Question regarding breastfeeding and caloric intake after gastric bypass

I'm a little over 2 years out from surgery. Had a baby boy in april. I gained 40! lbs during my pregnancy. bringing me up to 240lbs i'm down to 216. I want to keep losing weight. but I need to be able to keep breastfeeding my little bear (it's the only thing he will take and i love the bonding time with him). I'll be seeing a nutrionist soon. My physician recomeded 1800 a day. does that sound right to you guys??? i thought since i had the gastric bypass it would be less. i'm getting 30 mins of aerobic exercise a day (started this regimine up about 4 days ago (i was off track and i'm kicking my but back on track)

You don't really NEED 1800/day if you feel that is high for you, the most important thing is to make sure you stay hydrated and keep up on your labs and vitamins. Nursing can be as draining of your supplies as pregnancy can, so make sure you get your labs drawn on a regular basis! The other thing is that you want to stay out of ketosis (keyones do enter breastmilk, but there is no real long term study on how it effects the baby so it's best to just avoid it), so make sure to keep some good carbs in your diet.

I get between 900 and 1200 calories per day and I have been nursing for a year now!

i've been getting around 1300 to 1600 and exercising 30 mins or so a day cardio.

That sounds about right, just remember that women in 3rd world countries breastfeed their babies and they don't get anywhere near 1200 calories a day! Just drink and make sure to take your vit's every day and you should be fine.

my pcp actually did make that coment about starving women. Cause I had questioned her on what exactly i should be getting calorically and she asked if i was counting like why would i be? lol. and she said well don't worry about it decreasing your breastmilk. there are starving women in ethipia who are feeding their babies but you want to make sure your getting the right nutrients in the milk so he isn't under nourished. She asked about fluids (which i'm very vigilant about as well as my vitamins!) But did remind me that if i'm eating to few calories and exercising my body will go into starvation mode. I really do like my pcp i just wanted to know from a few people what their opinions/nutrionists/doctors may have recomended. Thanks so much for sharing :D

Sounds like you have a good PCP!

I am currently studying to become a La Leche League leader, and also will be returning to school to become a Certified Lactaion Consultant, so do not hesitate to email me with any breastfeeding questions you might have! If I don't have the answer I have a group of ladies and LC's at my disposal who probably do!~

Good luck.

thanks for that offer i'll keep you in mind if i have any more questions. we've done really well he's my fourth but the first who has been exclusively breastfed, and the first since surgery. He eats on demand (roughly every 3-4 hours now) takes about 10 mins. and only one breast. i'm a great producer and he's an efficient eater lol. he's 19lbs 25 1/2 inches at 4 1/2 months