Caring for Yourself with a Toddler

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I return to my pre‑pregnancy weight?
I have extreme mood swings and I often find I can’t stop crying. What should I do?
Do I need to eat extra food for breastfeeding?
Can I drink alcohol while I am breastfeeding?
Is it okay to smoke while I am breastfeeding?

It took your entire pregnancy to become the size and shape you are. It will take time to return to your pre‑pregnancy weight.

• Do not diet. Focus on healthy eating and being active to achieve a healthy weight.
• Do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day.
• Breastfeeding will help you lose weight. It is especially helpful along with healthy eating and regular activity, such as walking. Many women find that most weight loss happens in the second six months of breastfeeding.

For more information on healthy eating, click here.

For more information on physical activity after pregnancy, click here.

Talk to your health care provider about how you are feeling. You can also call HealthLink BC at 8‑1‑1, to speak confidentially with a registered nurse.

Some women experience postpartum depression during the first year after birth. It can happen to women of all ages, cultures and levels of education. For more information about postpartum depression, click here.

Breastfeeding women need 2 to 3 more Food Guide servings from Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. For more information about healthy eating during breastfeeding, click here.

It is best not to drink alcohol at all while breastfeeding. Alcohol may affect your baby’s sleep or decrease the amount of milk your baby takes at feeding time. Since breast milk is so good for your baby, you do not need to stop breastfeeding if you have a drink. Alcohol is not trapped in breast milk.

If you choose to drink alcohol, try to feed your baby before you have a drink. You can also wait for 2‑3 hours after a drink before you breastfeed. This allows the alcohol level in the breast milk to drop.

Is it okay to smoke while I am breastfeeding?
Cigarette smoking is not recommended if you are breastfeeding. Nicotine and other harmful ingredients in cigarettes pass through your breast milk. They can affect your toddler. Smoking can also reduce the amount of breast milk you produce. However, because breastfeeding is so good for your toddler, it is better to breastfeed than not. This is true even if you do not stop smoking. For more information about smoking and your health click here.