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Mothers of New Babies and Toddlers

Breastfeeding

Weight Loss

Did you know? Mothers who breastfeed their baby for the first 4 months and continue until at least 6 months will have greater weight loss than mothers who choose to formula feed their baby.

Did you know? A day's worth of breastfeeding your baby involves 8 to 12 feedings a day. This requires extra energy, up to 500 calories or more each day!

Much of this energy comes from the body fat you gained during your pregnancy. This body fat has a purpose—to provide you with the energy you will need to breastfeed your newborn baby!

Put aside your desire to diet or do a lot of physical activity

 

The first 6 weeks after your baby is born is NOT the time to diet and/or do a lot of physical activities to lose the body fat that you gained when you were pregnant. If you eat too few calories, you may make less breast milk. This could affect your baby’s growth and development.

If you decide to eat less to help lose some body fat, make sure you eat at least 1500 kcal/day. It took many months for you to add that extra body fat, so do not expect it to melt away quickly. You will lose weight gradually during the first year after your baby’s birth. You may notice you are losing weight the most around 5 months after birth.  Click here for Healthy Weight information.

How to promote gradual weight loss:

  • Rate Your Plate to see how you can improve your diet.

  • Drink enough fluids, especially water, to stay well hydrated and to help you feel full.

  • Eat healthy snacks and small meals, spaced evenly throughout your day. Use the Heart and Stroke’s Mix and Match Guide to help you plan your snacks and meals.

  • Begin or resume a light physical activity program.

How to include physical activities:

Planning to start doing some physical activities 6 weeks after giving birth will help promote gradual weight loss. You can progress in a reasonable way to a moderate level of physical exercise during the month or two that follow.

As you increase your physical activity level, make sure to eat and drink enough so that you have some energy left at the end of your day.

Do physical activities AFTER breastfeeding or pumping breast milk, AND make sure to…

 

  • Drink fluids before, during, and after your physical activities.

  • Drink fluids each time you breastfeed.

 Click here for quick facts on physical activity and breastfeeding.