My DH doesn't think my breast milk has sufficient nutrition for our LO....is he right?

[nicole528]

So, for the past month my DH has been really big on giving our 9.5 mo old DD, who is still BF most of the time, new foods to try. He is constantly asking me what else we should be giving her so she has a well-balanced nutritious meal. We have the Super Baby Food book so he is basing a lot of information off of this. It's been getting to me lately especially since I have read that most of the baby's nutrition still comes from BM and food, during the first year, is more for developmental skills and less for nutrition. When I brought this point to his attention, he basically told me that he didn't think my BM was nutritious enough and thought she probably needed more supplements! I am a vegetarian and I probably could eat more vegetables (and less bread) but I do believe I eat pretty well and I still take my prenatal vitamins. Anyway, I am more just venting than anything....I know he means well but it still stung (and of course, made me feel that inevitable guilt that I am not doing enough to take care of my LO)

I guess I'm wondering.....Does anyone know if there is any truth to his concern? Should she be getting iron supplements and vitamins (as our pediatrician recommends for all babies over 6 mos) along with a well-rounded meal multiple times a day? Am I harming my LO when I don't cook/eat the collards in my fridge and opt for a quick bowl of pasta instead?

Thanks for the information(and for listening)!

-Nicole
Mama to DD (11/09)

[Bokonon]

No, he's not right. Why would your breastmilk, which has nourished and grown your daughter up until this point, all of a sudden be lacking? It's just not logical.

The only person that would be suffering from you not getting enough nutrients is YOU. The body is very well designed. The baby gets everything it needs, nutritionally speaking, from breastmilk, and if the mother is malnourished, she's the one that suffers.

You're not quite at the "extended" part yet, but there is some great info here about extended breastfeeding and its benefits:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

[lunarlady]

You are correct, your DH is wrong. Breastmilk is by far the best food for babies under one year. And children can thrive on breast milk alone up until the have all their teeth, including molars (about age 2). The issue is more a healthy mom one. Breastfeeding does require a lot from your body. So most moms are happy to introduce solids and cut the BF back a little bit just to reduce the drain on their body. You do want to make sure to eat well, so that you don't wear yourself out BF. You will know if your diet is lacking because your health will decline (low energy, frequent colds, persistent hunger, etc.). So you can eat that pasta most of the time, but don't let those collards go to waste!

[PatioGardener]

what they said

nak

[homewithtwinsmama]

No he is completely and totally wrong, so unless he has a Phd in lactation he is talking out of his...er...another place. You are making perfect food. Serve nutritious meals but seriously, he needs to back off. Give the kid an eating disorder by toddlerhood!

[weliveintheforest]

Your milk is still the ideal food, but the better you eat the better your milk will be. Your dd will get what she needs from your milk, your dh needs to relax.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by weliveintheforest

the better you eat the better your milk will be.

not necessarily true: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-diet.html

"research tells us that the quality of a mother’s diet has little influence on her milk."

of course, better diet = better for mom!

nak

[ShanaV]

Seconding the pp's. BM is by far the best.

I was just reading on kellymom that the nutrients in BM come from what's in mom's bloodstream, not what's in her gut. So he can rest assured that regardless of your diet, your baby will be getting all she needs.

[womenswisdom]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

not necessarily true: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-diet.html

"research tells us that the quality of a mother’s diet has little influence on her milk."

of course, better diet = better for mom!

nak

I'm sure this is true generally, but I have to believe that if a mother isn't taking in certain nutrients, there is no way they can be in her milk, right? I mean, I know that what she does take in will go to the milk first, but if she's really deficient in certain things, there won't be enough in the milk or for her. Not really addressing the OP's question, because I'm sure she eats a reasonably balanced diet and has stated she takes a prenatal vitamin, but just a general observation because I hear this quite a lot and have always wondered.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by womenswisdom

I'm sure this is true generally, but I have to believe that if a mother isn't taking in certain nutrients, there is no way they can be in her milk, right? I mean, I know that what she does take in will go to the milk first, but if she's really deficient in certain things, there won't be enough in the milk or for her. Not really addressing the OP's question, because I'm sure she eats a reasonably balanced diet and has stated she takes a prenatal vitamin, but just a general observation because I hear this quite a lot and have always wondered.

you are right - what you said is totally true with vitamin D.

and also true with B12 in vegan moms.

but if mom isn't on a vegan diet, and not sick with an absorption issue, then all the research i have seen says the nutrients available go into breastmilk leaving mom depleted. pretty amazing way to protect offspring!

[hijadelrey3]

Our doctor/pediatrician (who has been caring for children for 40+ years) told us that we didn't need to give her any solids until she was a year unless she herself started showing interest (ie constant nursing, fussiness, grabbing food of the plate, etc.) He has never mentioned supplements at all. I also am still on my prenatal vitamin.

[Quinalla]

He's going way overboard with the worry. Iron is about the only thing to really worry about if mom is iron deficient. Maybe if you can't totally convince him to relax you can shift his focus to high iron foods so he will leave you alone a bit? Or if he is really that worried, he can do his own research and find the best solid foods out there and feed them to her. Not that your BM is lacking, but if he wants to feed her more solids, why not the best ones?

[RaeDyCo]

Have you seen the comparison between human milk and formula from Dr. Sears? I know it isn't quite your DH's concern but I still found it helpful in explaining the benefits of bf'ing.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T021600.asp

[Mama2mc]

Don't worry, your BM is enough. My LO didn't eat almost any solids till he was 1, though hubby wanted him to try new foods, because: "He's missing out on such delicious foods!" lol...