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Home › Articles › Issues for Mom › Getting "Our" Daily Dose

Getting "Our" Daily Dose

Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements and Herbal Formulas While Breastfeeding

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

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"My son was born prematurely, seven weeks early," says Merrie Kelly, a nurse and mother of three from Chesterfield, Va. "He was small and the doctors were worried about how he would develop. My doctor recommended that I increase the amount of fresh fish I ate or suggested fish oil supplements since I was breastfeeding to help my son's development. My son is now 5 and is very normal, very active and very smart."

Separating Fact from Fiction
While some things are recommended, it is best to check with your physician before taking any kind of herbal supplement while breastfeeding. According to Bucci, there are lots of theories that can often lead a woman astray from what's really true. "Many herbs are rumored from folklore to help lactation," Bucci says. "There is no science to confirm or deny this. Some of these herbs rumored to be helpful, but may actually be harmful, are green tea, fenugreek and dandelion."

There are many supplements breastfeeding women should avoid. "There are so many herbs in commerce, literally thousands, it is difficult to make a blanket statement," Bucci says. "Some of the more common herbs that affect milk quality or are not recommended during nursing are Kava, Piper methysticum (a common relaxant herb that may make Baby sleep too much), apricot seeds (which may form cyanides toxic to babies), Chinese rhubarb (which may cause kidney stones at high doses, as does regular rhubarb), and Senna (a common laxative that may give Baby diarrhea). Keep in mind that, like foods, some herbs have distinct flavors that may or may not agree with Baby. This is not harmful, but a matter of taste."

Doctor's Orders
What do doctors recommend, and are they conveying to their patients the important message of what to avoid? According to Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of High-Performance Nutrition: The Total Eating Plan to Maximize Your Workout
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