08/05/2026
The pressure to “bounce back” after giving birth is heavy—but your postpartum season is a time for healing, not racing to a number on the scale. 🌸
When you are nourishing a baby, you are doing incredible, demanding work. Did you know that breastfeeding mothers generally need an additional 330 to 400 calories a day just to meet their energy needs?
Here’s the truth about postpartum weight and feeding:
✨ Your recovery should center on healing, rest, and adequate nourishment.
✨ Nutrient depletion is common during pregnancy and breastfeeding demands even more nutrients! Ending up with a deficiency can hinder breastmilk production through route of thyroid and hormone disruption. Deficiencies can also contribute to other maternal health concerns, fatigue, mood disorders and more.
✨ Rapid weight loss is not the goal. Severe calorie restriction (less than 1800 calories/day showed a 30% reduction in volume) can actually reduce your milk supply and lead to fatigue.
✨ Too much weight loss too quickly paired with the drop in estrogen that happens postpartum can trigger gallbladder issues, mood changes and more making your postpartum recovery more difficult!
✨ Body neutrality is powerful. It’s okay if weight loss happens gradually, and it’s okay if it doesn’t happen at all. Remember that your body just CREATED A LIFE and that you’re now NOURISHING yourself and another human, and that is INCREDIBLE.
Your worth is not measured by how quickly you fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes. Let’s support our bodies as they recover and sustain life. 🤍
If you have questions about your individual nutrition needs or milk supply, reach out to your care team, a registered dietitian, or a lactation consultant.
