New mothers often have the feeling that they want to lose the weight they gained during the pregnancy as soon as possible. Even after having the baby, many women have 20 or more pounds to lose to attain their pre-pregnancy weight. New mothers also get to decide whether they want to breastfeed or formula-feed their baby. Breastfeeding is most beneficial to both the baby, as it provides long-lasting health benefits from the antibodies in breast milk. While formula-feeding mothers can use diet pills if they want to, to try to lose weight, a breastfeeding woman needs to approach weight loss differently.
Types of Diet Supplements
There are many types of weight-loss supplements on the market, and it can be confusing which ones work and which ones are safe. The Mayo Clinic explains that some diet supplements have been banned by the Food and Drug Administration, while others are still believed to be safe. For example, the over-the-counter weight-loss drug Orlistat, which goes by the name of Xenical or Alli, may cause liver damage. Ephedra and hoodia are diet supplements that aim to decrease appetite. The Mayo Clinic states that there is insufficient evidence to know whether hoodia is safe, but ephedra has been banned due to health risks.
Effectiveness of Diet Supplements
The effectiveness of various diet supplements varies depending on the type of supplement. For example, the Mayo Clinic states that Xenical is effective in reducing body fat, since it blocks the absorption of dietary fat. Ephedra and conjugated linoelic acid are possibly effective for weight loss, but further research needs to be done. Diet supplements that are not known to be effective, according to the Mayo Clinic, include guar gum and the herb country mallow.
Safety While Breastfeeding
There is no diet supplement that is safe for use while breastfeeding. This is because many diet supplements pass through the barrier and transfer from a woman's body to her breast milk, and therefore to her baby. The safety of diet pills has not been tested on babies and could most likely be harmful. Diet pills may also cause side effects for the breastfeeding woman, such as nausea and diarrhea, which can hinder her overall health and her ability to feed her baby.
Weight Loss From Breastfeeding
Not only are diet supplements not recommended for nursing women, but they are not needed. Breastfeeding burns calories and helps a woman to lose weight naturally, since it takes extra energy to produce milk and breastfeed. La Leche League International states that breastfeeding women lose an average of 1.3 to 1.6 lbs. per month for the first four to six months of the baby's life, without additional diet or exercise.
Risks of Rapid Weight Loss
Another reason why breastfeeding women should not use weight-loss supplements is that the strong, effective ones could cause rapid weight loss. While that may seem acceptable to some women, La Leche League International states that when a woman loses weight too quickly, it increases the amount of environmental contaminants such as PCBs in her breast milk. These toxins can then be passed on to the baby.
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