Dear Doctor,

I'm a breast feeding mom. Thus why, I would like know one thing is that "Do I need to eat a lot?". At the same time, I like to reduce my weight by diet. So, what can I do? Please advise me. I would be appreiaciate for your giving time and reply my question.

Thanks,
sandar.

As Sandar has posed a question, and fairly common question that I need to answer during my weight loss program consultation, I thought I will pose it here.

As a nursing mother, you can still try to lose weight without affecting breast milk quality and quantity to your infant. Approximately a nursing mother should drink 8 to 10 eight- ounce- glasses of water. Basically, a mother can produce up to 750 ml (3 glasses) of milk for her infant. But simply, avoid thirst, drink regular, grab a glass of water when nursing, should be enough.

Daily calories intake should not be less than 1500 kcal even when you are trying to lose weight, to maintain the breast milk quality and quantitiy. You should eat about 300 to 500 calories extra than your pre_baby time.

But limit on the fish intake especially high mercury containing fish. The fish with high mercury content are sword fish, tilefish, king meckerel, shark and white tuna. You can have catfish, salmon in moderation. The safest is two servings of fish in a week. You can have shimps.

During nursing, some mothers need multivitamins, iron, B12, folic acid and calcium with vit D. Talk to your doctor and find out if you need the supplement. 

Remember, there was millions of women ahead of us has delivered without all these recommendations in olden times. Moderation is the key.