After nine months of weight gain, lactating mothers often find themselves ready to lose their pregnancy weight. While appetite suppressants might seem like a great way to shed pounds quickly, they are not recommended for breastfeeding mothers and should be avoided while nursing to ensure a healthy milk supply for the infant. It is essential that new moms ready to start their weight loss journey educate themselves on the dangers of appetite suppressants and breastfeeding.
Not FDA Approved
Most over-the-counter appetite suppressants and weight loss drugs are not FDA approved and should be avoided by nursing mothers since there have been no official FDA tests or experiments to determine their safety for the general public. Since some substances pass very easily into breast milk, exposing an infant to unregulated drugs -- even appetite suppressants -- can be extremely dangerous.
FDA Approved But Still Unsafe
Only one over-the-counter appetite suppressant weight loss drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration: Alli. According to Drugs.com, breastfeeding mothers should not use this drug without consulting a doctor. Many pills contain substances unsafe for infants and require a doctor's approval before consumption.
Rapid Weight Loss
Appetite suppressants can lead to rapid weight loss, which is an unsafe way to lose weight in general and especially for nursing mothers who want to maintain a sufficient supply of breast milk. Losing weight too quickly can cause a dramatic decrease in milk production, leading to weight loss in the infant or the inability to continue to breastfeed. To lose weight and maintain a normal supply of milk, consider dieting slowly and safely.
Side Effects
Side effects of appetite suppressants vary but can be harmful to both mother and baby. Some appetite suppressants contain stimulants like caffeine or ginseng. Stimulants can pass through breast milk and cause many complications in infants, including restlessness, lack of sleep and fussiness. Some pills even contain chitosan, a derivative of shellfish; some moms and infants could have potentially deadly allergic reactions to chitosan if they are allergic to shellfish. Most appetite suppressants contain a cocktail of many herbs to decrease appetite and the mixtures will affect every person and baby differently, so it is strongly advised that all nursing mothers avoid appetite suppressants.
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