Yael W wrote:
"I find that one of the most prevailing breastfeeding myths is that
breastfeeding success depends  on quantity and quality of eating, and on
drinking enough.  This is so prevalent  that I sometimes wonder whether the
mothers I talk to about this actually believe it is NOT a  major factor,
after hearing so much from their friends, relatives, neighbors, and yes,
health professionals, about what they should and should not eat while
breastfeeding"

I find mothers to be overly concerned about diet. I try to review nutrition
basics with them, and then usually reassure them that nature spares the baby
at the expense of the mother - that is, their milk quality will not suffer
if their diet is less than perfect. (And, sometimes it is abysmal!) I don't
want them thinking that their baby is suffering because they only ate
chocolate bars yesterday, and I don't want them to have any second thoughts
about stopping BF because of those chocolate bars. ALL mothers are
astonished, and I say, "Unless you're severely malnourished, like in a
famine-struck country,..." I do reinforce the good eating habits, and
emphasize that they need to take care of themselves in order to take care of
their baby well, but I don't lay it on too thick. I mostly see moms
immediately postpartum, and find that they (mostly primips) are overwhelmed!

(I am starting to volunteer now at the local well-baby clinic, I wonder if
my advice will shift, now that there's a different population...)

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