Mom Needs to Gain Weight While breastfeeding...please Help!

Updated on July 28, 2010
J.F. asks from Bloomington, IN
7 answers

I have a 17 year old friend who is breastfeeding a 7 month old baby (who was born 2 months early!). The baby is lactose intollerant and since this was discovered a month ago, my friend has lost even more weight since she has cut out all dairy in her own diet. She doesn't want to stop breastfeeding, but is conscerned that she is at risk with her current weight of 95 pounds. She plans to call her own doctor about this, but I suggested we ask moms on this forum to get all the information we can.

What do you suggest??? Do you know of any foods that she could eat that would help her gain weight but also be good for the baby? (ie: no fast food, dairy, gassy foods)

Thanks for any advice you send!

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P.O.

answers from Harrisburg on

Avocados, Chicken breast, Eggs, Bread, peanuts

2 moms found this helpful
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V.J.

answers from Phoenix on

I found this info on the Mayo Clinic's website as a response to someone asking for ways to healthfully gain weight.
-Consume 5-6 meals per day rather than 2-3 large meals.
-Add calorie dense snacks like peanut butter, avocados, dried fruits, nuts, and whole grain crackers, and granola bars.
-Eat nutrient rich foods like whole grain breads, pastas, lean protein and eggs, fruit & vegetables, sweet potatoes, nuts, and seeds.

They also had suggestions to add cheese and whole fat dairy, but since your friend cannot have dairy, maybe she could try soy milk or almond milk. I can't tolerate milk and I have found that vanilla Silk is pretty good.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

High-calorie, good fat foods are best. Avacado is a GREAT option. Sweet potatoes don't have fat, but they are pretty high-calorie with lots of nutrients.
Nuts are higher calorie and have good fats (not peanuts, but almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts - Planters makes a yummy combo tin). Carbs are ok, but they really aren't a good way to gain needed weight. Cutting them is a decent way to take off weight, but it doesn't work as well the other way around.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.D.

answers from St. Louis on

I too had to gain after baby was born. My Dr. Said to drink Ensure BETWEEN meals not as a replacement. It helped.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

She can eat fast foods, and gassy foods. Just in small amounts. She should be consuming 2500 calories a day. Carbs, carbs, carbs and more carbs. She really needs to see a doctor or a lactation consultant.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.G.

answers from Chattanooga on

Carbs is the key here and healthy.. pasta, bagels, healthy cereals will all help

1 mom found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Dallas on

I had to gain weight for different reasons, but I also weighed 95 pounds. I was told to never go more then a few hours without eating. Tell her to add foods with good fats. For example: nuts, peanut butter, dried fruits and avocados. Avoid lots of processed foods with sugar, sodas, and candies. Eat lean red meat; chicken and dark-meat turkey. I gained 10 pounds fairly quickly. I ate avocados, humus, nut butters, and lean meats every day. I ate lots of vegetables, bran muffins and nuts as snacks. Carbs are good, but make sure they are complex carbs like whole wheat pasta and things like that. I ate all day, but healthfully. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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