Diets, Lactation and Breastfeeding

You, as a healthy woman, are an important part of Nature’s success. Growing another healthy human being requires nourishing yourself well. Yet what and how we eat unnecessarily gets confused. 

Simply put, how do we best nourish ourselves while also nourishing our babies?

Dr. Shereen Soliman’s recent webinar “Trends in Dieting and Breastfeeding” focused on three approaches: Keto, Vegan and Intermittent Fasting.

Her concerns were for diets that are too restrictive.

She cautions that certain nutrients may be lacking. In that case, those nutrients will be drawn from the parent’s body to provide for the breast milk. Yet, that eventually depletes the parent. Another concern is that, when losing weight quickly, toxins are released into one’s system which do go through the breast milk. With some eating plans, parents can suffer headaches and feel exhausted. Who needs that as a parent? 

Dr. Soliman cautioned that parents research their choices,

They should understand what supplements are needed and always consider how it affects them. Especially during the important juncture of postpartum and parenting young children, what is easy to maintain? Are there special foods, fixed schedules, required measuring?

That’s why certain diet trends are confusing.

And there are many suggestions, plans and trends online. The word ‘trend’ means “a fashion, something that is developing or changing”. The word ‘diet’ means “a special course of food to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons”. ‘Diet’ is also associated with body image. Whatever your purpose, honor what your body has done, and can do.

A healthy ‘diet’ is one that respects what your body needs.

It should be fairly simple to maintain. Lactating bodies need at least 2,000 high quality calories a day to nourish both parent and baby.

A baby definitely benefits from breastmilk.

Just as importantly, your body: your bones, your eyes, your heart, benefit from lactation, too. Good nutrition is an investment in your continuing health.

Feed yourself well and with love!

Your children will be nourished and they benefit from that model of care. Enjoy your good meals together.