You might have heard somewhere along the way that breastfeeding requires an additional 300–400 calories per day. But those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Not even close.
The traditional recommendations around increased caloric needs during breastfeeding don’t account for the full picture of what your body is doing during the postpartum period. You're recovering from pregnancy and birth, producing milk, replenishing nutrient stores, rebuilding strength, and figuring out how to keep a tiny human alive and well while you're running on very little sleep.
From my personal and professional perspective, weight loss should NOT be the goal in the newborn phase. You have bigger fish to fry. Like nourishing yourself, healing your body, and keeping yourself physically and emotionally supported while you care for your baby.
YOU NEED TO EAT WELL, AND OFTEN, AFTER HAVING A BABY.
And if you're breastfeeding, recovering from birth, or both? Consistent nourishment is especially important.
But here's the thing: knowing you need to eat is one thing. Actually getting food into your body when you're caring for a newborn is another.
You can't always count on having the time, energy, or two free hands to prepare yourself a meal. Sometimes even reheating something feels like a monumental task when your baby needs you every five minutes.
Which is why postpartum nourishment isn't just about WHAT you eat. It's also about having a plan for HOW you're going to eat.
And that starts with planning ahead so someone else can feed you while you feed your baby.
It's Time to Pass the Torch.
If you're the person who typically manages meals in your household, let's be so real about what that actually means.
It's not just cooking.
It's meal planning, grocery shopping, keeping track of what's in the fridge, figuring out what everyone wants to eat, preparing the food, AND CLEANING UP AFTERWARD.
That's a whole job in itself.
And during postpartum? That torch needs to be passed to someone else.
It's really not negotiable.
I never want you to cross your fingers and pray that your husband or partner will suddenly take over the entire food operation once the baby arrives, even if they have the very best intentions. Hope is not a postpartum meal plan.
Talk about it ahead of time. Decide who is responsible for groceries, cooking, dishes, and making sure you're actually eating. Stock your freezer. Arrange meal deliveries. Hire support if that's what your family needs.
Make a plan that doesn't depend on you managing everyone else's efforts while you're supposed to be resting and recovering.
"But I Have Friends and Family Who Want to Help!"
I LOVE THAT FOR YOU!!!!
Seriously. Having people around you who love you and want to support your growing family is a beautiful thing.
But let's think about this realistically for a minute.
Your friends and family have jobs, kids, appointments, responsibilities, and entire lives of their own. They may genuinely want to show up, bring food, fold laundry, or hold the baby while you shower. And they absolutely might!
But sometimes life gets in the way. Plans change. Someone gets sick. A meal gets forgotten. The help you thought you'd have on Tuesday doesn't happen until the following Saturday.
And suddenly, you're the one figuring it all out again.
This isn't about questioning whether the people in your life care about you. It's about recognizing that good intentions and consistent, reliable support aren't always the same thing.
You deserve a plan that doesn't leave you wondering who's going to show up, when they'll arrive, or whether you'll have to entertain them once they get there.
Which brings me to the work I do.
As a postpartum doula, taking care of you IS my job.
We schedule our days and times together. When I say I'll show up, you can count on me to be there as planned.
You don't have to play hostess. You don't have to clean your house before I arrive. You don't have to pretend you're doing great when you're actually exhausted, overwhelmed, touched out, or wondering when you last ate something that wasn't a chalky protein bar.
And you certainly don't have to explain why you need help.
I bring experience and knowledge of the postpartum period, along with practical, hands-on support that centers YOU and your family's needs. No unsolicited "well, back in my day" advice. No pressure to do things a certain way. No expectations that you should already have everything figured out.
My goal is for you to feel held, seen, and cared for.
I want you to be able to exhale because there's warm food in your belly. Because the dishwasher is running. Because someone else is taking care of the little things that feel impossibly big right now. Because you were able to take a shower in peace without listening for every tiny noise your baby makes.
I want you to have space to rest, recover, bond with your baby, and simply BE.
Sometimes postpartum support looks like preparing a nourishing meal. Sometimes it's taking care of household tasks so you can stay in bed a little longer. Sometimes it's helping you feel more confident as you navigate life with your newborn.
And sometimes it's just having someone there who understands what you're going through and reminds you that you don't have to do it all yourself.
You deserve care that is consistent, intentional, and centered around you.
Let's Talk About the Investment
Every family's situation is different. Only you can assess what kind of support you need and what makes sense for your household.
But I encourage you to do that assessment honestly and realistically, not based on the version of postpartum you hope you'll have, but on what life might actually look like when you're healing, sleep-deprived, and caring for a newborn around the clock.
If there's even an inkling of doubt about whether you'll have enough support, start looking into your options NOW.
It's worth the investment. YOU are worth the investment.
Here are a few ways to make postpartum support more accessible:
Ask about sliding-scale rates or scholarships. Some doulas offer options to make their services more accessible, so it's always worth asking.
Rethink your registry. Skip the $5,000 stroller or the fancy bassinet and consider putting some of that budget toward hands-on human care.
Create a postpartum doula fund. Add one to your baby registry so friends and family can contribute toward the support you'll actually use during those early weeks.
Plan for care, not just baby gear. You can have the cutest nursery in the world, but it won't make you a meal, wash your dishes, or give you time to rest.
There's nothing wrong with wanting the beautiful baby things. But don't forget to invest in the person who will be using them to care for that baby, too.