Postpartum pounds that stick around through the toddler years can prove frustrating to many moms. Moms of nursing toddlers might even add pounds after the first year if their toddlers decrease the frequency of their feedings and the moms fail to reduce their caloric intake accordingly. In a desperate attempt to lose the weight, some moms turn to diet pills to help them reach their weight-loss goals. Unfortunately, diet pills are not safe for nursing moms or their toddlers.
Risks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the sale of dietary supplements and weight loss aids. Over-the-counter diet supplements do not need to comform to the same high levels of safety and efficacy as prescription medications. Although the FDA can and will pull dangerous products from the market, that might happen too late to avoid potentially dangerous side effects. Some common diet pill ingredients that proved dangerous in the past include ephedrine, linked to claims of increased blood pressure, palpitations, seizures and heart arrhythmias, and phenylpropanolamine, associated with a higher risk of stroke. The FDA banned both products from over-the-counter supplements and aids, but many products might still contain potentially unsafe ingredients.
Effects on Your Toddler
The ingredients from diet pills travel into your breast milk, where they can pose a risk to your toddler. Ob-gyn Laura Fijolek McKain tells Babycenter that there is little information on the safety of these types of pills for young children. Even herbal remedies are suspect, according to lactation consultant Kelly Bonyata, who cautions that many herbal remedies contain a combination of different herbs. If your toddler developed a reaction, it would be almost impossible to determine which herb caused the bad side effects.
Effect on Breastmilk and Supply
The rapid weight loss associated with diet pills can introduce environmental contaminants stored in body fat, such as pesticides and PCBs, into a nursing mom's bloodstream, where an increase contaminant levels in breastmilk. Rapid weight loss can also cause a drop in your milk supply, especially if you eat fewer than 1,500 calories a day. For optimal supply, La Leche League International recommends that nursing moms eat at least 1,800 calories a day, and lose no more than 1.5 pounds a week.
Prevention/Solution
Instead of relying on a quick fix for weight loss, make long-lasting changes to your diet and exercise patterns. Nursing moms can lose weight as long as they do it in a slow and steady manner. Bonyata recommends cutting fat intake to 20 percent to 25 percent of your daily calories. Instead of reaching for a cookie, snack on fruits and vegetables or low-fat dairy. Include moderate exercise in your daily schedule. Eliminating one treat a day, such as a cookie or glass of wine, and adding an hour of brisk walking can help you burn 3,500 calories a week---or one pound of body fat. Discuss your weight-loss plan with your doctor first to make sure it is safe and appropriate for you.
References
- Babycenter; Are over-the-counter diet pills safe to take after giving birth?; Laura Fijolek McKain
- La Leche League International; Weight Loss While Breastfeeding; Mel Wolk; October-November 1997
- Mayo Clinic: Over-the-counter Weight Loss Pills: Do They Work?
- Kellymom; Can I Diet While Breastfeeding; Kelly Bonyata
- AskDrSears.com: 5 Ways to Reclaim Your Post-Pregnancy Weight
- Kellymom; Herbal Weight Loss Products and Breastfeeding; Kelly Bonyata
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