Keto and Breastfeeding
I get woman all the time who want to lose weight after giving birth yet who are breastfeeding and ask me if Keto is healthy for breastfeeding.
The answer isn’t an easy one.
If you eat a lot of junk foods with trans-fat such as chips, or packaged foods, my answer is “no.” As you eat Keto and lose weight, you release toxins. Toxins are stored in fat. As you lose fat, toxins are released into the blood stream and will be passed through breast milk. This release of toxins can also cause the dreaded “Keto rash” which many people starting out experience. There are helpful supplements that can speed the healing crisis. Click HERE for individual help on supplement recommendations.
If you didn’t eat junk, then my answer is YES! Eating a healthy Ketogenic diet gives the baby the best quality nutrients! Check out this awesome chart on nutrient density from our latest book KETO: The Complete Guide to Success on the Ketogenic Diet. This book also has a chapter on modifications for different ailments, including things like intestinal issues, thyroid issues and many many others.
You can eat a healthy (real-food) Keto diet or you can do an unhealthy Keto diet (with flax, salad dressings with vegetable oils, sugar-free Jell-O with aspartame, Atkins frozen meals, soy proteins). Just like you can eat an unhealthy vegan diet; Oreo cookies are technically vegan. So as long as you choose a real-food and healthy Ketogenic meal plan you are feeding your baby the best way possible!
One caveat is that you may produce less milk. This may worry some of you; however, when we tested the quality of Keto breastfeeding women, their milk is higher fat. We call this “Golden Milk.” This Golden Milk ensures the baby gets enough calories and nutrients. It is all about quality, not quantity.
Personally, I recommend if you decide to do Keto, don’t focus on weight loss while breastfeeding. Weight loss with any diet change will cause lack of milk production. You can eat Keto and maintain weight (even gain weight if that is your goal).
Here’s to happy and healthy babies!
TESTIMONY OF THE DAY
“Sending love to Maria and Craig today 
💗 I’ve officially gone from a size 16 to a 6 and I feel like my goal weight is just around the corner. The pic on the left was when I decided to make a change. The journey has had many ups and downs, plateaus and break throughs and some bad days that I’m sure Craig would faint if he saw the decisions I was making but I’m on the right track and feeling motivated. I couldn’t have done this without you two. Thank you.” Sandra
Most people I consult are doing keto totally wrong. Get fast results with the 30 Day Ketogenic Cleanse book. Click HERE to find it on SALE today!
And click HERE to join this helpful group!
Thank you for your love and support!
Hi, your click here link at the bottom is t working. I’m breastfeeding and keto and would love to make sure I’m eating the right macros. Thank you!
It is working for me. It is also at the bottom of the page “Keto Calculator”.
It is still a good idea to stop consuming the junk. You can certainly slow weight loss with more nutritious ketogenic foods and start providing the best for your baby right away.
It is also extremely important that lactating women never get “keto flu.” (Which i think should be included in every article on this subject, for safety). Electrolytes are absolutely not optional in this situation.
What do you think of lamb liver, or chicken liver? As nutritious as beef?
Good options.
Hey Maria -Love, love love, your books and recipes! Keep up the good work lady! I’ve been (felt) Keto adapted since January- feel great,lots of energy, no hunger or cravings. Pretty much eating dinner as my fist meal w/ maybe a snack after workouts. With intermittent fasting , I find it’s almost impossible to hit my macros. Here’s my question though…haven’t lost much weight;-( So how do i get my body to give up some stored body fat? I must be missing a puzzle piece
here. Any insight would be so welcomed:-)
Thank you! Go as low in carbs as you can while getting enough protein (at least 75g or more) and moderate fat. 🙂
Thanx for your response. I have read Keto. and will go back to brush up but try’n to keep carbs @10-15 grams. Does being pre menepause/menepause warrant any tweeks w/ macros. I am using bio progesterone and things seem to be somewhat balanced.
Nope, no need to change macros for that. Yes, a supplement like that can help. 🙂
I know it’s different for every woman but when I tried to switch to Keto while I was nursing and my milk production dropped in half (I knew this because I work and had to pump while at work). I had to up my carbs quite a bit to get it back up so I really wasn’t eating Keto. It was low-carbish…but my body really wanted those carbs to produce the milk. This may not happen to every woman and milk may come back up if macros are tweaked the right way but I want nursing mommas to be aware there may be a dramatic decease in your milk when you switch to Keto. But after nursing I went strict Keto and I’m down 20 pounds since January 1!
Ay major change in diet will effect milk supply for a while before it comes back up. Staying hydrated (and keeping electrolytes up) is key. 🙂
Interesting! I am a Lactation Consultant and we are inclined to get questions like this from Mothers. Proves the importance of collaboration between Dieticans/Nutrionst and Lactation Consultants. Thanks Maria!!
Thanks!
I am on keto 2 months know while breastfeeding. There was no difference in my milk supply i even think my milk is densier and babay craves for more. If you offer your breast often, milk cannot decrease that much cause baby stimulates the production. The quality of milk with those healthy fats and grassfed protein couldn’t be any better.
I agree that hydration and electrolytes are crucial and i really watch out for that also. Co sleeping and breastfeeding during the night also enhances my milk supply. Another reason is that i started cutting back on carbs when baby was 14 months.
As a mother of 3 and breastfeeding starting any diet before 7months can affect milk supply since lactation is not really established…
Regardless, i believe because of breastfeeding and the hormones craziness during this period speaking for myself weight loss is quite difficult and slow even with keto.. I lost 8 pounds and still going. Mrs Emmerich my main concern is that this month i missed my period.. I have stable cycle after giving birth and for 14 months now but this month nothing.. Is keto affecting my menstrual cycle? Why last month came as usual and this one not? I am worried..
That is great!
How long have you been keto? There can be some shift of hormones to a more natural cycle for your body when you first start out as the body is getting more substrate (cholesterol) for making healthy hormones. It should level out in a month or two.
Hi Maria,
Thank you for all of this wonderful info.
I am 9 months post partum and breastfeeding. How many carbs per day would you say I should be having?
You can eat keto with 20g or so carbs. 🙂