breastfeeding and a very low fat diet

[meebles]

My gp has just advised me to follow a very low fat diet since I have gallstones. However I have heard that you shouldn't diet/try and lose weight whilst breastfeeding so I have a bit of a quandry.
If I cut out as much fat as possible is this going be healthy enough milk-wise, even if I'm getting enough calories from elsewhere?
I'm worried about DD but would like to avoid the agonising pain in the early hours. And we won't even think about the logistics of having an operation.......

I am not sure what the answer is, but you are right about the dieting and bf. However (and I don't mean this to sound a plug) I am following the Slimming World Plan for bf mums and definitely this helps me lose weight sensibly and is not high in fat due to the options I chose.
The plan designed by sw is recognised by many drs as being safe and sensible too.

I think dieting when breastfeeding is fine, I am sure that's true. The thing is to keep to a sensible diet plan. Weight Watchers with the extra points for br'feeding mums, etc.

meebles, your milk's quality will be unaffected by your low fat diet. The usual stuff about not dieting when bf is to protect the mother's health, not the breastmilk.

There is a lot on mumsnet about this - try searching the archives, and you will be reassured, I'm certain.

the only thing i've been told to be aware of is that if you are deiting and exercising when bf'ing is not to bf close to having gone to the gym - apparently exercise releases more of an acid into your milk???

can I ask, tiktok, as I remember yo being a fount of all bf knowledge, if low fat diet is ok , is low carb? (not no carb, not as severe as eg atkins) but low carb?

Exercise is a problem???

Bugger! Never knew that. I've just stopped bfing after 11 years and in all that time I've always exercised regularly.

I was in this position. GP told me that baby will get all the goodness from you that they need, so no need to worry about them, its your body that will ultimitely (sp?) suffer.
I asked for a referral to a dietitian who told me that the latest info is that a low fat diet has not been proved to help gallstones at all.

All I can suggest is that you keep away from full fat milk (I switched to skimmed), keep away from eggs and butter and anything else fatty. Have you found any particular foods that you have problems with? Maybe try keeping a food diary (easy to say I know )

I had the op when dd was just a few months old and as you say the logistics of that were a bit of a nightmare at the time, but we got through it

If I can be of any help or advice please don't hesitate to cat me or post here.
xx

Aaaaaargh....not the old exercise myth!!

This was based on one study, since overturned as a cause of concern, that found lactic acid was in the milk of mothers who had done massive amounts of intense exercise, immediately they ceased the exercise. This is a harmless substance, which dissipates soon after you stop exercising.

Low carb is fine, too.

thanks tiktok

thanks tiktok! safe in the knowledge i can get back running after ds2 is born - you won't be surprised to hear it was a HV that told me that one....

I exercised pretty heavily from about 3 weeks after I had dd and bf until 8 months. She was quite happy to feed straight after I had done a 6 mile run and was still,ahem, glowing.

Only anecdotal evidence I know....

I was on a extreme lot fat diet for gall bladder problems for months and my DD nursed thoughout. I had no problems with the nursing I just missed normal food