I have started telling new mom's to keep a bowl or basket of quick and easy snacks on the kitchen counter to grab on the go. Things like bananas, apples, Nutragrain bars (or similar product), boxes of raisins, baby carrots or basically anything healthy and easily eaten on the run. I find that these mom's are so overwhelmed with motherhood and the whole babycare/wife/entertainer of visitors role that having to think of eating a healthy meal is just too overwhelming. The breakfast gets put off until after the baby's bath, then aftr her shower, then it is time for lunch and by that time she is so tired and hungry the idea of having to fix something nutritous is just too much. So now she grabs some cookies and spends the rest of the day feeling guilty. This of course leads her to believe the baby is starving because of her poor lunch choice and the guilt just compounds. THese quick and easy snacks help her make sensible choices, keeps her energy up and hopefully cuts down on some of that new mom guilt. I don't give calorie requirements, I don't give fluid requirements, I give these ladies some common sense skills for healthy survival in those first couple weeks after baby's arrival. Drink when you are thirsty, eat what you want in moderation, make healthy snack choices, and above all, enjoy and trust the miracle you hold in your arms. Rules and requirements just reinforce the misconception that breastfeeding is hard and complicated. Common sense empowers them to make sensible decisions on their own. Ann H. McAdoo RN (who has had her share of parents without a shred of common sense this week!) ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. *********************************************** 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