does nursing a 12 month old use more calories?

[majubee30]

my 12 1/2 month old is still nursing almost full time. (never took bottles but will take drinks from a sippy cup) she is not very interested in food. I offer her food several times a day but she doesn't eat a whole meals worth total all day.

I am losing weight (again). I am 5 foot 6 and 103 pounds, with clothes on. I am not trying to lose weight. I don't want to lose weight. my size 3 pants are too big for me. I eat a lot.

suggestions? anyone else in the same boat?

TIA!

Angie

[_MrsC_]

I'm not positive, but I would suspect that is she isn't eating much solid food that she would be getting more from you and that would use calories.

I lost a lot of weight in DS's first year. By the time he was 12 months I was about 20 lbs below my pre-preg weight. He had no issues with solids and cut back on nursing quite a bit at the 12 month point. The weight came rolling back. Right now (he's almost 3 and nursing once a day) I'm at my pre-preg weight but have lost a few pounds this week (yeah!)

[Brianna]

I lost a few extra pounds around the time Rylan was 12 months old. He didn't each much solids either. I made a conscious effort to up my calorie intake and to eat plenty of protein.

[Nipple_nectar]

Until your baby is relying on solids for nutrition, you will use generally the same amount as nursing an infant, just make sure and make plenty of healthy choices and when baby is napping, make some easy to grab food for later as we all know how hectic things can be and I sometimes forget to feed myself!

[kohlby]

The weight loss didn't kick in until around a year with my two nurslings. Before that, I had to work to lose weight. At around a year, I was able to lose it without trying too hard. My daughter did start to eat more and more solids so I never had to worry about my weight getting too low. However, my son was a whopping 35lbs at 18 months and ate 0-100 calories of non-breastmilk a day. So I was skinny! (I was marathon training at the time too so I had to eat constantly, even if I wasn't hungry).

I am certain I did need to consume more calories when my son was a year than when he was a newborn. His calorie needs were MUCH higher but he was very delayed in solids. I noticed it with my daughter too, but since she was tiny at barely 20lbs and did graze on solids at least, it's hard to say if it was more calories of if my body was just no longer holding onto weight as easily.