating plan when I was healed and able to prepare food for myself again. Anyways its now 6 weeks after I had my daughter and I find I'm absolutly starving all the time, It doesn't seem to matter what I do I'm always hungry. I am breast feeding but I know you only need 300-500 extra calories a day. I'm not too sure what to do as I'm eating more and having more cravings than when I was pregnant. Did anyone else experiance this? I've actually gained 5 lbs since my daughter was delivered!

Answer 1

Yes, this is completely normal. I had the same thing after I gave birth.

The trick is to find snacks that you can eat every hour that are good for you, you can buy (not too expensive) and are easy. Plus they need to be something that won't make the baby mad too.
I chose rice cakes. I would go through some many packs a week, drank a ton of water with them because they are dry... but they would fill me up in between meals.
Also, fresh fruit, granola bars, crackers, cheese, etc.
Just don't let yourself get hungry. That's the secret that I found. You know what happens when you are starving, and the baby is hungry, you end up eating peanut butter with a spoon while nursing. .. LOL

Answer 2

It does suck but unfortunately it does happen. Your body needs lots of protein and calories to rebuild its self after the surgery. The doctors forget to tell you about it because they figure you will be eating enough through breastfeeding calories. Once you fully recover the weight will drop. Don't worry about it so much. I gained 7lbs the first 3 weeks I was home from the hospital. At around 8 weeks after the surgery I just started dropping it like crazy! I lost 40lbs in the next month and a half! Too bad I gained 76lbs during pregnancy! Im still trying to get the last of the weight off. Good luck!

Answer 3

Yes, I felt the same way and i didn't breastfeed--ha ha ha. You are going to be more hungry because you are breastfeeding, just try to make healthy choices. Drink lots of water before you eat to fill you up, and eat small, frequent, healthy meals. That is the only thing that works for me, I have managed to shrink my stomach by eating smaller meals and eating more often than 3 times a day. Rice cakes, cereal w/ milk and bananas, grapes, cereal bars, etc. Also, you could try a meal replacement shake for the morning, they usually have proper nutrients and vitamins in them and they fill you up, or a yogurt/ berry smoothie in the morning or for lunch. Good Luck, it's only been 6 weeks, you will bounce back, from my c-section, it took me 2 months to feel anywhere close to normal and then I was carrying all that extra weight around--it's hard!!!

Answer 4

I've had that problem too. Your body is used to all that food from when you where pregnant, and you still get hungry all the time like you used to while expecting. The only way to combat it is to drink more and eat cereals, nuts, or fruits whenever you get hungry. That way you still get to eat all the time, but it's healthy stuff for breastfeeding, and since it's fiber filled foods, you crap it all off! It will take a little while though, but eventually your appetite will return to normal. Expect it take 3-4 months, though.

Answer 5

Have you tried instead of eating three normal meals a day, eating instead six small meals a day. This might help with the hunger and also you can vary it to the point of having something different all the time. If you are nursing, you want to make sure to get a good balance...not just vegies and things known to be healthy. Carbs are healthy too and if you don't get enough, it can cause you to be hungry...but eating lots of salads with your meals will help you get filled up so you aren't consuming too many carbs.

Answer 6

I had more cravings after my baby was born then when I was pregnant. I didn't gain any weight, but I'm struggling with losing it. Just try to eat healthier. I drink Crystal Light and water all day, eat a salad, wrap or sandwich for lunch and we cook all meat on the george foreman. And no butter. Since changing my diet, I've lost 10lbs... only 15 more to go!

Answer 7

your body is telling you that you need more nutrients, when i was breast feeding i gained weight and was hungry constantly! i could have ate all day seriously. right now, you shouldnt worry about weight, and stuff, the baby, is taking most of your bodies nutrients from you. that means you are going to have to take a multi vitamin, and eat more than usual.

my doctor told me to listen to my body, when you are hungry eat. because its your body telling you that you are needing nutrician. i never knew this, but doy ou know whne you are preg, and you crave certain foods? he said after the baby is born, with breast feeders, you crave food like you did before, because for example, you are craving oranges, or grapes, your body needs vitamin b.

just listen to your body, eat what you need to eat to be healthy, and keep your milk full of nutrients! believe me, in a few months, youwill lose thirty pounds because you wont have time to eat, youwill be running around chasing the lil one.

dont worry about your weight, it will come off. concentrate on being healthy and keeping lil one healthy.

Answer 8

This happened to me after the first few weeks, and I think it had to do with nursing. What I did was just make sure I was eating really healthy, and I started talking a walk everyday (pushing the stroller of course) and I contiuned to lose weight.

Answer 9

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. As long as you eat healthy (snack on fruits and veggies), an apple, carrot sticks etc you should see the weight come off.