Several years ago, Dr. Dewey did a great presentation at a LLL conference in
which she discussed both infant weight gain and maternal weight loss.  Her
gist was basically that the caloric intakes of babies were originally based
upon formula and that is faulty because breastmilk is superior in its
absorption.  In addition, the absorption rates even in constant, controlled
calorie input (breast or abm) changes depending upon the age of baby and
whether they are growth spurting.  Lastly, mothers' own metobolic resiliency
can make it so that mothers in extremely caloric deficits can still produce
high quality milk without whithering.  Some of her references:
Butte, Smith, and Garza; Am J. Clin Nutrition 1990; 51:350-8
-human milk -fed infants, lower intake/kg at 4 mo
-min energy expenditure lower
-maintain growth trajectories even when supplemented with solids

Dewey, Henig, Nommsen, Peerson, and Lnnerdal.  Peds 1992; 89:1035-1041.
-length and head cir measures of bf & formula fed infants similar in 1st and
18th mo
-wt of bf infant dropped below median at 6-8 mo & was signif lower between
6-18 mo
-growth charts for bf infants needed

Dewey, Henig, Nommsen, Peerson, and Lonnerdal, J Clin Nutr 1993; 57:140-5
-Energy and protein intakes and gain in wt and LBM were sig lower in bf than
formula fed infants 3-9 mo
-incidence of illness was sign greater from 6-9 mo in higher protein intake
group

Hitchcock, Gracey, and Gilmour, Acta Faediatr Scand, 74: 240. 1985
-slower gain after 3 months

Sorry this is so long, she has more references, but these are the most
relevant to this discussion.
Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC    [log in to unmask]
mom, wife, educator, lactation consultant, researcher, scientist, author,
organic gardener, photographer, lapidary creator, lousy cleaner.

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html