{
  "id": "breastfeeding-calorie",
  "version": "dc047fb34b7f",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "Breastfeeding Calorie Calculator",
  "question": "How many breastfeeding calories?",
  "summary": "Estimates the daily calories a breastfeeding mother needs: the 2023 National Academies energy requirement for her age, height, weight and activity, plus 400 kcal a day for 0 to 6 months or 380 kcal for 7 to 12 months.",
  "category": "health",
  "subcategory": "nutrition",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/health/breastfeeding-calorie-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/health/breastfeeding-calorie-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "Total = EER + lactation cost; EER (women 19+) = constant − 7.01 × age + h × height (cm) + w × weight (kg) by activity level; lactation 0 to 6 months = 540 − 140 = 400 kcal/d, 7 to 12 months = 380 kcal/d.",
  "assumptions": [
    "Women aged 19 and older; teenagers use the girls’ equations.",
    "0 to 6 months assumes exclusive breastfeeding and a weight loss of about 0.64 kg a month; 7 to 12 months assumes partial breastfeeding and a stable weight.",
    "An average for planning; appetite, weight change and your care team’s advice come first."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "age": {
        "title": "Age",
        "description": "Your age in years; the equations are for women 19 and older.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 19,
        "maximum": 60
      },
      "height": {
        "title": "Height",
        "description": "Your height without shoes.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "exclusiveMinimum": 1.2,
        "maximum": 2.1
      },
      "weight": {
        "title": "Weight",
        "description": "Your body weight.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "mass",
        "minimum": 35,
        "maximum": 250
      },
      "activity": {
        "title": "Physical activity",
        "description": "Your usual physical activity level: inactive, low active, active or very active.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "inactive",
          "low",
          "active",
          "very"
        ]
      },
      "stage": {
        "title": "Baby’s age",
        "description": "0 to 6 months (mostly or only breast milk) or 7 to 12 months (with solid food).",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "early",
          "late"
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "total": {
      "label": "Calories a day",
      "description": "Your energy requirement plus the lactation cost.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "base": {
      "label": "Without breastfeeding",
      "description": "The 2023 estimated energy requirement for your age, height, weight and activity.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "extra": {
      "label": "Extra for breastfeeding",
      "description": "Milk energy − energy from body stores: 400 or 380 kcal a day.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "milk": {
      "label": "Energy in milk production",
      "description": "540 kcal a day for 0 to 6 months, 380 for 7 to 12 months.",
      "format": "number"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "age": 30,
      "weight": 68.0388555,
      "activity": "low",
      "stage": "early",
      "height": 1.6256
    },
    "outputs": {
      "total": 2664.35770577,
      "base": 2264.35770577,
      "extra": 400,
      "milk": 540
    },
    "text": "You need about 2,664 calories a day while breastfeeding."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "age": 30,
        "height": 1.65,
        "weight": 68,
        "activity": "low",
        "stage": "early"
      },
      "expect": {
        "base": 2279.99,
        "total": 2679.99,
        "extra": 400
      },
      "source": "National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy (2023), Summary, Tables S-1 (EER for women 19 and older) and S-5, S-6 (lactation: 0 to 6 months + 540 − 140 kcal/d; 7 to 12 months + 380 kcal/d), https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/26818/chapter/2 (retrieved 2026-10-05); hand calculation in content.mdx: 575.77 − 210.30 + 1,089.00 + 825.52 = 2,279.99; + 400 = 2,679.99"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "age": 35,
        "height": 1.6256,
        "weight": 68.0388555,
        "activity": "inactive",
        "stage": "late"
      },
      "expect": {
        "base": 2066.128197905,
        "extra": 380,
        "milk": 380
      },
      "source": "National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy (2023), Summary, Tables S-1 (EER for women 19 and older) and S-5, S-6 (lactation: 0 to 6 months + 540 − 140 kcal/d; 7 to 12 months + 380 kcal/d), https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/26818/chapter/2 (retrieved 2026-10-05); hand calculation in content.mdx: 584.90 − 245.35 + 929.8432 + 796.7350 = 2,066.13; + 380 = 2,446.13",
      "tolerance": 1e-9
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "age": 25,
        "height": 1.7,
        "weight": 60,
        "activity": "very",
        "stage": "early"
      },
      "expect": {
        "base": 2632.08,
        "total": 3032.08
      },
      "source": "National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy (2023), Summary, Tables S-1 (EER for women 19 and older) and S-5, S-6 (lactation: 0 to 6 months + 540 − 140 kcal/d; 7 to 12 months + 380 kcal/d), https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/26818/chapter/2 (retrieved 2026-10-05); hand calculation in content.mdx: 511.83 − 175.25 + 1,541.90 + 753.60 = 2,632.08; + 400 = 3,032.08"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "age": 30,
        "height": 1.65,
        "weight": 68,
        "activity": "active",
        "stage": "early"
      },
      "expect": {
        "base": 2418.17,
        "total": 2818.17
      },
      "source": "National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy (2023), Summary, Tables S-1 (EER for women 19 and older) and S-5, S-6 (lactation: 0 to 6 months + 540 − 140 kcal/d; 7 to 12 months + 380 kcal/d), https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/26818/chapter/2 (retrieved 2026-10-05); hand calculation in content.mdx: 710.25 − 210.30 + 1,079.10 + 839.12 = 2,418.17; + 400 = 2,818.17"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy. 2023. Summary, Tables S-1, S-5 and S-6, retrieved 2026-10-05. https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/26818/chapter/2",
    "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Maternal Diet (breastfeeding): an additional 330 to 400 kcal a day for well-nourished breastfeeding mothers, retrieved 2026-10-05. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/hcp/diet-micronutrients/maternal-diet.html"
  ],
  "related": [
    "calorie",
    "tdee",
    "water-intake"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}