Breastfeeding and Sugar Cravings

If after the birth of your child you notice an increased desire for sweet foods or feel that your craving for sugar has become unusually strong and unfamiliar to you, it is important to understand that this experience is common. You are not at fault. During the lactation period, cravings for sugar are completely normal.

Let us try to understand what postpartum sugar cravings are and why they occur.

Pregnancy and childbirth represent a stage in a woman’s life during which the body undergoes not only physical changes but also profound hormonal and emotional transformations. This includes altered responses to sugar.

Disruptions in blood sugar levels: Quite often, after a woman becomes a mother, irregular eating patterns and the inability to eat at regular intervals lead to sharp fluctuations in blood glucose levels. This, in turn, can trigger sudden episodes of hunger. Moreover, there can be an intense desire for sweet foods, most notably for sugar.

Hormonal changes: Immediately after childbirth, levels of estrogen and progesterone decline sharply, while prolactin rises; at the same time, the body is simultaneously focused on recovery and on nourishing the infant. In parallel, the stress hormone cortisol may remain elevated. Such hormonal imbalance can further intensify cravings for foods high in sugar content.

Sleep deprivation: Naturally, sleepless nights become an additional contributing factor. When the body does not receive adequate daily sleep, the production of the hunger hormone increases while the level of the satiety hormone decreases. As a result, the body begins to seek foods that provide rapid energy. Primarily, this means sugar and simple carbohydrates, especially when tired.

Nutrient deficiencies: After childbirth, a woman’s body is simultaneously working to restore itself and, in the case of breastfeeding, to produce milk. It is therefore entirely natural that deficiencies in vitamins and minerals may develop. A lack of essential nutrients often leads to frequent fluctuations in blood sugar levels. This is why the body starts to crave quick and readily available sources of energy—namely sugar and carbohydrates soon after meals.

Here, the focus should be placed not so much on the occasional desire to eat something sweet itself, but rather on what follows. Either the constant suppression of these signals without understanding their underlying causes or, conversely, repeated submission to this desire, leading to uncontrolled and excessive sugar consumption. Excessive sugar intake can slow hormonal recovery, intensify inflammatory processes in the body, and impair sleep quality. In turn, all of this inevitably affects the mother’s emotional well-being and overall relationship with sugar cravings.

Most importantly, postpartum sugar cravings should be understood as a signal from the body addressed to you: “I need more balanced and adequate nutrition.”
You can certainly reduce these cravings and restore hormonal balance with the right approach to managing sugar intake.

What do we mean by the right approach?

• Do not start your day with sugar: The habit of beginning the morning exclusively with sweet foods can sustain and even intensify sugar cravings throughout the day for many mothers.

• Don’t forget to drink water: Sometimes thirst can be mistaken for hunger. Especially during breastfeeding, it is important to ensure that water is always readily available. Additionally, do not rely on sugar-containing foods for satisfaction.

• Choose healthy snacks: Keep healthy snacks at home that can provide a feeling of fullness. These may include nuts, dried fruits, fruit yogurts, and similar products. In addition, in Azerbaijan, “Süddaş” products have been specially created for the postpartum period to support the body’s recovery and enhance milk production. Their natural, premium-quality, and nutritious baked goods can confidently be used as wholesome snacks between meals instead of relying solely on sugar.

• Take good care of yourself: These cravings are neither accidental nor a sign of a lack of willpower. They are a natural response of the body to fatigue, hormonal changes, and the real needs associated simultaneously with the mother’s recovery and nourishing her baby. All of these may include the urge for sugar-rich foods.

Author: Hajar Piriyeva

Breastfeeding Consultant