How Many Calories Do You Burn a Day Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding burns an average of 500 calories a day, with the typical range from 200 to 600 calories burned a day. It’s estimated that the production of 1 oz. of breast milk burns 20 calories.
Studies have shown that breastfeeding mothers lose more weight after pregnancy than bottle-feeding moms--even if the latter group consumes fewer calories. Mothers who breastfeed exclusively have an average decrease in body fat and in hip and lower thigh circumference than bottle feeding moms.

Babies who are exclusively breastfed consume an average of 25 oz. of breast milk a day, meaning that moms burn 500 calories a day. The normal range of breast milk taken in by 1- to 6-month-old babies is 19 to 32 oz. a day. The amount varies after six months, depending on how much solid food the baby eats.

Because the nursing mom is burning so many calories a day just through milk production, she needs to follow an optimal diet. Breastfeeding moms should consume from 1,800 to 2,000 or more calories a day, or 300 to 500 more calories per day more than those consumed to maintain pre-pregnancy weight.
In general, moms should eat when they’re hungry, which may feel like all the time. Mothers should not fill up on junk to make up for needed calories--they should eat a balanced diet full of whole grains, fruits and vegetables (preferably organic), protein and healthy fats. Whatever a mother eats passes directly into breast milk and, ultimately, into baby, so avoid additives, contaminants and highly processed foods.

It’s a misconception that exercising will interfere with the quality or quantity of a mother’s milk supply. Exercising does increase the level of lactic acid in the body, but this hasn’t shown any negative effects on breast milk. Moderate exercise is key to optimal physical fitness and will help a breastfeeding mom lose weight without posing any side effects to the nursing baby.

Even though moderate exercise is encouraged, don’t overdo it. Breastfeeding mothers can put themselves and their milk supply at risk if they diet or exercise before their baby is 2 months old. This time should be devoted to establishing a healthy milk supply and recovering from birth--not dieting.
A sudden drop in calories can reduce a mother’s milk supply and push her body into starvation mode, which can be damaging to a mom’s health. Breastfeeding moms are discouraged from going on extreme diets--such as the no carb diet, the liquid diet and other fads--and they should not take weight loss medication.