I gave birth to my sweet little guy two weeks ago and tomorrow I'm scheduled to go in and have my band tightened again. I gained a lot more weight than I wanted to during the pregnancy (like 50 pounds), but had my band completely loosened. Here's my dilemma: I am already producing so little milk and have to supplement with formula. Do you think having my band tightened will affect my milk supply? I drink around 16 cups of water a day, but will the fewer calories further affect the milk supply?

I worked at a WIC Clinic as a Breastfeeding Consultant and I told all my clients that you can expect to burn about 500 extra calories a day breastfeeding. You should eat at least 1500 to 1700 calories even when losing weight while breastfeeding. But you are right, if you restrict your calories too much your milk supply will decrease. If you are already supplementing I would suggest that you pump between feedings to increase your milk supply, continue to drink plenty of water, get plenty of rest, and try to be as stress-free as possible. You can also take fenugreek, a herbal supplement that has been for thousands of years to increase milk supply. I used to get it at the Vitamin Shoppe, but that was several years ago. Congratulations on your new baby and know that you are giving your baby a wonderful gift by breastfeeding.

Congrats on the new baby! My doctors just about flipped when I told them I was breastfeeding...and my daughter is 20 months. I would hold off getting a fill for a few weeks so that you can build up a decent supply, otherwise...you'll probably have difficulty producing enough for baby and once you begin using formula...it's hard not to continue. Your body requires that you eat a little more to produce milk and with a fill...I'm not sure that you can get your calories in. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

By the way, I had surgery 3 days ago and that is when I began weaning my daughter...so far, so good!:smile2: