Breast milk is widely considered the healthiest form of nutrition for infants in the first six months of life. It contains the ideal balance of fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals to promote optimal growth and development. But exactly how many calories does breast milk supply, and does the calorie content change over time? Here’s a closer look at the calorie count of breast milk.
Calories In Early Breast Milk
Colostrum, the early breast milk produced in the first few days after giving birth, is highly concentrated and rich in nutrients and antibodies. However, colostrum is produced in very small quantities – just a teaspoon or two at each feeding. As the milk transitions to mature breast milk, the volume increases substantially.
During the first week, breast milk contains approximately 22-24 calories per ounce. The calorie concentration is highest right after birth to provide fuel for rapid newborn growth. Even though colostrum volumes are small, the calorie and nutrient density help give baby’s development a boost.
Calories In Mature Breast Milk
As breast milk matures and volumes increase, the calorie concentration declines slightly. During the first 6 months, mature breast milk contains 19-22 calories per ounce on average.
However, the calorie content of breast milk can vary significantly based on a few key factors:
- Time of day – Milk produced later in the day or between feedings may be higher in fat and calories.
- Stage of breastfeeding – Calories decline gradually over the first 6 months as baby becomes more efficient at nursing and extracting milk.
- Mother’s diet – What mom eats impacts the nutrient composition. A high fat diet may increase the fat and calorie content.
- Individual variation – Every mother’s milk is unique and calorie content can vary by up to 10% between moms.
While breast milk calories do fluctuate, the differences tend to even out over the course of the day. Rest assured, your body is perfectly capable of producing the right calorie load to help your baby thrive.
Calories In Breast Milk From 6-12 Months
Between 6 and 12 months, as solid foods are introduced, the calorie content of breast milk gradually decreases. However, breast milk remains an important part of baby’s nutrition.
Here’s the approximate calorie count during the second half of the first year:
- 6-8 months: 15-19 calories per ounce
- 9-12 months: 13-17 calories per ounce
At this stage, the proportions of fat, carbohydrates, and protein in breast milk also change. The milk takes on a skim milk-like appearance. But the immune factors and digestion-supporting components continue providing key health benefits even after solid foods become a bigger part of baby’s diet.
Does Pumping Impact Calories?
Many mothers who go back to work after maternity leave rely on breast pumps to express milk for their baby to be fed in their absence. But does pumping change the calorie content compared to direct breastfeeding?
Research indicates that expressed breast milk generally has similar calorie levels and nutritional makeup to milk straight from the breast. However, there are a few potential differences to be aware of:
- Foremilk/hindmilk imbalance – Pumping may lead to getting more lower calorie foremilk than higher calorie hindmilk, which comes later in a feed. Try fully draining both breasts when pumping to get the fattier hindmilk.
- Pumping schedule – Milk expressed between feeds may be higher in fat and calories. Match your pumping schedule to baby’s typical feeding frequency as closely as possible.
- Pump settings – Stronger pump suction can result in higher fat milk. Use the highest comfortable vacuum setting to approximate baby’s suckling.
Following best practices when pumping and bottle feeding can help your baby get the full calorie content of your breast milk.
Changes In Calories From Mother To Mother
While the average calorie content of human breast milk is relatively consistent, there can be variations between mothers. What accounts for these differences?
Some key factors that impact the calorie concentration include:
- Age – Younger mothers under 30 may produce milk with slightly higher calorie content than older mothers.
- Birth order – Firstborn babies receive milk with higher fat and protein content than subsequent children.
- Genetics – Genetic variations play a role in nutrition and metabolism which can impact milk composition.
- Body composition – Mothers with higher BMIs often produce higher calorie milk.
Interestingly, the calorie content of breast milk is not strongly correlated to maternal diet or weight gain during pregnancy. The body is generally excellent at making the adjustments needed to give each child the optimal nutrition.
Boosting Calories In Breast Milk
While your breast milk is tailored to your baby’s needs, you may wonder if you can purposely increase the calorie content. Here are a few tips:
- Nurse frequently – This signals your body to ramp up production and results in higher fat milk.
- Offer both breasts – Switch sides during feeds so your baby gets the creamier hindmilk.
- Pump after feeding – Draining your breasts more fully tells them to make richer milk.
- Stay hydrated – Drinking to thirst helps maintain ample milk volume.
- Increase healthy fats – Enjoy more nuts, seeds, fatty fish, and avocado in your diet.
However, be aware that deliberately boosting calories above normal levels is not necessarily beneficial and may cause excess weight gain.
Do Calories Drop As Breastfeeding Progresses?
One concern many nursing mothers have is that their milk calorie content may drastically drop as breastfeeding progresses. However, research indicates that although calories do decline gradually, this is a normal and healthy process:
- Between 1 and 6 months, calorie density drops around 10-15%.
- Between 6 and 12 months, calories decline another 10-20%.
Keep in mind that as solids are introduced, your baby relies less on the calories from breast milk alone. The nutrient composition changes to adapt to their developmental needs.
Your body is designed to produce exactly the quantity and composition of milk your child requires at each stage. Unless your pediatrician indicates your baby has poor weight gain, you can trust that your breast milk is perfect for your baby.
Signs Of Low Milk Calories
While a gradual calorie change is normal, a more concerning drop could potentially indicate an issue. Here are some signs your breast milk may have inadequate calories:
- Poor weight gain or failure to regain birth weight
- Excessive hunger, more frequent feedings
- Excessively watery breast milk
- Difficulty producing milk over time
If you notice any of these, speak to your child’s pediatrician. They can run tests to determine if the calorie content needs boosting for optimal growth.
How Many Ounces Of Breast Milk Do Babies Need?
Now that we’ve covered the calorie content, how much breast milk do babies need to get adequate nutrition? Guidelines indicate infant’s stomach capacity and calorie needs determine appropriate milk intake:
0-3 months
- 2-5 ounces per feeding
- ~25 ounces per day on average
- 690-900 calories per day from breast milk
4-7 months
- 4-6 ounces per feeding
- ~30 ounces per day
- 510-780 calories per day from breast milk
8-12 months
- 4-8 ounces per feeding
- ~24-32 ounces per day
- 390-680 calories per day from breast milk
However, every baby is different. Respect your baby’s hunger cues and offer frequent feedings to ensure their nutritional needs are met.
Benefits Of Breast Milk Calories For Infants
Breast milk provides complete, customized nutrition for babies. Some of the key benefits of breast milk calories include:
- Better absorption – Breast milk fats have high bioavailability so calories are readily absorbed and utilized.
- Growth support – The right balance of fat, carbs, and protein provides energy for rapid development.
- Immune protection – Important antibodies, live cells, and prebiotics help establish the gut microbiome and immunity.
- Brain development – Key fatty acids like DHA support healthy brain, eye, and nerve tissue growth.
- Trusted nutrition source – Unlike formula, breast milk adapts as baby’s needs evolve over time.
Breastfeeding provides calories for growth paired with dozens of potent health and developmental benefits no formula can fully replicate.
Breast Milk Calories Vs. Formula
For mothers who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, commercial infant formula provides an alternative source of calories and nutrients for babies. However, there are some notable differences between breast milk and formula calories:
- Calorie content of formula is standardized based on general estimates of infant needs.
- Carbohydrate sources differ – lactose in breast milk versus corn syrup solids in formula.
- Formula is less bioavailable and may be harder for some infants to digest fully.
- Formula cannot provide the antibodies, enzymes, probiotics, and immune factors in breast milk.
When possible, breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition to fuel your baby’s rapid growth and development in the first year of life.
Tracking Breast Milk Calories
If you are concerned your baby may not be receiving adequate calories, you can track your breast milk intake to get an estimate:
Weigh baby before and after feeds
Calculate the volume consumed by weighing your baby on an infant scale immediately before and after nursing. 1 ounce = about 30 grams of weight gain.
Pump and bottle feed
Express your milk instead of direct nursing. Record the volume the baby takes by bottle. Average 1-1.5 ounces per hour.
Periodically pump and measure
Pump after or between feedings and measure your output in a bottle to determine volume and calorie density.
Share your records with your child’s pediatrician to determine if your breast milk calories align with baby’s growth and development needs.
Increasing Low Breast Milk Calories
If your pediatrician determines your breast milk calories are inadequate, they may recommend methods to safely increase your calorie output:
- Take an oral galactagogue supplement to boost milk production.
- Add extra pumping sessions to signal your breasts to make more milk.
- Drink more fluids and stay hydrated.
- Increase frequency of nursing for optimal emptying of breasts.
- Improve lactation support and feeding technique with a lactation consultant.
- Temporarily supplement with high calorie formula between breastfeeding.
In some cases, a temporary booster feed is needed while you work to increase your breast milk supply and calorie content. But with patience and support, many mothers can get their milk production back on track.
When To Seek Help
Consult your doctor right away if:
- Your baby is not gaining weight appropriately.
- Your baby seems excessively hungry after feedings.
- Your milk supply seems consistently low despite efforts to boost it.
- Breastfeeding is extremely difficult or painful.
With prompt intervention, mothers can often overcome issues impacting their milk supply and get baby back on track.
Maintaining Breast Milk Calorie Density
To help ensure your breast milk has adequate calories and nutrients for your baby, aim for:
- A balanced, whole food diet with plenty of healthy fats and protein.
- Staying well hydrated by drinking to thirst.
- Getting enough rest and managing stress levels.
- Nursing on demand every 1-3 hours to signal your body to make plenty of milk.
- Taking a prenatal vitamin with foods forms of vitamin B, D, and omega-3s.
Keep an eye on your baby’s weight gain and development. As long as growth is on track, you can be assured your milk is nutritionally sufficient.
Breast Milk Calorie Count Per Ounce
Here is a quick overview of the average breast milk calorie content at various infant ages:
| Infant’s age | Calories per ounce |
|---|---|
| Newborn (Colostrum) | 22-24 calories |
| 1-6 months | 19-22 calories |
| 6-12 months | 13-19 calories |
Keep in mind that the calorie count can rise and fall based on factors like maternal diet, nursing frequency, and baby’s age. But in general, an ounce of breast milk provides 19-22 calories during the first 6 months for healthy growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does breast milk have more calories than formula?
On average, most standard infant formulas have 19-30 calories per ounce, similar to mature breast milk which contains 19-25 calories per ounce. However, breast milk has more highly bioavailable fat calories that are easily digested and absorbed.
Do you need to supplement breast milk with formula?
For healthy, full term infants, breast milk provides all the calories and nutrition needed in the first 6 months. Formula is only recommended if medically necessary, such as for premies or insufficient weight gain.
Does breast milk calories change based on gender?
No major differences in breast milk calories based on infant gender have been found. The nutrient profile adjusts based more on babies’ age, nursing patterns, and rate of growth.
Can I make high calorie breast milk shakes?
You can make higher calorie “fortified breast milk” for premies or infants who need more calories. A neonatal dietitian provides the right ingredients and portions based on your baby’s needs.
Do breast milk calories come from maternal fat stores?
The calories and nutrients in breast milk are derived from your daily nutritional intake, not stored body fat. Eating plenty of healthy foods ensures you make high quality milk.
The Bottom Line
Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants, with approximately 19-25 calories per ounce on average. The calorie content gradually decreases over the first year as babies begin eating more solid foods, but continues providing key immune factors and health benefits. Tracking your baby’s growth and trusting your body’s ability to produce milk tailored to your infant’s needs are the best ways to ensure your breast milk calories align with your baby’s needs.
