We received the same directive regarding dietary requirements for
breastfeeding mothers when Joint Commission visited us in August. We tried
to explain that current literature does not support this but it fell on
deaf ears. Not to worry, it has been my experience that next time they come
around the issue of diets will be totally forgotten, and they will have
taken on a new issue, which will make about as much sense as special diets
for breastfeeding women.
Mary A. Banaszewski RN, Lactation Specialist

On Dec. 02 Debi Lanning wrote:

>I received a call from a dietitian at a local hospital who was asked
> > by their lactation consultant to develop a lactation diet for moms
> > while they are in the postpartum unit.  After I stopped laughing, I
> > began to wonder if I was out of the loop and there is such a thing.  I
> > figured you guys would know.  The only thing the lactation consultant
> > told her was she needed to have non gassy foods on the menu.  I do not
> > know if this lactation consultant is certified.  The dietitian would
> > appreciate any help she can get.  The lactation consultant told the
> > dietitian that it is a joint commission standard to have a lactation
> > diet. Hmmm.

----------
> From: Lanning, Debi <[log in to unmask]>
> To:
> Subject: FW: lactation diets and acronyms
> Date: Tuesday, December 02, 1997 8:43 AM
>
> > ----------
> > From:         Lanning, Debi
> > Sent:         Tuesday, December 02, 1997 9:40 AM
> > To:   'Lactnet'
> > Subject:      FW: lactation diets and acronyms
> >
> >
> >
> > ----------
> > From:         Lanning, Debi
> > Sent:         Tuesday, December 02, 1997 9:39 AM
> > To:   'Lactnet'
> > Subject:      lactation diets and acronyms
> >
> > I received a call from a dietitian at a local hospital who was asked
> > by their lactation consultant to develop a lactation diet for moms
> > while they are in the postpartum unit.  After I stopped laughing, I
> > began to wonder if I was out of the loop and there is such a thing.  I
> > figured you guys would know.  The only thing the lactation consultant
> > told her was she needed to have non gassy foods on the menu.  I do not
> > know if this lactation consultant is certified.  The dietitian would
> > appreciate any help she can get.  The lactation consultant told the
> > dietitian that it is a joint commission standard to have a lactation
> > diet. Hmmm.
> >
> > On to acronyms.  I HATE them.  You may find it faster to type them but
> > it takes the reader longer to read and figure (or never figure) them
> > out.  Since the majority of you seem to be strong proponents of hand
> > expression, I would like you to be equally strong proponents of clear
> > completely typed words.  A good typist can type out what he/she means
> > just as easily as hitting the caps button and typing the acronym.
> >
> >  I NEVER acquired the skill of hand expression and chose pumping
> > because for me it was quicker and easier.  With extremely short
> > hospital stays I don't think it is possible to teach hand expression.
> > I know it is extremely difficult to teach it over the phone.  Not
> > every mother can be or wants a LLL leader to refer them on to a
> > lactation consultant so the in person teaching may never take place.
> > I don't view pumping as a bad thing.  I know a woman who breastfed her
> > first child 6 mons, 2nd 3 mons. and never even started with the third
> > child because she hated the feeling of being tied down. (I know - why
> > did she even have them?  But the question is too late because they are
> > already born.)  She would have pumped but would have never hand
> > expressed.  So what would have been better for those children?
> > Expressed breast milk or formula (a very good word!)?
> >
> > Debi Lanning/St. Petersburg, FL.
> >
> >
>