There is a lot of pressure on moms to lose the baby weight as fast as possible, ideally within weeks of giving birth. But that weight loss shouldn't be encouraged with dieting or food restriction — you should be increasing your calorie count while your child is breastfeeding. Producing milk uses up about 500 calories a day, which means if you cut down on calories while you're breastfeeding, you're at risk of drying up your supply. That's not good for you or your baby.
Rather than dieting when you're breastfeeding, focus on eating a relatively healthy and vegetable-rich diet. Be sure you're getting enough fat and protein as well to keep your energy up. Doctors recommend consuming a minimum 1,800 calories a day while breastfeeding.
