Calcium intake and mama's weight loss from nursing...

[@llli*bluesea]

Hi all,

This is probably too late in asking but how much calcium should we be taking if we are nursing? I don't eat much dairy and often forget to take my calcium pills Also, I've lost a lot of weight while nursing. I've been thinking this is great but other people have shown concern that I look too thin. Should I be concerned? It's been almost a year and AF hasn't returned (this is normal too?). Thanks for any feedback.

[@llli*mommal]

Totally normal to lose weight while nursing, and to not have your period back at just 1 year. The average time until return of menstraution in a nursing mom is around 15 months, IIRC, though there's a wide range, with many women getting their fertility back sooner 15 months and plenty after, as well.

I don't know how much calcium you're "supposed" to get, but I do know that taking a prenatal vitamin while nursing is recommended. That one-stop approach is usually easier than trying to get all your vitamins straight individually.

[@llli*bfwmomof3]

Here's lots of info about calcium and breastfeeding: http://kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/calcium/#bf

I'm always at my thinnest when nursing (after losing the pregnancy weight, of course). I think what's important is, are you eating a healthy diet? If you're eating a well-balanced diet and an appropriate number of calories, I think that's more important than the weight.

[@llli*mercystreet]

Breastfeeding is also keeping me at a lower weight. Some people remark on it (my mom and mother-in-law especially like to say I look "too thin" but I think it's just the Jewish Mother coming out). But I try to look at the health of it, not the number on the scale: am I eating healthy food, am I getting a generous calorie intake to support the demands of nursing, and is my weight still within the normal range for my BMI? That last one is usually a very effective argument against the naysayers ("For my height, I am within the healthy range for my BMI, and am not underweight") ... IMO, our cultural expectations of "normal" weight have been warped by the overweight/obesity epidemic -- layered on top of some perhaps generational differences and expectations about how much "meat on your bones" a woman should have -- and many people see the low end of normal as "too thin" when in fact you could still be at a healthy weight.

[@llli*bluesea]

thank you for you responses. this is a relief (and great reminder to eat healthier!). thanks all.