Why do I get so hungry while breastfeeding?

Understanding Hunger While Breastfeeding
For many new mothers, the experience of breastfeeding comes with an unexpected side effect: intense hunger. This phenomenon can leave many feeling frustrated and confused, especially when trying to balance their nutritional needs with the demands of caring for a newborn. So, why does breastfeeding lead to such a voracious appetite?
The Energy Demands of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not just a bonding experience; it is also a physically demanding process. Producing milk requires a significant amount of energy. In fact, breastfeeding mothers can burn several hundred calories per day—estimates suggest anywhere from 300 to 500 calories, depending on various factors such as the frequency of feedings and the mother’s metabolism. This increased caloric expenditure naturally leads to a heightened sense of hunger as the body seeks to replenish the energy used in milk production.
Hormonal Influences
Hormones also play a crucial role in the hunger experienced during breastfeeding. The body undergoes various hormonal changes postpartum, including fluctuations in levels of prolactin and oxytocin, which are essential for milk production and release. These hormonal shifts can influence appetite regulation, often leading to increased feelings of hunger.
Nutritional Needs
Moreover, breastfeeding mothers have unique nutritional requirements. The body needs a well-rounded intake of nutrients to support both the mother’s health and the baby’s development. This includes increased needs for calcium, iron, and vitamins, which can contribute to feelings of hunger if not adequately met. If a mother is not consuming enough nutrient-dense foods, she may find herself feeling hungry more often as her body signals for the necessary nutrients.
Psychological Factors
The psychological aspect of motherhood can also contribute to increased hunger. The stress and fatigue associated with caring for a newborn can lead to emotional eating or cravings for comfort foods. This can create a cycle where the mother feels compelled to eat more, not just for physical hunger but also as a response to emotional needs.
Managing Hunger
While the increased hunger can be overwhelming, there are strategies to manage it effectively. Focusing on nutrient-dense foods—such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins—can help satisfy hunger without excessive calorie intake. Staying hydrated is equally important, as dehydration can sometimes be mistaken for hunger.
In conclusion, the heightened hunger experienced during breastfeeding is a natural response to the increased energy demands, hormonal changes, and nutritional needs of new mothers. Understanding these factors can help mothers navigate their appetite and maintain a balanced diet while enjoying the breastfeeding journey.

Why am I putting on weight while breastfeeding?

Research from 2020 shows that breastfeeding may increase appetite, which may lead to increased weight gain if people take in more calories than necessary. Higher levels of prolactin, the hormone involved in milk production, may have links to increased appetite and food intake.

Is it OK to eat more while breastfeeding?

Yes. Breastfeeding mothers generally need more calories to meet their nutritional needs. To be well-nourished, breastfeeding mothers need 340 to 400 more kilocalories (kcal) per day than the amount they consumed before pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of low calcium while breastfeeding?

Muscle Cramps and Weakness. Lactating mothers experiencing unexplained muscle cramps or weakness may be exhibiting early signs of calcium deficiency.

Why avoid strawberries while breastfeeding?

A quart or more of orange juice or a diet heavy in seasonal fruits such as strawberries, melons or cherries have been associated with diarrhea and colicky symptoms in some infants. Foods containing many preservatives, additives or dyes have been associated with signs of discomfort in some babies.

How to suppress appetite while breastfeeding?

How to curb hunger while breastfeeding

1. Eat regularly. Fuelling your body regularly and consistently is key.
2. Limit sugar intake. When we are overtired, we see a spike in cortisol levels, which tells our body we are under stress.
3. Focus on nutrients, not calories.
4. Eat more protein.

Is it normal to be super hungry while breastfeeding?

Lactation plus being postpartum often creates energy demands on the body that are higher than that during pregnancy. Because of this, many breastfeeding moms may feel increased hunger, hungry more frequently, or more intense hunger.

What should a breastfeeding mother avoid eating?

Caffeine. It’s not just tea and coffee that contains caffeine – it’s in chocolate, and various energy drinks and soft drinks. It’s sensible to cut caffeine out while breastfeeding because it’s a stimulant so can make your baby restless. If you do drink caffeine, try not to have more than 300mg a day.

Why is my breastfed baby so hungry all the time?

Sometimes your baby will seem to be hungry all the time because he’s having a growth spurt (that’s when he’s growing more quickly so he needs to feed more often). The more milk your baby takes from the breasts, the more milk your breasts will make.

Why can’t I lose weight while breastfeeding?

While breastfeeding burns about 500-700 calories extra per day to fuel milk making, this may not always contribute to weight loss postpartum – many factors like pre-pregnancy weight, diet, physical activity level, etc will impact weight loss after birth (Institute of Medicine, 2002; Dewey, 1994).

Is breastfeeding hard on your body?

I’m talking wrist pain, back pain, rib pain, numbness, neck pain, tingling, tight muscles, feeling weak, breathing changes… All these changes to the musculoskeletal system and associated senorimotor cortext of the brain can start during a woman’s breastfeeding career.