EBF & Nutritional Impact on the Mom

[simplykate]

Hello all,

I'm nursing my 18 month old DD, and though I don't get the feeling that she or I are ready to wean I'd like to get some of you wise mama's opinions. I've started getting comments lately about me needing time for my body to recover and build up nutritional stores. They're well meaning comments from family members who are very pro-bf'ing. I had an extremely (EXTREMELY) difficult pregnancy and c-section and I think that's mostly why they're concerned. I want to TTC sometime after she's 2 and before she's 3, but I just don't see us being ready to wean anytime soon.

Do any of you know if there's research about this? Have you had any personal experiences you could share?

Oh, and I've done a great amount of healing since my pregnancy and hopefully have addressed most of the health issues.

TIA!

Kate

[covertlycrunchy]

I was very much in the same shoes in between my kids.  I got pg when dd#1 was almost 2 with the new baby born at about 2.5 yrs.  I had to wean the first child at 26 months due to the pregnancy, as the milk was no longer being produced (& latch hurt like hell!).  Both children were delivered via c-section.  I'm nursing the second one as I type this, she's 26 months now.  Based on my own experience, I believe that nutrition is CRITICAL.  I had great pregnancies both times but was very low fat lacto-ovo vegetarian for the first one.  Recovery was not good and the drain of b'fing demanded that I add meat back into my diet, I felt better right away.  I was having heart palpitations, loose teeth & hair loss (I was in my late 20s).  Then I came across traditional foods & the Weston A Price foundation which helped get my nutritional ducks in a row.  I am currently Paleo, diet & fitness-wise (very low sugar, no grains/legumes, limited dairy) & doing well.  I would focus on nutrient density, keep away from junk food, get enough protein & SLEEP.  You might even have a go at tracking your food intake for a couple of days to see where you are at nutritionally.  There are a lot of free ones on-line that are very good.  Pay attention to how you are feeling, if you want information on the Paleo diet, try http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

Good Luck!

[MelW]

I had similar comments from friends and family after my oldest, especially between 12-18 months. I had a healthy pregnancy, but never really had the infamous pregnant woman's appetite. I ate a healthy diet, but not a lot of food and probably gained less then 20 pounds. Then I had a voracious nurser, coupled with food allergies in her (severe allergies run in my husband's family) which lead to a lot of dietary restrictions and a ton of postpartum weight loss (and I'm certain nutritional deficiencies in me...). When she was 12 months old, I was 20 pounds *below* my pre-pregnant weight, and really struggling to keep healthy and keep weight on. Slowly over the next few months as she increased solids and finally stopped increasing her nursing intake, I was able to stabilize and eventually gain weight. Somewhere between 18 and 24 months I felt like I was actually able to make positive strides in my own health- less seemed to be going to her, I had a more expanded diet, had better stamina for exercise, muscle and weight gain, etc.

I continued breastfeeding her through to about 20 weeks of my second pregnancy and she weaned shortly after turning 3. The second pregnancy was better in terms of my health and weight gain, and though I still lost 40 lbs postpartum I started from a higher weight and what felt like better nutritional status and generally feel less depleted now at 21 months than I did at the same stage with my first (though I'm sleeping more now, too, so it's hard to say the real reason).

[simplykate]

  Then I came across traditional foods & the Weston A Price foundation which helped get my nutritional ducks in a row.  I am currently Paleo, diet & fitness-wise (very low sugar, no grains/legumes, limited dairy) & doing well.  I would focus on nutrient density, keep away from junk food, get enough protein & SLEEP.  You might even have a go at tracking your food intake for a couple of days to see where you are at nutritionally.  There are a lot of free ones on-line that are very good.  Pay attention to how you are feeling, if you want information on the Paleo diet, try http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

Good Luck!

I'm actually on the GAPS diet since April of last year, which is a lot like Primal. You probably know what it is! It's taken care of so many problems!

So do you both feel that nursing for a long time did take a toll on you? I'm really on the fence about weaning in a few months....

[Liliana]

I've been a nursing mom for 8 years and family is quick to blame nursing when I seem run down.  When I got my allergies under control my energy was worlds better.  And I still wake to nurse my 4 year old once most nights.  It's totally possible to get enough nutrition and rest without weaning.   You need to take care of your body's needs.