Nursing and STARVING

amother

OP ↓

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 10:57 pm

I know that I'm not supposed to be focused on weight loss while nursing, but I've gained like 10lbs in 10 weeks since baby is born and I feel disgusting. I'm just starving to the point my stomach hurts, my joints hurt. I feel tired all the time and I fall into snacking on everything. I'm already back at my exercsise class once a week and my weight just went up.

amother

DarkOrange

Wed, Nov 27 2024, 11:07 pm

I know the feeling.. I nursed my baby for 3 months and I was just exhausted, hungry and didn’t feel like myself. I think it’s normal with so many hormonal changes. It was hard to stop bf, but I have to admit I felt like myself again and had so much more energy. I was so happy I bf but it was also the right month to stop for me. I made peace with it

amother

Stone

Thu, Nov 28 2024, 5:07 am

I'm guessing the snacks are just made up of empty carbs and calories. I might be wrong. But to have filling food with a lot of protein will keep you full longer and help you not reach for so many snacks. I've basically eaten meat every day since I've been nursing because if I don't im starving. Try high protein foods only/majority

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Nov 28 2024, 11:08 am

Yes I am drinking a lot usually close to 64 oz per day. I'm surviving on coffee because this baby doesn't sleep well (lots of reflux) and when the coffee wears off I'm VORACIOUS. This is HUNGER. I'm constantly drinking I have these 32oz water bottles that I usually drink at least two of per day.

I'm frustrated because. I lost 70 lbs in the year before I got pregnant and now I'm back to where I started and I feel its getting worse! It's like everything I'm eating is making me gain weight!

amother

Hyacinth

Thu, Nov 28 2024, 11:16 am

I'm also nursing and soo hungry and having a hard time making good eating choices. I feel you. I know that eating snacks that are full of sugar and not nutritious are not helpful but I just need the food NOW!
I think the solution is having better options around, easily. Like for snacks: a trail mix or just plain nuts, veggie and chummus/techina, apple/banana with peanut butter, whole-grain crackers.. And of course nutritious well-rounded meals too, although that is even harder!

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Nov 28 2024, 11:28 am

amother Cinnamon wrote:

Are you eating plenty of healthy fats?

Empty carbs can make you feel more hungry, especially if you eat at night

I'm really trying--which in this economy is hard.

I'm even adding sugar-free water flavors with B vitamins in them to help with energy and mood, but not drinking more coffee.

amother

Freesia

Thu, Nov 28 2024, 11:42 am

Coffee is very dehydrating. It can also be contributing to the baby's reflux because it's so acidic. Also,it's extremely hard on your adrenals which are already taxed due to the hormonal changes + sleep deprivation. Taxed adrenals put you in fight-flight which contributes to constant hunger.

You need better sources of energy and loads of very nutrient dense, blood sugar friendly foods. B vitamins are great, but not the supermarket or vitamin water variety. You need a high quality source with high quality forms your body can actually use.

Also, you may want to check your thyroid. It often is out of whack postpartum and that can lead to extreme hunger and weight gain too.

amother

Razzmatazz

Thu, Nov 28 2024, 12:05 pm

Weight watchers has helped me for this. They allocate more points for nursing, & since "free" no-point foods are very nourishing (legumes, eggs, fish, poultry, tofu, fruit, veggies...) it helps me to eat in a more well-rounded manner

I'm also able to eat more intuitively with a framework of not eating way too much (I have a big appetite), but also eating enough

amother

↑ OP

Thu, Nov 28 2024, 12:31 pm

amother Freesia wrote:

I've had other kids with bad reflux, but others not so bad. But I'm getting like 4-5 hours of sleep and I'm officially back to work. So sometimes I dont' have a choice with the coffee, but I didn't have much coffee while I was on maternity leave and he still had very bad reflux.