Trans Fats and Breastfeeding

[poorlittlefish]

I am feeling like a horrible, horrible mom right now and could use some thoughts.

I am currently nursing my 7 month old.  I pump at work many times to get her daycare bottles.  I gave up dairy for several months to try to treat her stomach issues.  I am not one who has a lot of milk, I have to work for every drop that I get. 

I am also relatively healthy, I eat all my fruits and veggies and maintain a healthy BMI.  My one thing though that I do but am so ashamed of, is that 4 out of 5 days per week, I stop at the gas station by my work and eat a doughnut.  Almost every single day.  Sometimes 2.  I knew that these had transfats in them but ate them anyways figuring it was only me that I was harming and, you know, whatever.

I just read an article though about how these fats are transferred via BM to the baby and more than doubles the risk that they will be obese and carry extra weight. 

I truly feel sick about this and will obviously stop eating these every day.  But, did I harm my baby?  I work so hard to make breastfeeding work that I sick at the thought that I could be harming her by what I have done.  Is there any way, other than stopping eating them, that I can get these out of mine and her system?

Thanks, it might just be sleep deprivation but I am crying at the thought of this.

[stormborn]

Oh, Mama!  Don't worry about it, really. When I was nursing my first we had a friend who worked at a donut shop and brought us the leftovers almost every single day. It was baaaad; I have no self control around donuts. So if that article is true my dd sure as heck got a ton of transfat laced milk and she's just fine. Never been overweight at 9 yrs old despite her Dad's whole family having weight issues.

Maybe don't eat them every single day if it'll make you feel better but I'm sure you didn't do your baby any harm.

And good on you for pumping, I know how much work that is!

[crystal_buffaloe]

I really, really, really would not worry about this. Breastfed infants are more likely to be a healthy weight -- every month of breastfeeding reduces their risk of being obese or overweight. Your milk is good stuff, even if you have a donught every dadblam day.

[Ellien C]

don't sweat it. I'm sure your baby is fine. There's something to worry about every day of the week - factory farmed meat, transfats, pesiticides, BPA, tuna. Just eat a good variety and things will be fine. The 24-hour news cycle just needs something to write about.

[averlee]

Are you serious? You have been nursing for 7 months, most babies in the US get maybe 7 weeks. You pump like a maniac to get bottles of breastmilk for this baby, when many moms would not bother with that at all. And you're feeling guilty about....doughnuts! 

I am only joking with you and I agree, this will not harm your baby. Nothing is wrong with your milk, and in fact, you may very well need those extra calories to keep your supply up.

Motherhood is about many things, many joys, but also a lot of agony. It is so easy to second-guess yourself, to blame yourself, to doubt and obsess and wallow in guilt. Practice letting that go, and move on. 

[poorlittlefish]

Thanks ladies.  I love mothering for exactly this kind of thing.  I am skipping my morning doughtbut but am not going to feel guilty about the dougnuts in the past :)

[JudiAU]

I've never heard that about transfats passing through milk. Could you share the article?

But either way don't punish yourself, you'll watch the transfats now and later, when she is eating solids too.