A mom called me with concerns about continuing to breastfeed while loosing 
weight.  Her baby is 3 months old and exclusively breastfed.  She wants to 
nurse at least 6 months.  She has just started dieting end exercising and 
loosing about 5 lbs per week. She is not on any extreme diet. She has just 
changed to eating healthy foods like chicken, fruits, veggies, and healthy 
grains-she eats 6 meals per day.  She is also exercising.  She has read that 
you should only loose up to 1.5 lbs per week otherwise you will have harmful 
toxins in your milk.  Now she is thinking seriously about switching to formula.

I understand the recommendations about loosing weight slowly, but is it really 
harmful to continue breastfeeding if you are loosing weight quickly?  I told this 
mother that formula has health risks also.  She does not want to stop 
exercising.  It is not like she is trying out some new fad diet.  She has just 
switched to a healthy lifestyle.  If she continues to breastfeed and stops 
loosing weight (once she reaches her target weight) and continues to lead a 
healthy lifestyle would the effects of the toxins in her milk be cancelled out?  I 
mean, is it okay for baby to be temporarily exposed to harmful toxins since 
those toxins will eventually leave?   I want to convince her that she is still 
doing the best thing for her baby by continuing to breastfeed, but I want to 
get the facts first.  Thanks.

Christine Lichte, IBCLC

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