Should I continue Intermittent Fasting While Breastfeeding | Hea Boosters
Being a new mom could mean lesser sleep than before, almost no time for yourself as you are busy managing and adjusting to new timetables, and eating at irregular times. Do you know, many moms have agreed that breastfeeding has helped them shed the post-delivery weight without indulging in any new workout activities or following fad diets?
Nonetheless, not all moms can lose weight from breastfeeding, which is completely normal. Truth be told, some may gain or maintain their post-delivery weight until her child begins weaning. Do not rush to lose weight by following diets that may be harmful and not give you much success. Remember, that your body has gone through several changes in the past few months and you are beautiful the way you are.
There are many safe and effective ways in which you can reduce your post-delivery weight and Intermittent Fasting is one of them. And if this is something that piqued your interest then keep on reading to discover more about intermittent fasting while at the same time nursing your child.
What Is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is essentially different ways of eating food inside a particular window of time. There are various types of Intermittent fasting method, which are:
- The 5:2 method: In this method, you consume only 500–600 calories on two nonconsecutive days of the week, but eat normally the other 5 days.
- The 16:8 method: This involves skipping breakfast and restricting your daily eating period to 8 hours, such as 1–9 p.m. Then you fast for 16 hours in between.
- Fasting at Alternate Day: As the name suggests, you eat on every alternate day.
- Eat-Stop-Eat: Here you fast for 24 hours, once or twice a week, for example by not eating from dinner one night until dinner the next night.
- Champion Diet: You generally eat around evening and eat less during the day.
Why intermittent fasting is recommended?
- Fasting helps in managing the glucose levels, cholesterol, circulatory strain levels and reduces the inflammation of the body.
- Intermittent fasting assists with weight reduction.
Is Intermittent Fasting Safe While Breastfeeding for Mom?
Generally, while breastfeeding you should consume extra 330-600 calories to promote milk production. Fasting could affect the production of milk, therefore, ensure that you are having a nutritious meal and snacks when you are in the eating period.
Intermittent fasting while breastfeeding can be difficult because regular breastfeeding sessions also aid in weight loss, so if you are fasting while you are breastfeeding, you may reach the fasting stage sooner which could lead to ketosis, a process when your body doesn't have enough carbohydrates to burn for energy. Indications of ketosis start with a head reeling, stomach ache, nausea and dehydration.
Effects of Intermittent Fasting on your baby:
The effect of intermittent fasting on a child can be measured by specific observation when you are fasting and taking care of him which are:
- Fasting could lead to fewer nutrients being consumed by the child and could cause lethargies and sleep deprivation in the child.
- Fasting could result in changes in feeding timing for the baby, which may affect the child’s eating and sleeping patterns.
- Your child's bowel movements may be affected.
- Fasting could lead to dehydration in the child.
However, if you are keen on fasting while breastfeeding, make sure that you are consuming enough calories when you aren't fasting. Having a healthy and balanced diet is beneficial both for you and your baby. If you aren't able to plan and prep meals that help in reaching your daily value of vitamins and minerals, then make sure that you are taking supplements that help you reach your nutritional goals.
If you think you can manage intermittent fasting while breastfeeding, then you can follow the routine, but always consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet and lifestyle.