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Subject:
From:
dia michels <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 2 Jul 1996 00:43:06 EDT
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Here's a paragraph from "Milk, Money, & Madness" that considers the issue of
maternal use of illicit drugs.  I think it will give some perspective on the
marijuana question.

- Dia

"Almost everything that a woman ingests affects her breastmilk.  This includes
nicotine, caffeine, alcohol and drugs.  Some of these substances can be found in
breastmilk as soon as thirty minutes after consumption.  With most potentially
problematic additives, the effects on the baby are directly related to the
quantity of the substance the mother ingests.  Moderate use of almost anything
does not pose a threat to a child.  Obviously, the better one's diet, the better
it is for both mother and baby.  People are not perfect, however, and many
women, reticent to give up their lifestyle habits abstain from breastfeeding
because of fears that their milk is not good enough.  In reality, the child is
better off breastfeeding than receiving artificial foods.  Most drugs are found
in the milk, but the concentration is usually low enough that there is little
likelihood of an effect on the infant.  Moderate is considered to be up to two
alcoholic drinks per day, no more than the amount of caffeine in five cups of
coffee each day, limiting smoking to a pack of cigarettes a day, and minimal use
of illicit drugs.  The more a mother engages in activities that could be harmful
to the infant, the more likely it is that breastmilk production will be affected
adversely.  The greater the threats to the child, in general, the greater the
chances that the mother's body will shut down the breastmilk supply.  Once this
happens, the baby is in double jeopardy: first by facing potential inadequate
nutrition, and second, by having a mother possibly too impaired to properly care
for the infant.  The good news is that breastfeeding triggers the release of the
hormone oxytocin, which has the effect of calming a mother and focusing her
interest and attention on the baby.  Because of this chemical involvement, the
breastfeeding mother is more likely to voluntarily alter her detrimental habits
than the formula-feeding mother."

Dia L. Michels                          202-547-3598
627 A Street, NE                                202-546-2356-fax
Washington, DC  20002                   [log in to unmask]

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