Can you safely lose weight while breastfeeding, or will a diet interfere with your milk supply? The answer is that dieting and nursing do combine very well, if only you stick to some basic rules. What do you need to know about weight loss while breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding can be one of the best starts to life you can give your new baby. Breast milk boosts their immune system, protects against allergies and infections, gives them the essential nutrients they need for the first six months.

Breastfeeding burns about 200 to 500 calories a day, on average. If you keep on eating healthily in the early months of your baby’s life, the very act of nursing will contribute to losing weight! Your body will work on establishing a steady supply of breast milk in the first two months. It is therefore wise to wait with going on a weight loss diet until your baby is a little older.

Exercise is always an important part of losing weight but can be hard for new moms taking care of a baby and breastfeeding. While walking the baby in a stroller is great exercise, there are some other things that can also be done that include the baby. Swimming is a great exercise and some places provide classes for mothers and babies together.  Yoga and Pilates also have started to incorporate workouts that include the babies. These are great ways to get back in shape and bond with your baby at the same time. If you can possibly manage to go to an aerobics class a few times a week it would be great. But if not, work out tape at home each morning or evening, baby can lay on a blankie in the floor near you, or during a low impact routine you can even wear baby in a sling or carrier – they love the motion – just be sure they are secure. Or if you absolutely cannot squeeze in an aerobic routine or just hate them, try putting baby in a sling, carrier, or stroller and going for a 30 minute walk every day. You’ll be amazed at how much of a difference it can make!

Pick a time each day to do tummy crunches, leg lifts, and other toning exercises while laying in front of the television. So it’s actually helping burn calories, but you have to make sure that you are not ‘over indulging’ to satisfy your increased appetite. Drinking plenty of water will help both by keeping your milk supply up, and by making your tummy feel fuller longer so that you don’t eat as much. And when you do snack, be sure it is on ‘healthy’ stuff and not just junk food.