Booby Juice

Toys R Us Violates Civil Law by Barring Breastfeeding in Store

I was totally shocked when I read this story -- how can a store dedicated to children do such a thing?  Or are the employees really so ignorant? 

Breastfeeding and weight loss

I have a good friend who has been struggling with fertility issues for over a year.  After 3 failed IVF cycles and a trip to see the mother of all fertility specialists at the NIH, she was told she can't conceive because she is too thin.  It turns out, she has such a skewed self image, she admittedly has an eating disorder.  While she is not anorexic, she cannot bring herself to gain the weight needed to ovulate naturally, and the idea of adding fat into her diet makes her physically ill.

All of that being said, my friend is in therapy and is slowly making progress.  While discussing her issues with me, she asked if since having Lucas, did I ever let the fact that I have not lost all of my "baby weight" stop me from doing anything, like going to the beach with my family or wearing shorts.  The answer was a resounding, "No!"

Then my friend asked a very common question about breastfeeding and weight loss.  Knowing that I am admittedly struggling to lose the last 15 pounds, she asked, "I thought breastfeeding was suppose to help a woman lose her baby weight?"  While there is a link between breastfeeding and weight loss, a woman cannot depend on breastfeeding alone to improve weight loss, as explained by this article on postpartum weight loss. 

So what do I think is affecting, or really preventing, my weight loss?  I can assure you all it has nothing to do with breastfeeding, and more to do with lack of exercise and those late-night, "secret" spoonfulls of ice cream!

Should solids replace breastmilk?

This topic ties into my post about solids vs. booby juice.  I know for my friends and myself, the topic of introducing solids has been by far the most confusing and stressful.  But I found kellymom.com does a good job of explaining the balance between breastmilk (or formula) and introducing solids, and she even includes a nifty graph for those of you who like visual aids (like me!).

Breastfeeding Diet

How do you maintain a healthy diet while breastfeeding?

• You're still eating for two, so continue to watch what you eat.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• What you eat can travel to your breastmilk, so you may find you have to avoid certain foods.
• Discuss with your healthcare provider the need for a vitamin supplement.

Almost all pregnant women need to increase their intake of protein, certain vitamins and minerals such as folic acid and iron, and calories (for energy), and the same holds true when you are nursing. Nursing mothers need about 300 calories more per day, for a total of about 2,500 calories. But this increased need for energy does not give a nursing mom a license to eat junk food! Use the same common sense exercised while pregnant when choosing what to eat.

Breastfeeding is hard work, and your body is working overtime to maintain an adequate milksupply. Subsequently, you will need at least 64 ounces of water to stay properly hydrated. If you think you are drinking 64 ounces, take a moment to measure it out just to be sure!

Things to avoid in your diet as they can get into your breastmilk: caffeine, alcohol, any food for which there is a family medical history of allergy and anything you have eaten to which your baby appears to be sensitive. Otherwise, there are absolutely no foods you should specifically avoid -- eat a healthy, well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains and protein.

And similarly to when you were pregnant, discuss with your healthcare provider whether or not you should conitnue to take your prenatal vitamins to ensure you have enough iron and calcium.

Finally, many women say breastfeeding can help a new mom lose weight faster, but this is not always the case. A mom who breastfeeds burns around 800 more calories than one who doesn't, but don't expect your baby weight to just fall off. Count on taking 10 months to a year to return to your pre-pregnancy weight, and don't even think about trying to lose weight until at least six weeks after your baby is born. Limiting what you eat, especially in the early weeks of nursing, may reduce your milk supply.