Discussion Board

I am lactating and was reading how the type of fat a lactating mother consumes is in proprtion to the type (not quantity) of fat in her milk. How do I ensure enough DHA in my milk to help my childs brain function?
Also, my child is beggining (should be begining) to wean. I was reading that protien and fat go up in the milk of a weaning child and potassium down... I am assuming that mother nature is doing what would be best for a veggie kid... My child is in th 5th percentile and not gaining fast, but developing fine. I want to be sure as he weans he is getting exactly what he needs in the right proprtions.

So far I have been giving him mashed banana in powdered fortified rice with a dash of infant vitamins and probiotics (he has been on antibiotics) I swirl in water to the right consisitency. (I like it thick) I also give him home made apple sauce and green smoothies with juice, kale, spinach, fruit, beans and oats mixed in. He snacks on sweet potato puffs. I have also given him pureed squash but since have worried that the calorie density for that is too low for a baby who needs to grow. Am I doing OK... what would you recommend for infant needs in a diet? I am not even sure what his needs are exactly.

[The information I was reading about breast milk can be found here http://books.google.com/books?id=cRKcPe ... lk&f=false ]

You might want to post this in the "Family and Children" forum, Im sure someone there will be able to help and answer your post.

Thanks... I am new here... If I post this in the family and children forum will I get a response from someone knowledgable like Jeff. I get kind of tired a hearing just random unspported opinions? I will post there though if the concensus thinks that is best.

Did I read correctly? You said your child is begging to wean. I am a grandmother, nursed six children until almost three years old and sometimes nursed two together and am now enjoying grandchildren who are nursing. I have been a nursing mothers counselor. I have never heard of a child who begged to wean or a nursing mom who insisted a child nurse beyond when he was ready to stop. This is a new one for me.

Didi

I believe Dr. McDougall recommends breastfeeding at least 2 years. I nursed my child through his toddler years. By then, they've established a good diet of solid foods, and you can go straight to water as a beverage.

She is saying her child is beginning to wean, not begging to wean

I meant begining to wean...and by weaning I mean he is being introduced to solids more steadily in his diet... Is he begging for this? well yes he follows every bite of food that his other family members take with rapped attention. Sorry my keystrokes aren't the greatest... that was funny though.

This is my fourth child, my last I nursed until two, but not exclusively of course. That child is now three. (We all almost exclusively drink water) It has been almost two years for my family eating a veggie life (husband is an occasional meat grazer). The more I understand about food it seems the more questions I have.

I'm a nursing mother, too. Although I'm not a RD, I can share what is working for us. We did Baby Led Weaning, so skipped the purees and started with whole food. Our 17 month old has some chunk on her, so obviously is getting enough fat. Not sure about DHA though, we used to take a supplement. After reading some about the subject, decided it was unnecessary. But that is just our conclusion from the studies we read.

For main meals she is fed some of whatever we are having or her standard meal of beans or tofu, wheat bread or potatoes, peas, green beans or corn. I season the beans or tofu with garlic powder, onion powder and nutritional yeast. Sometimes I squirt them with a shot of Braggs. She snacks on organic raisins, organic O's (sometimes the chocolate ones), fat-free saltines, fruit and pretzels. For beverages (besides breast milk) we give her organic apple or grape juice in very small quantities (2 oz or less a day), full fat soy milk or water. I used to feed her the puffs, too, but realized she wasn't really getting full on them, so it was just extra sugar calories.

Since she is still nursing so much, I don't worry a lot about her nutritional intake. I work full time but she nurses probably about 8 times a day or more. Yes, we still get little sleep (and we co-sleep).

Don't know if that helps, but hope it does. Some of the websites that I found helpful are:

http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/ ... eaning.htm
http://www.vegansociety.com/lifestyle/n ... ldren.aspx
http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/kids.htm

I'm another nursing mom who also did baby-led weaning. All of my babies nursed until they were 3+, but we didn't start solids until they were ready and able to pick up solid food, bite off a piece, chew it up and swallow without gagging. I didn't even really offer tastes of food before 9 months because there is just no need for it. Even at 18 months, they were still getting at least 75% of their calories/nutrition from breast milk.

My last two babies were 11+months old before they started eating solids, and they went directly into the same food we were eating with no purees or "baby food" first. They could have started a couple of months earlier, probably, but it seems so strange to supplement a perfect food with a sub-par, nutritionally lacking one any sooner than necessary.

I never worry about nutrition while they are still nursing (so at least the first 3 years). I just trust that my milk is filling in any nutrition gaps. Breastfeeding is so great that way, and I feel so lucky not to have to worry!

I do go back and forth on (vegan) DHA supplements. I don't feel great about not supplementing, but it is expensive and I'm not sure it's necessary. I can't remember now what is recommended on this board; maybe somebody else will chime in.

DHA supplementation during lactation is not necessary.

From a 2010 Cochrane Review:

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Based on the limited evidence that we found, LCPUFA supplementation did not appear to improve children's neurodevelopment or visual acuity. In two studies, LCPUFA supplementation was associated with increased head circumference. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to support or refute the practice of giving LCPUFA supplementation to breastfeeding mothers in order to improve infant growth and development.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21154388

And in fact it may be harmful to the child years later:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19091800

Hi! I am a nursing mama and childbirth educator and breastfeeding counselor.

Good for you for nursing!

How old is your baby? My youngest is now 8 months old.

It sounds like you are giving your baby great starting foods.

Some other healthy ideas:
-quinoa and tofu have healthy protein

I mash up both and mix with fruits and veggies. They are both so mild that they blend with everything.

There are vegan DHA supplements made from algae that seem to have been shown to increase the DHA content in the body.

And yes, DHA in the mother's diet *does* affect the DHA in her breastmilk. So, as you said, the type of fat in your diet does change the type of fat in your milk, although not the quantity.

Remember, by eating lots of healthy plant foods and avoiding processed foods with unhealthy fats, you will be throwing your breastmilk into a healthy omega3:omega6 ratio.

It sounds like you are doing a great job!

ETA: Remember to take a good source of B12. If a mother's diet is lacking in B12, her milk will be too. You can also start giving B12 to your baby when solids are started, so now might be a good idea.

I appreciate the rsponses, you've given me a lot to think about. I still don't feel completly comfortable about the fat in 'proportion' issue. I did post this in the star mcdougaller locale, but have yet to hear back. Mabybe its the placebo effect, but I feel that he does a touch better mentally when I take a fish oil pill.... is it that bad?