>You
>> state that it is a myth that bf moms need a
>> good diet and prenatal vits while bf.  I learned in my educator course
>that
>> they do need those. I am a ped. Nurse practitioner and routinely tell my
>> moms they must continue their vits. while bf.  So the babies can obtain
>them
>> through the milk. I am constantly fighting with the docs who want to give
>> the babies vit. Supplements through dropper.  My reasoning is the babies
>get
>> vits from mom if she takes them daily.  Why is this a myth???


There are loads of things mothers have been told for years and years but
they just don't stand up  when the evidence is looked for.

There are some good studies in Infant Feeding: The Physiological Basis
(WHO, 1989), now quite an 'old' book I suppose, but I have seen nothing to
contradict the studies in there which report on comparisons of milk quality
between mothers of very variable nutritional status. The milk is
undistnguishable in quality except in long-term conditions of extremely
poor nutrition. Vitamin content does vary, but this is primarily because
the fat content of milk varies with different feeds and different lengths
of feed (discussed at length here on Lactnet) and fat soluble vitimins
vary, too ....without this having any effect overall on the nutrition of
the baby. Same with water-soluble vitamins, again without effect on
adequately nourished mothers.  There's some good discussion in the book
about fkuid and calorie needs, as well.

In the UK,  vitamins are not recommended routinely for pregnant or nursing
mothers (apart from folic acid in pre-conception and early pregnancy).

My feeling is any education on diet should take place with mothers being
told that a good diet is important for them - their babies will be fine on
their milk whatever.  There is (IMHO) far, far too much  pressure on
mothers from their own anxieties and from what people tell them which makes
them worry about quantity and quality of milk....we should be very careful
before adding to it.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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