Dear Kris,

I am also an ovo-lacto-vegetarian who takes all those supplements your patient
is taking. These supplements are reported to improve memory, alleviate mild
depression, boost the immune system and diminish the risk of heart disease.
However, I would never have taken all those things when I was pregnant or
breastfeeding.  I always tell moms that megavitamins do not make megamilk.
Her milk will be fine if she just eats a reasonably healthy diet. (Which a
vegetarian diet most definitely is!)  I just took a regular multivitamin.  And
I would not be concerned about the calcium.

Now...I don't know how much vitamin E passes into breastmilk, but we know that
too much is toxic to newborns.  Megadoses of vitamin C in pregnancy can cause
scurvy in newborns secondary to withdrawal from the dose their little bodies
have become accustomed to. Does she suffer from memory problems or depression
currently?
I just don't see the need to take this preventative stuff while breastfeeding.
There is plenty of time to resume them after she weans.  I would encourage her
to cut out the megadoses of Vitamin C & E, at least.  And the coenzyme Q10 is
a relatively new addition to the anti-heart disease arsenal. I'm sure there is
little or no data on its use in breastfeeding women.

Of course, it would be odd for her to be having stomach problems from these
supplements if they haven't caused her to feel ill in the past 5 years.  My
guess is the supplements are not the cause of the "sour stomach, sour milk."
I never advise a mother to avoid caffeine and alcohol completely, if in doing
so she will feel it such a hardship that she will stop breastfeeding.
However, if mom can do without them, I still think it's better for the both of
them if she abstains.  The same for these nutritional and herbal supplements.

My very verbose 2 cents worth.

Kim

Kim Block  RNC, MSN, IBCLC
Westfield, NJ
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