How many calories does nursing actually burn?

[aliss]

I know 500 is the standard advice but does anyone know the details? Surely a woman nursing a 3 month old every 1-2 hours is burning a different amount then, for example, a 3 year old who only takes a nursing before bed.

Does anyone know or can provide sources that do? I'm back to my regular athletic training and find myself losing very rapidly (I'm counting calories very meticulously and giving myself 500 calories for nursing). Philippe is draining a boob every 1-2 hours (including overnight) and I'm thinking the 500 estimate may be too low for me.

(And I'm comparing to the same as after Alex, who I didn't nurse, but I was the exact same weights at)

Thanks!

 

[Sproglet]

Well, breastmilk has around 25-30 calories per ounce (kellymom), so if your hungry son is eating 30 oz a day (top end of average according to kellymom), that's 750-900 calories. And the calories in breastmilk must be coming from your body/food intake, right? I don't know if breastfeeding actually burns off any calories, or if it's only the calories you lose to the milk that you have to take into account, but either way you're right and 500 calories sounds too low for you. The 'standard' 500 calories would therefore equate to a lower end of average intake of 20 oz.

 

[aliss]

Oh okay, that's interesting!! I have no idea how much he takes but he's over 100th percentile in weight so likely on the higher end for sure.

I'm losing about 2lbs per week on 2000 calories a day (precise measure too), I'm only 134lbs now!

 

[Sproglet]

A deficit of 500 calories a day will lose you around 1lb a week. So if you wanted to maintain your weight, you'd have to eat 3000 calories. To lose just 1lb a week, you'd have to eat 2500.

Disclaimer: I'm not a nutritionalist or dietician, just a random fact I remembered from somewhere!

 

[aliss]

Yeah, it's crazy eh? My sport is powerlifting, I guess that's why I'm losing so fast on 2000! I should have another dinner

 

[Sproglet]

I always go along the lines of 'one for me, one for Robyn'!

 

[cat lover]

ive no idea but i seem to be able to eat ANYTHING without gaining weight

 

[Aimee4311]

I'm interested in this too. I gained about 35 lbs, and am now only 10 lbs over pre-baby weight and I keep losing. I'm fine with continuing to lose weight until I'm back or slightly below my previous weight. I'm eating around 2500 cals and still losing at 1-1.5 lbs/week. My little hungry chunky baby also eats about every 1.5-2 hours.

I get hungry so often now! And I'm feeding both of us on demand

 

[marron]

Wow, you all are so lucky!! I'm still well over my pre-pregnancy weight and breastfeeding doesn't seem to be making any difference

 

[Aimee4311]

Wow, you all are so lucky!! I'm still well over my pre-pregnancy weight and breastfeeding doesn't seem to be making any difference

Well, to be honest, I could be dropping weight not because of BFing, but because of all the walking I have to do to get Josalyn to sleep!

 

[ayls]

According to Ehow Mom, breastfeeding burns an average of 500 calories, but typically the range is around 200 - 600 burned calories in a day. A production of 1 oz. of breastmilk can burn 20 calories. For additional details, you can read the article here. https://www.ehow.com/about_4598063_many-do-burn-day-breastfeeding_.html#page=0

 

[alaskagrown]

I make 50 to 60 oz per day.... and I eat every 30 minutes. I am 118 pounds!!!

 

[Emerald87]

I produce about 68oz a day. That means about 2000 calories! No wonder i'm hungry ALL the time (in fact I'm eating chocolate right now...)

Thanks sproglet!

 

[susannah14]

This is interesting. I make 40 oz a day, that's 800 calories, and at 112 pounds it would be unhealthy for me to lose any weight. I don't know how bodies do it, but I guess my body has self-regulated to not burn off any of my own fat. I don't pig out either, I guess 2000 cals a day is what I get on average.

 

[brunette&bubs]

Not absolutely sure but I was able virtually anything while maintaining a pretty low weight.

I've heard anywhere between 10-30 calories per ounce

 

[beautifulpack]

I stay hungry all day!!! Im not used to being this hungry, in fact I dont even remember ever being this hungry including my pregnancy. Does the hungry feeling ever die down?? I make about 30 oz a day.

 

[kissesandhugs]

I've been somewhat counting calories for the past week or so, I kno- big no-no. Not trying to loose weight, just trying to stay healthy! Anyways, I was 125 pre-preg, 150 @ the end, and I'm down to 118 now!! I've gotta be burning alot, I haven't weighed this in over 4 years.