Short Answer: Yes — and It's Worth a Personalized Look
Your nutritional needs change after giving birth, and they change again depending on whether and how much you're breastfeeding. Macros are calculated as part of your Move Together assessment, so your pre-pregnancy or pregnancy numbers aren't automatically right for postpartum.
Please note: Postpartum recovery and lactation needs vary a lot from person to person, and there's no single set of numbers that works for everyone. We don't publish general postpartum or breastfeeding macro targets — a personalized plan will always serve you better than a one-size-fits-all figure.
Why Your Macros Change Postpartum
Recovery. Your body needs extra energy and protein to heal, regardless of feeding method.
Breastfeeding increases energy needs. Producing milk takes energy on top of your baseline — how much depends on how often and how exclusively you're nursing.
Fluid and micronutrient needs go up too. Hydration and several key nutrients are needed in higher amounts while nursing.
A fat-loss phase usually isn't appropriate right away. Most providers recommend a maintenance-style approach while you're establishing milk supply in the early postpartum weeks, rather than an active fat-loss target.
Is Fat Loss Appropriate While Breastfeeding?
There's no universal timeline here — the honest answer is that it depends on the individual. In general, most experts recommend prioritizing recovery, healing, and establishing a stable milk supply during the early postpartum period before intentionally pursuing fat loss.
For many women, that means waiting until milk supply is well established. But the appropriate timing depends on factors such as:
Recovery from delivery (especially after a C-section or complicated birth)
Milk supply and infant growth
Maternal energy levels
Sleep quality
Overall health and nutrition status
Guidance from your healthcare provider
👩🏻⚕️ Some women aren't good candidates for a calorie deficit while breastfeeding at all — particularly if you have ongoing concerns with milk supply, significant fatigue, inadequate nutrient intake, or are still recovering physically.
The primary goal during breastfeeding is supporting both your health and your baby's nutrition — not rapid weight loss.
If Fat Loss Is Appropriate, Keep It Gradual
Rather than focusing on aggressive weight loss, the emphasis should be on building sustainable nutrition habits while allowing body composition to change gradually over time. General recommendations include:
Use only a small calorie deficit
Prioritize adequate protein
Continue eating sufficient carbohydrates to support milk production, recovery, and training
Include healthy dietary fats and plenty of fiber-rich whole foods
Stay well hydrated
Monitor milk supply, infant weight gain, hunger, recovery, mood, and energy — if your milk supply decreases or fatigue becomes excessive, calorie intake should be increased
How to Get the Right Numbers
If you're currently in Move Together: resubmit your Macro Assessment and note that you're postpartum and whether/how much you're breastfeeding, so your counts reflect that instead of your pre-birth or pregnancy targets. (See How to Fill Out Your Macro Assessment.)
⚠️ Move Together is currently unavailable — we don't have exact dates yet, but the next challenge will likely be in Fall 2026. Stay tuned for more details!
Outside of a Move Together cycle, or for dedicated postpartum/breastfeeding nutrition guidance: macros aren't calculated through the Moves app. Reach out to our Moves App Nutritionist Courtney Rushing at rushingtothekitchen.com for a personalized plan.
💡 We'd steer you away from estimating your own postpartum or breastfeeding macros from general internet guidance — recovery and lactation needs are so individual, and under-eating during this window can affect both your recovery and your milk supply. A personalized number is worth it 💙
As always, this is general guidance and not a substitute for medical or individualized nutrition advice — your healthcare provider knows your recovery, your history, and your baby best 💙
If you have any questions or need assistance, our Support Team is here to help. Contact us anytime at support@movesapp.com—we're dedicated to making sure you have the best experience possible!