Low carb diet while breastfeeding?

I am not sure if this should be under the BFing section or the diet section, so please feel free to move it, mods.

We are now done having kids and I really need to lose this baby weight in a big way :) I was just wondering if anyone knows if it would be ok to follow a high protein low carb diet while breastfeeding? Could it impact my supply if I only have around 2 servings of carbs a day?

Thanks

Hi Life is Good,

I don't know the answer in relation to breastfeeding specifically (although I am aware protein is important while BF), but it might be better for you to consider low GI carbs instead of no/few carbs. Carbs aren't bad in and of themselves. Simple carbs (sugar, potato, white flour) are the ones you want to avoid. Complex carbs (grainy bread, vegetables, legumes) are important in providing energy.
Hope this helps!

I don't see how it could affect your supply, no.

Hi,

Your little one is much older now - your milk supply has gone down as foods play a more important role in her diet - that's the way it works.

Women's milk is pretty much the same quality and quantity regardless of food intake. Even mothers with a very low calorie intake still make milk just fine. Conversley you can breastfeed on a coffee and a tim tam if you want - your body keeps making milk.

A good well rounded diet and exercise is best for you - and breastfeeding will help you burn those calories, but no, a low carb diet should have no impact on your breastfeeding.
A word - don't get too hung up on how much protein/how much whatever - eat to keep healthy and enjoy. You don't have to do *anything special* to breastfeed - just live and breastfeed. Sometimes breastfeeding is made to seem so complicated - diet - you have to do this, you can't do that, so many grams of this and mls of that - I would guess none of it is very evidence based. It sounds awful. Breastfeeding is just a normal part of life - you can do anything you ever did do while breastfeeding. It's also a relatively short part of your life - so enjoy.

How little do you have to eat to lose your milk

As far as I know the only thing you can eat to "lose your milk" is certain cold medicines (phenylephrine and pseudoephidrine), which do reduce milk supply - but it usually comes back again. Pregnancy will cause a drop in milk supply, as can some oral contraceptive pills.
You need to be heading for malnutrition before you lose your milk from poor diet. Insufficient fluids can be a problem - but as long as you actually drink when you feel thirsty then that won't be an issue either.

Usually when youl feel like you are "losing your milk", you won't be - your baby may be ramping up what they are drinking!
If you feel your supply needs to increase then feeding them more often will do it.

Some people do have problems with low milk supply. Usually it is associated with babies that don't suck enough to stimulate milk production; there is also a condition where people don't actually have enough milk-producing tissue in their breasts, but it is quite rare.

As long as your baby are growing adequately, and weeing frequently, they are getting enough milk.