Diane,
I'm slow to suspect maternal nutrition as a cause of low milk supply
except in very extreme cases, especially in light of other more likely
factors like the low thyroid levels.

Much of the work I've read in nutrition textbooks on maternal
requirements during breastfeeding is theoretical and based on
calculations, not real-world studies.  The  research I've found shows
that most bf mothers simply reduce their activity, and do not
necessarily consume extra calories.  There are improvements in
efficiency of absorbtion and decreases in excretion of many nutrients
during breastfeeding that also help to compensate for lower maternal
intakes.  I have also read that extreme dieting and frank malnutrition
reduce milk supply, but that the effect is not very large.

I'd be really interested in more information about the low weight gain
in pregnancy and milk supply issues.  How reliable do you think the data
is?  Have you read the origional studies?  Should I be ranking maternal
body stores higher in my list of things to look for?

Thanks so much for sharing your expertise on Lactnet,
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC (Queens)

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