Most women gain about 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy, which is enough extra weight to cause strain on the organs, especially the heart, notes the Mayo Clinic. Some women are tempted to try prescription or over-the-counter diet pills to help shed that post-pregnancy weight gain. While some women can safely use such remedies, other women potentially put themselves at a higher risk for heart attack and stroke by taking diet pills after pregnancy.
Nursing Moms
Nursing moms should not take any diet remedy without discussing it with their doctors. The ingredients of any pill or supplement can be passed into breast milk and then on to the nursing infant. Some ingredients of prescription or over-the-counter diet pills are dangerous to babies, so it's usually best to err on the side of caution. Also, nursing in itself can help moms drop that post-pregnancy weight gain so that diet pills no longer feel like a necessity.
Over-the-Counter Remedies
Be very careful before ingesting any over-the-counter diet pill as some of them have potentially fatal side effects, warns gynecologist Laura Fijolek McKain. Ephedrine is an especially risky ingredient linked to heart arrhythmias, seizures and dangerous spikes in blood pressure. McKain always warns her post-pregnancy patients that there's no such thing as a "magic pill" for weight loss.
Prescription Remedies
If your body mass index is greater than 30, your doctor may prescribe diet pills so you can lose at least some of your excess weight, notes the Mayo Clinic. Losing even 5 to 10 percent of your pregnancy weight gain can decrease your risk of heart attack or stroke and also give you more energy to devote to your child. Phentermine is a prescription appetite suppressant, while the drug orlistat helps block fat from being digested. Only orlistat is approved for long-term use.
Considerations
The best and safest way to lose weight after pregnancy is by eating healthful foods and exercising regularly. Eating plenty of "super foods," such as fish, low-fat milk and yogurt can help you lose the weight safely and keep it off. Even if diet pills help you take the weight off, chances are high that once you stop taking the pills the extra weight will creep back onto your body.
