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Expert Q&A
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| By Ann Calandro BSN, RNC, IBCLC Lactation Consultant | ||
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I nursed my toddler all through my pregnancy. She is now 25 months old and I just gave birth two weeks ago. My question is: now that I am nursing my toddler and newborn, how many extra calories do I need to intake daily to compensate for this? Would this be like nursing twins? Thank you for your reply.
Congratulations on your two nursing children! Tandem nursing is a challenge and can be quite fun and interesting!
I can't tell from your letter how often or how long your toddler nurses. I know a young baby nurses a lot, but a toddler can nurse frequently or just once in a while, depending on her needs.
The main thing for you to do is to pay attention to your thirst and hunger. You will need to drink a lot of fluids to stay well hydrated and eat nutritious snacks throughout the day, every few hours. If you feel you eat a healthy balanced diet, there would be no need for vitamin supplementation. If you feel like you need a good balanced adult vitamin, that would be fine too.
It is not exactly the same as nursing twins, because your toddler is probably eating a large variety of other foods as well as your milk. A good guideline as to whether or not you are eating enough calories is to ask yourself these questions:
- How do you feel -- is your energy beginning to come back?
- How is your weight -- are you losing too much, too quickly?
- Are you choosing a wide variety of foods from all the food groups each day to assure good nutrition for yourself?
It is also important for you to get some assistance during the day from family or friends, to catch up on rest when you can, and to get help with household responsibilities that somehow just don't get done by themselves. These early weeks are an intense time, fulfilling and exhausting at the same time.
Take care of yourself, as well as your two special little ones! You will reap rich rewards if you take the time to take care of yourself.
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