Ok, how many of you EBF but don't eat like you should?

[ercvt]

LOL, I totally am not a good eater. Though I have to say, now that she eats solid foods I eat better. Basicly she eats what we do, so I have to make sure its healthy and ok, and no allergens in it. Sometimes I cheat and we eat different things, but all in all.. its better now.

of course.. when I am driving and she is sleeping.. fast food here we come..

[presleycaedmon]

Originally Posted by ercvt of course.. when I am driving and she is sleeping.. fast food here we come..

AMEN!!

[MamaMel]

just found this online

its from a forumla company so dont flame me but it CLEARLY STATES that DHA and ARA ARE found in BM

Sources of DHA If you choose not to breastfeed then it's important to give your baby a formula that contains DHA and ARA Prior to birth, infants receive maternal DHA and ARA across the placenta. After birth, breastfed infants continue to receive maternal DHA and ARA from breast milk. Researchers believe formula-fed infants should receive these nutrients from lipid-fortified formulas until they start solid foods in the second half of the first year. (Foods high in DHA include meat, fish and eggs. Consult your pediatrician about an appropriate age to give solid foods.)

source
http://www.brightbeginnings.com/baby...ha_sources.asp



it says nothing about having to eat fish for it be in your BM

[hunterofkyle]

During that period of early perinatal development, breast milk can provide a rich source of DHA to the growing brain. However, DHA levels in human breast milk depend upon the diet of the mother. DHA content of breast milk of American women is the lowest in the world, most likely because of their low consumption of fish. DHA is retained by the body (in the brain) except during pregnancy and lactation -- two critical periods when the mother sacrifices her DHA for the growing fetus. It takes a long time for the mother to replace the DHA she has given up to her child; by 36 weeks postpartum, the mother's DHA level still hasn't returned to normal. DHA supplementation is crucial during these two particularly unique periods in a woman's life.

From this site:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0841/is_n6_v32/ai_20153479

[MamaMel]

well what do women do who are allergic to fish??

[presleycaedmon]

Originally Posted by MamaMel well what do women do who are allergic to fish??

Or women who don't have access to fresh fish...like me?!?!

I, personally, have started taking an Omega-3 supplement. Isn't that just as good as consuming fish??

[hunterofkyle]

Sorry, I was completely distracted while I posted that and didn't get a chance to comment. I hope it didn't come across like I think everyone is terrible for not watching their diets better.

I should have started my post w/ "I stink at eating right and only wish I could do better - as I sit here munching my brownie"

I just found that article in response to the comments about how diet CAN affect breastmilk. I've read it before somewhere else and can't remember where.

A can of tuna once a week will probably be enough to boost our DHA levels and make sure our milk has plenty too. Also, the article points out that any DHA we have goes to our breastmilk first (or our baby's brains in-utero) and our own brains second. So, I guess there is a factual basis for that "pregnancy brain" we all complain about.

[MamaMel]

I guess I'll start taking fish oil b/c I don't like fish