What might happen if a nursing mother loses weight too quickly?
• In most instances of too-rapid weight loss, it is not the breastmilk (composition or supply) that would suffer, but mom’s nutrition and/or health. • Excessive dieting can result in a reduced milk supply. • According to Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (3rd Edition, Riordan, pp 440), it is noted that fad or rapid weight loss programs should be avoided because fat-soluble environmental contaminants and toxins stored in body fat are released into the milk when caloric intake is severely restricted. I was unable to find a definition of “severely restricted” but I expect that it is significantly under 1500 calories per day (which they called a “modest intake”). I’ve included information on a study on this subject below. See also the info at this website regarding environmental contaminants and breastfeeding.
