Content-Transfer-Encoding: |
7bit |
Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Mon, 21 Feb 2005 19:37:43 EST |
Content-Type: |
text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" |
MIME-Version: |
1.0 |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
In a message dated 2/21/2005 3:48:44 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Even mothers who are in near starvation
situations make great breastmilk, and their children grow and thrive.
What you may not understand is that in some cases, post gastric bypass cause
the patient to be near starvation, hence the huge weight loss. The gastric
bypass patient must constantly be vigilant to the supplementation of vitamins
and minerals as the body is often unable to absorb the nutrients. For
example: When a "normal" person has to take an iron supplement, that may be one
tablet up to 3 times a day. I have known Gastric Bypass patients that must
take up to 3 times that amount just to absorb what someone else will absorb
from lots less. This is one of the "risks" of gastric bypass. Unfortunately
many are so desperate to lose weight, they are willing to deal with this
"later". Add to this the stress of a pregnancy and later with breastfeeding, and
that little prenatal vitamin is nowhere near enough to supplement a gastric
bypass patient. I have cared for many gastric bypass patients that are
hospitalized on TPN because their body's don't absorb nutrients. In my own case,
luckily this didn't happen, however, I do know that my milk did suffer and my
baby lost a lot of weight...she was almost 2 mos old before she regained
birth weight. It was not "other" breastfeeding issues...She had a wonderful
latch from the getgo, I never had cracked nipples, she gulped the milk in, had
plenty of wet diapers....but only one poop a week most of the time.
Unfortunately the issue of breastfeeding and pregnancy for that matter after gastric
bypass is going to be a quickly growing issue. One that needs to be researched
fairly quickly. There is almost no documentation anywhere on the effects.
Believe me I searched high and low. I suggest that IBCLC's everywhere study
up on Gastric Bypass, the anatomy and physiology of the surgery so that you
may be able to teach proper nutrition etc to these women while they are
breastfeeding. I agree whole heartedly that breast milk is still the perfect
food, but many times mom must be supplemented nutritionally during this time in
order to keep her own health intact and to keep her milk healthy. Until there
is more research done, and the issue is addressed, we will merely flounder
as we try to help these mothers and babies succeed.
Renee Drake RN
Post Gastric Bypass Patient
IBCLC wannabe (still working on it)
***********************************************
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
|
|