Eating while breastfeeding!

I do online food shopping and have it delivered for the same reason then I can take my time and make sure I don’t forget anything and can check my fridge and cupboards for what we need

I struggled with food during pregnancy and in the initial days after birth. My midwife told me to have smoothies. Then you're getting enough liquid and nutrients you need. I would also try and bake something even if it was chocolate cookies to nibble on while feeding. I know not the healthiest but it was all I could manage for ages. If you have family close ask them for help even if they make up some freezer meals for you to throw in the microwave and scoff down while feeding

@Jmt thats a good shout! Never really crossed my mind to do online shopping! (genuinely, im not being sarcastic i promise) Mum brain really does a number! Thank you!

@Ebony lol that actually does make sense with smoothies! And cookies are always a good shout! Simple and easy to grab when you need something. Thing with my family is both sides of the family are hundreds of miles away. Its just me, my partner and the lil dude and my partners about as useful as a wet napkin in this situation. :/

Maybe look at doing a food shop online. For drinks try coconut water, squash, smoothies, try not to have too much sugar and caffeine. For food easy meals helped us a lot, like jacket potatoes, I always make sure I have them in the fridge. Cooking large amounts of curry, stir fry, bolognese, chilli, shepherds pie, soups, etc and having it for dinner, freeze and have left overs next day. Soups are good for throwing anything you have left in the fridge, random pepper, half an onion, last few potatoes, etc. We are veggie, so using a lot of beans, lentils, quinoa, etc to bulk up are meals. Have easy frozen options as well, garlic bread goes with every meal, sausage rolls, chips, quick and easy for the oven or air fryer. It might seems like you having same things for a while, but honestly we didn’t care, just needed something easy and simple and then when we have time or my partner around I’d make something different. Looking online can help with ideas of what to make and inspire you.

I was craving lots of biscuits, chocolate and not very healthy things in the beginning to be honest and that filled me up, but it is important to have full healthy meals as well, lots of protein and all the nutrients, as you don’t want your body to start taking it from you. Also look at some vitamins, I’ve been taking variety for years now, even before my pregnancy, just adjust what I take on my needs at the time.

100%! This is my third boy so I stocked up my freezer with meals before he arrived as I knew how beneficial it was last time. Even cookie dough haha

@Lana ive heard coconut water is good for this type of situation actually, thank you for reminding me, itd actually completely slipped my mind. :D And thank you, all of that is somehow calming me while also being incredibly helpful at the same time. I think its because there are so many options and im just thinking my way into a spiral and spiralling somehow makes my mind forget about every single option so thank you! ❤️

@Lana i reckon its fair and normal to crave the unhealthy things at first cause its quick and easy and when youre going through a new experience youre not sure when youre going to be able to get something more substantial? If that makes sense? But yeah, youre totally right about nutrition. You need extra, youre still feeding two people. :)

@jmt oh goodness yeah if i do this again, will definitely have to remember what this was like and stock up! Just struggling as im a FTM this time round and my goodness i didnt get the memo of how hard it could be at times. Or i did and i didnt pay attention, i cant remember.

You could give baby to your partner. Kick him out the house so you can make some homemade microwave meals. I only do online shopping as I don't drive and don't really find it helpful when it comes to working out food for myself during the day

The first month or so we did online order delivered to the house. When we took her to the supermarket she was in the sling so no one could try to touch her. I made a nest on the sofa. A ring of snacks and drinks. When it got low I reordered. It meant if I got stuck with baby I could just nibble while she was latched. She got a few crumbs on her arm but nothing that could harm her

@Ebony oh i wish i could kick him out for a bit, even just to grab a nap! I just get complaining in return if i suggest it or a 'are you going to come with us? Why not? Then we're not going.' But yeah i will have to try online shopping properly. And make sure i actually get some stuff for proper food thats easy for when i actually need it. When do you get the time to prep your food? I find im just permanently exhausted and fall asleep soon as little one does in the evening. :/

@Helen omg i forgot about my sling! Thats actually so genius for the store! We actually saw someone in the store the other day with theirs in a sling too. Tbf he hated it the first time we tried it but ive tried it since and hes been ok ish. So thats actually a good shout to make it easier to focus on shopping and not worrying about him! Thank you. Love that! A nest of necessities. :D perfect for convenience.

My little girl is now 11 months old which makes things easier. But I would give her to my partner to food prep even if it was 1 meal. I also found bulk making dinner and freezing portions helped me to have some kinda food in the house

As said, really helped when we switched to an online shop. Just having it in and a time it’s coming helps so much. We do Ocado because it had a great introductory offer and we find the fruit and meat to last sooo much longer than other places. Also making sure each week there’s at least one just ‘bang in the oven meal’ like chicken kievs if we are having a manic day. Legit one of the best things my husband decided to do when I was on maternity leave was that he would batch cook and prepare breakfast style burritos, wrap them up, put them in the freezer and then all I had to do was defrost them in the microwave and I had a hot meal filled with protein and could have when baby was napping.

I find the mornings are busiest and baby is has the most awake time so I try and prep a quick breakfast the night before like overnight oats, or chia pudding so I can just grab it from the fridge in the morning and eat with one hand. Cooking is my down time and something I really enjoy so I'm lucky my partner watches the baby whilst I cook dinner. Its also his time to spend with baby one on one which he enjoys too. We have a highchair that lies flat so I sometimes have her in the kitchen with me in the that so I have both hands free