Millions of women choose to breastfeed their babies instead of bottle-feeding. Breast milk provides enzymes and other health benefits to babies that formula lacks. Weight loss is a common concern among postpartum women, since gaining weight during the pregnancy is normal. Dieting and exercising can promote weight loss, but sometimes they don't work fast enough. Some woman also have accountability problems with their food intake or exercise, so they want to lose weight by using diet pills. Diet pills are not recommended for breastfeeding women, due to safety concerns.
Breast Milk Transfer
Diet pills are not recommended for nursing women because much of what a woman consumes in foods, supplements and drugs is passed on to the baby through breast milk. The effects of diet pills have not been studied on nursing women and their babies, so the possible effects on babies are unknown. Another concern is that most diet pills are not regulated for safety or ingredient accuracy by the Food and Drug Administration.
Rapid Weight Loss
Another reason that diet pills are not considered safe for nursing women is that they promote rapid weight loss. Kelly Bonyata, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, suggests that nursing women lose no more than one to two pounds per week. Losing weight too fast can increase the concentration of environmental contaminations, like pesticides, in the milk, which may harm the baby, according to La Leche League. La Leche League warns that quick weight loss may also reduce breast milk supply.
Side Effects
Diet pills, whether over-the-counter or prescription, can cause a plethora of side effects, which is another reason why nursing women should avoid them. The Mayo Clinic states that prescription Orlistat may lead to liver damage, while the ingredients ephedra and country mallow, which were used in many diet pills, are so dangerous for the heart that they have been banned by the Food and Drug Administration.
Natural Weight Loss and a Healthy Diet
There is no need for breastfeeding women to use diet pills to lose weight, since breastfeeding itself promotes weight loss. La Leche League International states that on average, breastfeeding women lose 1.3 to 1.6 pounds per month during the first four to six months of the baby's life, simply because nursing requires extra calories. Beyond that, nursing women should focus on a healthy diet, which includes foods from all five food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy and meats and beans.
Member Comments