Many postpartum women want to quickly lose the excess weight gained during pregnancy. There are many questions regarding nutrition or weight loss during breastfeeding. Restricting calories or taking diet pills is not recommended for breastfeeding women. Losing weight quickly may interfere with milk production. Diet pills are not recommended for nursing women because they can cause problems for both mother and baby.
Diet Pill Safety
The Food and Drug Administration helps protect consumers by regulating certain drugs, such as vaccines and dietary supplements. Some over-the-counter diet pills are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, but not as closely monitored as prescription diet pills. Many diet supplements for weight loss may contain dangerous ingredients or additives. There are not enough funds to analyze the entire composition of all dietary supplements or diet pills. Since all over-the-counter diet pills may not be closely monitored, it is important to talk to your health care provider before taking these supplements.
Breastfeeding and Weight Loss
Many new mothers are preoccupied with body image and dramatic weight loss seems desirable. The best recommendation for postpartum weight loss is to take it slow. Extreme weight loss in the first month may decrease your breast milk supply. It is important to try not to lose weight until after the first month, when milk supply is well-established. According to the La Leche League, fad diets and rapid weight loss may cause problems for breastfeeding mothers. Breastfeeding burns approximately 500 calories per day, so taking diet pills may not only be dangerous, but unnecessary for some women.
Breastfeeding and Diet Pills
Dietary supplements such as diet pills or herbal supplements should be avoided when nursing. Diet pills may contain appetite suppressants or include ingredients that increase metabolism. They also may contain caffeine, which is not recommended in excessive amounts for breastfeeding women. Eating enough calories during the day is also important for a breastfeeding women. If the appetite is suppressed, the calories needed may not be consumed and milk supply will likely drop. Ephedra is a component found in a number of diet pills, and its side effects include nausea, headache and even stroke. The FDA prohibits the use of ephedra in diet pills.
Safety of Diet Pills in Breast Milk
The safety of diet pills in breast milk has not been tested extensively. Certain ingredients in diet pills can pass through the blood stream and into breast milk, causing potentially harmful problems for infants. The testing of weight loss pills on infants has just not been studied enough to deem them safe for use.
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