I don't have research on the impact of breastfeeding on a mother's nutritional
status but I find this question interesting in the context of biological
competence.  Evolution generally favors species with flexible nutritional
standards, those capable of surviving on a variety of foods.  Some species -- the
panda comes to mind -- are not adaptable.  They can survive only in a narrow
range of environment, temperature, foods, etc.  The human species is extremely
adaptable and thrives in most of the environments on earth, from the artic to
deserts and from islands to mountaintops.  Each of these environments offers very
different foods.  Therefore it seem highly unlikely to me that human beings have
narrow, rigid and difficult to attain nutritional needs.  Wouldn't it be much
more likely that we've evolved dependent on nutrients we are likely to obtain in
adequate amounts than on those we aren't?

Furthermore, what would be the evolutionary impact of an infant feeding system
that carried a high likelihood of draining the mother's reserves, weakening her,
increasing the risk that she will sicken, perhaps die, and be unable to care for
her children?  Her children would unlikely to survive and would be removed from
the gene pool.

In writing this, I'm mindful of the book Evolutionary Medicine, edited by Wenda
Trevathan, E O Smith and James McKenna, which in on my reading list now, and of
The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff , which changed my life when I read it
years ago.  I'm certain many of you are familiar with these books but encourage
the rest of you to consider reading them.

Alice Martino
in central New York State, USA

>
>
> Date:    Thu, 22 Aug 2002 15:03:26 -0400
> From:    Janice Berry <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Effects of mother's nutritional status
>
> I've been reading a newly published book called Mother Nurture: A Mother's
> Guide to Health in Body, Mind, and Intimate Relationships. While the book is
> supportive of breastfeeding in some ways, it repeatedly makes the point that
> a mother who is not getting enough nutrients in her diet is draining her bodily
> reserves each time she nurses. (They point out that baby gets what he needs,
> but at the expense of the mother.)
>
> I've tried to find research that either proves or disproves this point and am
> coming up dry. In most texts, we *do* advise the mother to eat well for her own
> well-being; however, I'm not finding discussion of the effects on the mother
> who does NOT get needed nutrients (I believe Breastfeeding and Human Lactation
> cited a study showing this with regard to selenium -- but
> that's just one nutrient), whether through her diet or supplements.
>
> It's obvious to me (and the research seems to support this assumption) that
> badgering breastfeeding mothers about their diet will simply cause them to
> choose not to breastfeed. Certainly eating a poor diet will result in a new
> mother feeling lousy and being less capable of parenting to her standards --
> but this is likely true no matter how baby is fed. What I'm not finding
> evidence to prove or disprove is whether breastfeeding AND maintaining poor
> nutritional status result in depleting the mother's reserves of specific
> nutrients and causing her to feel bad.
>
> Does anyone have information on this?
> Thanks,
> Janice Berry
> Westerville, Ohio

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