Calorie Intake _ Nursing and Pregnant

Updated on January 07, 2011
A.S. asks from Mesquite, TX
5 answers

Hello... I have never tracked calories in the past because I have never been over weight, under weight, and have always eaten daily exactly what my body wants. If my body says it is hungry then I eat a lot. If it says it's not so hungry I eat less. I am one of those people that eat to survive not live to eat and it has always been good to me.

I am 5'8" tall and last weighed in between 132-135 pounds. I am nursing my 2 year old every couples of days (at bedtime), I am still nursing our 14 months old daughter 4-6 times a day, and am 6 weeks pregnant with baby #3. Because I naturally lost two pregnancies in 2010 (not planned pregnancies... this current one was) I have been keeping extremely great records of my food intake to be sure I get all the food groups and their quantities and have been staying away from all caffeine and sugars (even more than I did before getting pregnant).

I recently asked on MamaPedia about a website I could track my food intake to be sure I got all the food groups and all the right quantities. I didn't find exactly what I was hoping to find but I did find a site that allows me to log-in my daily meals and snacks and it keeps record of my calorie intake. Because I just started doing this in the last few weeks I have no clue what my calorie intake has been previously in my life. Since I started logging my food/calories since week 4 of my pregnancy I have seen a fluctuation. It started out about 1,500 calories a day, then went up to over 2,000 around the New Years from all the festive foods, then it went down to about 1,900-1,800 calories a day and now it is back down to averaging 1,500 a day. I am not limiting my food. I won't log my food/calories until the day is completely over or even the next day so I don't feel the pressure to stop eating if the calories are high. However, this 1,500 daily calories at 6 weeks pregnant and still nursing 2 babies is surprising to me. I am wondering... should I be forcing myself to get more calories a day... or at least make an effort to get more calories in me daily or do you think this number is fine?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.D.

answers from Dallas on

Yes you do need the extra calories. Your body is a work horse apparently. You are quite amazing to be able to do that much. I mean WOW!

So, you normally weigh about 135 which is normal to small for your height. If you were going to just maintain that weight without breastfeeding and being pregnant, you would want to multiply that number by 10... So your caloric base would be 1350. In the last 2 trimesters of your pregnancy, you should be taking in around 300 calories more than your base for your pregnancy. Also, they normally recommend 300 - 500 calories daily for someone who is exclusively breastfeeding. Since you are breast feeding 2, pick your range.

Personally, I would say to drink one more glass of whole milk with a graham cracker or two, or a bowl of cereal before bedtime. that should give you around 200 to 300 calories.

Good article: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-calories-fluids...

Congrats on the pregnancy!

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

Well I'm not positive on all of this but I know to not loose your milk supply you need to eat at least 1500 calories a day (which you are) and in the first trimester you don't have to change your eating at all. You don't have to start eating more calories until the 2nd and 3rd trimester. so right now you are fine. But you will need to increase your intake a little....like only 300 to 500 more once you are farther along.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.H.

answers from Washington DC on

anything i've ever read about daily caloric intake while pregnant says you should eat about 2,000 calories a day. you may need more if you're nursing 2 babies-wow! they don't need to be fattening calories. maybe eat some more fruit or a yogurt, an extra glass of 100% juice, pb&j sandwich (just some of my faves:) and enjoy having to eat more calories-what fun!
good luck to you and your growing family!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Dallas on

Ummm, YES! I am 5'4" and weigh 110. I ate about 1800 calories a day with my first and he was born premature ... Thats a risk factor if you dont eat enough, which i guess i wasnt.sdf. My second son i pushed for 2200 to 2300 calories a day. Born on time and BIG! I went to 132 lbs and was back to my pre preg weight within 6weeks. I nursed both of my kids and upped my intake by 500 a day for that, so i re ained around 2300 while i nursed. You are bigger than me and nursing two kids AND pregnant. I would imagine for your third to be strong and robust and for your second to get what she neds you should be eating at least 1000 caloreies more than you are.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from Dothan on

No dont force in more calories. Thats how I got fat post 2 babies. 1200 calories is min 1500 is max. Do not let that idea of you must eat more for your babies. It makes ya fat fat fat fat fat! I wish someone would have told me that cause BFing does not burn calories, Im sorry thats a lie too or else I wouldnt have so much baby weight.!!!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions