New Mums often want to lose their post-partum weight as soon as possible.

With celebrity Mums often photographed a few months after giving birth showing off their amazing post baby figures so many Mums feel the pressure to achieve the perfect body.  As a result a new Mum may often choose to follow restrictive diet plans such as the low carbohydrate diet.  However the nutritional requirements of breast feeding suggest that mothers should approach any restrictive diets with caution.  It is always worth consulting your doctor before following any restricted diet while feeding your baby.

Calorie consumption

It is often recommended that a low carb diet is not followed until breast feeding is well established, normally after 6 to 8 weeks  of breastfeeding.   Even then it it important to consume enough calories to ensure that the supply of breast milk is maintained and for this it is not advisable to drop below 2000 calories on a daily basis. The La Leche League suggests that if new Mum reduces calories to such an extent that Mum feels hungry and exhausted the breast milk let down reflex may well be affected.

Restricted foods

One of the problems with following a low carbohydrate diet or any restrictive diet is that these diets often prohibit particular food categories.  Low carbohydrate meal plans do not generally offer enough fibre, folate, calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus minerals nor anti-oxidants.  If a nursing Mum is not having a well balanced diet with all the necessary nutrients her milk production could be affected as well as her general health and well being.

Lack of fluids

One of the initial benefits of a low carbohydrate diet tends to be rapid weight loss however this is normally related to a loss of fluids. A breast feeding Mum however needs to be taking on more fluids to maintain milk supply and so this in itself can lower the volume of milk produced. Children that are solely breastfed are completely dependent on their mother to avoid dehydration so if on a low carbohydrate diet it is worth increasing the volume of fluids that the breastfeeding Mum drinks.

Another consideration is that with rapid weight loss toxins stored in body fat may be released and enter the milk supply.

Recommendations

If considering a low carbohydrate diet while breastfeeding to maintain the supply of milk to baby and Mums health and well being it is worth:

• delaying the diet until breast feeding is well established normally after the baby is 8 weeks old
• do not reduce calorie intake too dramatically always maintaining a calorie in take of above 2000 calories daily
• start slowly and gradually
• increase your fluid intake
• eat extra vegetables and fruit

 This will help ensure that you achieve a gradual weight loss at the same time as maintaining both the health and well being of Mum and baby.

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