Breastfeeding is beneficial for both mother and baby, providing essential nutrients and promoting bonding. One of the additional benefits for mothers is that it burns calories, helping them shed some extra pounds gained during pregnancy. But how many calories does breastfeeding burn per ounce? In this article, we’ll explore the science behind breastfeeding and calorie burn, as well as factors that affect the amount of calories burned.
The Science Behind Breastfeeding and Calorie Burn
Breastfeeding is a demanding task for the body, requiring energy to produce milk and support the growth of the baby. The process of producing milk requires around 20-25% of the body’s energy needs, which translates to burning calories.
When a baby latches onto the breast, it stimulates the release of prolactin and oxytocin hormones, which help stimulate milk production and letdown. These hormonal responses also increase metabolism, causing the body to burn more calories.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), breastfeeding can burn between 425-700 calories per day, depending on the frequency and duration of each feeding session. This calorie burn can help new mothers lose weight gained during pregnancy and promote overall health and wellbeing.
Factors That Affect Breastfeeding Calorie Burn
Several factors can affect the amount of calories burned during breastfeeding. These include:
1.Frequency and Duration of Feeding Sessions:
The more often a baby feeds, and the longer each feeding session lasts, the more calories the mother will burn. On average, newborns feed every two to three hours, and each feeding session can last anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes.
2.Milk Production:
The amount of milk produced can also affect the number of calories burned. The more milk produced, the more energy the body needs to create and transport the milk.
3.Baby’s Age and Weight:
As the baby grows, they require more milk, which means longer feeding sessions and more calories burned. Additionally, heavier babies require more energy to lift and hold during feedings.
4.Mother’s Weight and Metabolism:
The number of calories burned during breastfeeding can vary depending on the mother’s weight and metabolism. Larger mothers may burn more calories due to increased energy needs, while those with slower metabolisms may burn fewer calories.
Calculating Calories Burned Per Ounce
While it’s difficult to calculate the exact number of calories burned per ounce during breastfeeding, there are some general guidelines that can be used.
According to La Leche League International, an average breastfeeding session for a newborn can last anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes, with an average of 20-30 minutes. During this time, an infant can consume between 2 to 4 ounces of breast milk per feeding.
Using these numbers, we can estimate that each ounce of breast milk contains approximately 15-25 calories. This means that a typical breastfeeding session can burn between 60 to 150 calories.
However, it’s important to note that these estimates are based on averages and can vary depending on individual circumstances, such as milk production, feeding frequency, and baby’s age and weight.
Other Benefits of Breastfeeding
In addition to burning calories, breastfeeding provides numerous benefits for both the mother and her baby. Breast milk is the most complete source of nutrition for infants, providing all the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and development. It also helps protect against infections and diseases, reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and promoting bonding between the mother and her baby.
For the mother, breastfeeding releases hormones that help reduce uterine bleeding after delivery and promote the return of the uterus to its pre-pregnancy size. It also lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and helps improve overall health and wellbeing.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is not only beneficial for providing essential nutrition, but it also burns calories, helping new mothers shed extra pounds gained during pregnancy. While the exact number of calories burned per ounce can vary depending on individual circumstances, a typical breastfeeding session can burn between 60 to 150 calories. It’s important to remember that breastfeeding requires additional energy, so extreme weight loss should be avoided to ensure an adequate milk supply and promote overall health and wellbeing. If you have any concerns about breastfeeding or weight loss, consult with a healthcare provider for personalized guidance and support.
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