Getting too skinny while BFing- any advice?

[kochanyk]

This is my 2nd baby & 2nd time battling this issue. I eat minimum 3K calories/day but try to get 5K. I went to a doc last time & had tons of tests (thyroid, parasites, etc) & I'm very healthy; just very thin. Pre-DS1 I was a healthy 5'5 150... got down to 112 & was wearing sz 12/14 in girls' . Now I'm 118. I look gross at this weight (very gaunt- people guess I'm barely 100 lbs : ). I really don't know what to do! Last time I weaned DS for days at a year (he night nursed til I was 5 mo pg) so I could gain- and I gained 25lbs and got cycles back too. I REALLY don't want to wean DS 2 at all if possible. Should I see a nutritionist? Any advice?

[Monkeygrrl]

no advice, just hugs...

it would be a good idea to see a nutritionist...they might be able to give you some good ideas for ways to boost your caloric intake...

peace...

[Llyra]

I'm also struggling with this and find I get little support from others. People just don't get that it's not good or healthy for me to be so painfully thin; they're like wow I wish I had that problem. I'm nursing two, and battling a flare-up of inflammatory bowel disease, so I'm losing fast and just can't keep up with my caloric and fluid demands. I'm actually considering something like Ensure to try and put on a little weight.

[RoadWorkAhead]

Look for possible food causes. I am losing exceptionally fast (but still had some extra so its not a problem *yet*) due to a total elim. diet for DD"s severe food intolerances. Since starting I have noticed that sulfites cause me serious IBS type symptoms and I lose even more (think wine, vinegar, dried fruits for a few) as do potatoes, dairy doesn't agree with me as I always thought it did, etc. Try keeping a food journal and seeing a dietitian or nutrionist about increasing calories in healthy ways while wokring on what could be causing the wiehgt loss. Problems with unnoticed food intolerances can cause extra weight loss

[nummies]

Just wanted to offer support. I think seeing a nutritionist is a great idea.

[kochanyk]

Oh great idea on the journal! Thanks for the advice; I'll call around today & see if I can find a nutritionist (pro-BFing!)

[NewmomMarch12]

I hear ya... I have the same problem and am sooooo sick of the comments. I'm at least eating triple what I ate before. I'm personally starting to worry about it however and have started to supplement with formula. My little guy (4 months) is huge and eats a lot, I just can't keep up anymore.

[SPOpa]

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[mamak05]

I had this issue when my husband deployed for several months and I was taking care of DD, the house and "myself." I just couldn't eat enough for all I was doing. I bet with two kids that is even harder.

In addition to keeping your food journal, could you also look at your activity level and see if there might be some areas of activity you could cut back on or get extra help with at this time? That might include consolidating errands with a friend or let your DP handle the laundry or if it is in the budget hire a cleaning lady for a while.

I found that avocados, eggs and coconut milk helped me quite a bit (think scrambled eggs with a mango, avocado, coconut milk smoothie for breakfast).

Hope you find several solutions!

[sunflowers]

I had this happen, also

It got so bad at one point that people kept asking if I was sick- some even thought I had a very severe illness.

Just wanted to let you know you're not alone and I agree completely with what a pp said about others not having any empathy for the "flip side" of weight.

What I tried to do to curb some of the consistant loss was to use liberal oils and fats in my diet. Lots of avacado It really helped me in terms of making sure my milk was fatty enough for dd and it boosted my calories. I ate like there was no tomorrow, too

And I wanted to mention that a nutritionist is a wonderful resource! My dd has one (she is a preemie and very tiny, too) and hers is great about BFing and even tolerates my extended BFing very well! I don't know if she personally has any aversion to it but she supports my efforts, nevertheless.

[LiLeon]

Hugs and to all women struggling with this issue.
There isn't much understanding or sympathy out there for what you are going through. Incorporating calories into your drinks(smoothies, natural fruit juices, not soda) sounds like a good idea. Good luck.

[meowee]

Have you tried looking at the overall quality of your diet?

If I were trying to gain weight I would make sure to consume a lot of olive oil each day, olive oil is one of the most calorie dense foods there is. Honey is also calorie dense.

Potatoes and rice can help with weight gain too. I roast potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks, at 425 F, drenched in olive oil, until they are dark, about 1.5 hours. You can use as much as a cup of olive oil per 8 cut potatoes.

[Pastrydemon]

I had this issue when DD was nursing a lot. I'm 5'7", normally around 135. I dropped to about 115 and could not keep it on. I was very skinny in high school and weighed about 120 then. I was healthy, had energy (well, except for some lack of sleep issues due to round the clock nursing) and felt fine. I honestly just did not like being a size 0. It felt a little too small for my frame. I just made sure I had a heathly diet with lots of healthy fats (as the PPs have suggested). The weight started coming back around 21 months when DD night weaned. When she weaned completely at 37 months, ALL the weight came back. Wondering if this will happen with this preg/nursling?

Good luck to you and the advice to see a nutritionist is great.

[mykidsteacher]

I too, battled rapid weight loss due to an elimination diet. It also affected my supply.

My remedy was as others have said, lots of good fats. I drizzled olive oil on everything--my rice, whatever veggies I could eat, on my potatoes when I got them back, even on my meats. I had smoothies with coconut oil in them. I tried avocado, but it bothers dd.

I also just ate more of everything. And I ate more often.

I have more variety now, even though we are still trialling foods, and my weight has stabilized. But if I'm not careful (I get bored with my diet and just stop eating even if I'm not full because I'm just tired of it), I'll start losing again.

Good luck.

[urthmama]

I just wanted to second everyone who said avocado (and other good fats). I eat at least one avocado a day, sometimes two. Coconout milk is also great for putting on weight healthfully. Seeing a nutritionist sounds like an excellent idea.

[Khourtniey]

Im not dealing with this currently but have before and not when nursing.. It really is hard (emotionally and physically) I hope you get it figured out and sorted

[CarricksMom]

I have the same problem. I found another thread about this a while back and it suggested "Protein, Proten, Protein!" Dr. Sears has a good recipe for a smoothie [URL="http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t041400.asp"] I use whole milk and yogurt. I wonder if coconut milk would be good in it?

[emmabizo]

I used to be one of those women who would think, "I wish I had that problem" until I had it myself during a twin pregnancy! Lol, I was sick for so long and had to gain weight so quickly before I lost all room for my stomach due to the size of the babies in my belly! Everyone was jealous I could eat what I wanted but I was SO sick of eating! I didn't think it could happen...alas, it did.

Anyway, I did the avocado thing too and also ensure -or something like that. I got sick of drinking them too BUT, they were fairly small and easy to gulp down. -Sometimes force down. -they didn't taste bad I was just so sick still and tired of eating. Oh, corn chips seemed to help put on the weight, (with a little guacamole makes it nice!). -and calorie dense breakfast cereals like granola. You can also throw olive oil here and there into anything you eat.

It worked, I gained the weight and had twins weighing 6lb 7oz and 6lb 11oz.

Good luck to you. I do know now that it isn't fun to be on either end. I'm on the "can't loose it if my life depended on it" end this time! Life is ridiculous with the curves it throws you!

[Peony]

I'm thin as it is, but dropped down to 97 lbs and I'm 5'5 with DD1. : Right now I'm hovering around 111 with DD2, but have dropped a couple lbs last month so i think I'm headed down that path again. I put olive oil on everything, sauted my veggie drenched in oil, pasta, tomato slices drizzled in it, etc... Smoothies were a great way to add extra calories. Popcorn with butter as a snack. I doubled my protein intake. I ate 5-6 small meals a day, i made sure I always carried snacks with me and when I felt like I could eat something then I would. I managed to get back up to 112 by the time I got pg with DD2 when DD1 was 3y.

[lovevolving]

I had this problem was DD was about 8 months old. I was so thin, pale, and depleted that my herb teacher sat me down and said, basically, "Girl, your baby is eating you alive, time to change your diet." I started eating meat for the first time in 14 years (and LOVED it) and started eating lots and lots of fat: butter, ghee, cheese, oil, etc. We went from a vegan diet to eating in the Weston A. Price/Nourishing Traditions style. I feel so much better and gained 5 lbs right away. There is a forum here at MDC about this kind of eating:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...play.php?f=365