Just opened up a new shipment of new mom magazines from L------,
which really has made some leaps in breastfeeding promotion and support.
I'm reading the article "Can You Lost Weight and Breastfeed>  Yes, but
its not a Diet Regimen", and read
        "If you find yourself losing wt while you are bfdg, remember that
you don't want to become too thin as long as your baby is still dependent
on your milk supply for nourishment.  The few women we have known who were
very thin postpartum foundthemselves exhausted much of the time.  They
simply did not have enough energy in reserve to give so many of their
daily calories to the baby....The usual recommendation is for an average
adult woman to consume about 2,000 calories a day...and a lactating woman
2,500...Remember, the most important factors in successful breastfeeding
are the general health and nutrition of the mother....."
        The nutrition article warns of trouble if you don't get "the seven
nutrients " in which "the typical American diet is likely to be
deficient".  In addition, this paragraph:
        "If the good nutients get into your milk, bad substances do as
well.  Women have often been told that drinking a glass of wine or beer
stimulates the milk supply.  What it also does is make the baby tipsy,
affecting his brain and liver.  Alcohol is just one of the substances
pregnant women are advised to shun.  Aspirin, cigarettes, coffee, sleeping
pills, antihistamines, and other over-the-counter medications are others.
Do these taboos hold during breastfeeding?   In many cases, yes.  Consult
your healthcare provider."
        AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!
        (They also quote the old study about babies not liking the tast of
post-esercise milk...suggest waiting 90 minutes to feed afterwards.)
        Am I correct in thinking that most of this calorie stuff is
hoo-ha??  (Old info, mostly conjecture)
        I am thinking of sending all these back (wish I could do it
collect) -- don't have the time to go back and look for this stuff (think
it's in my OLD Lawrence) -- so I'm using you as a quick refresher.
        You may post to the list or privately.  If I'm right I'll of
course be glad to write a letter...(Oh no this turned into a rant.)
        Thanks a bunch, listies!
Dawn in Southern VT  RN, IBCLC and (redfacedly)FACCE