Breastfeeding your vegan baby - Breastfeeding

Most of you probably know how important it is to breastfeed your baby, but it's even more important when you're vegan. As of this writing there are no commercial soy infant formulas on the U.S. market that are 100% vegan. They all contain vitamin D derived from an animal. And cow's milk formulas are out for obvious reasons.

Be Prepared

It's important to be prepared to breastfeed; you don't want to wing it. It may sound simple and easy, but there's a lot more to it than just putting your breast in the baby's mouth. While you're still pregnant, read books about breastfeeding and attend a few La Leche League meetings so that you can get your baby latched on by yourself if there's no one there at the birth who can help you. If your birthing center or hospital provides a lactation consultant, use her! If you can afford to hire a lactation consultant, they are worth their weight in gold. If finances are tight, seek a La Leche League meeting or leader who will help you free of charge. They can also help you overcome any unforeseen difficulties that might occur.

How Long to Breastfeed

How long you breastfeed your baby is entirely up to you. Current recommendations suggest breastfeeding for a minimum of one year, or two if it's mutually desirable. Since infants need breastmilk or formula for at least one year and since there are no vegan formulas, as a vegan mom you should plan on breastfeeding your baby for at least the first year. Babies need breastmilk or formula until they are one year old. After that you can give them soy beverages and other nondairy beverages if you are not still breastfeeding.

Getting Your Vitamins

While you're breastfeeding it is extremely important to make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need in your own diet. Your baby is counting on you to provide her with all the nutrients she needs to grow at a healthy rate. While getting a well-balanced diet and sufficient vitamin intake is of extreme importance while breastfeeding, the following two vitamins are of particular concern to vegan women. Be absolutely sure you are getting enough of these:

Vitamin B 12 - Babies are born with zero-to-little stores of this important vitamin. BI 2 will pass through your breastmilk in sufficient quantities ONLY if you're getting plenty in your own diet. If you are not 100% sure you're getting enough yourself, consider giving your infant a liquid B 12 supplement from the time she is 2 weeks old until you stop breastfeeding.

Vitamin D - Get out into the sunshine! If you can t get a daily dose of sunshine, then you must be sure to get enough Vitamin D in your diet. Good sources of this vitamin are found in fortified non-dairy beverages. Let your baby's skin get some sunshine too, but be very careful not to expose your infant to too much sunlight because of the damaging effects of ultraviolet light. If you live in colder climates and aren't sure you're getting enough Vitamin D, you can supplement. Look for Vitamin D2 because that is plant-derived. Vitamin D3 is from an animal source. [Editor's note: Even if the mother's diet has enough vitamin D, it is possible that breastmilk isn't meeting your child's need. Infants who do not get adequate sun or who live in a northern climate in the winter, or who are dark skinned should receive a vitamin D supplement of 200 IU daily beginning at 3 months. Adequate sun exposure is defined as 30 minutes per week wearing just a diaper or 2 hours per week fully clothed without a hat.]

Advantages of Breastfeeding

The well known advantages of breastfeeding your infant include providing natural immunity against numerous diseases, fewer ear infections, less allergies, less gastrointestinal disorders, lower incidence of SIDS, and a decreased risk of contracting diabetes. One lesser-known advantage is that the breastmilk of vegan women is refreshingly lower in toxins that are found in large quantities in the breastmilk of non-vegan women. Breastfeeding is also better for the environment as there is no waste or pollution. And, of course, breastfeeding is much better for the animals, who'd like to keep their milk for their own babies.

Resources:

La Leche League Website www.lalecheleague.org

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Gwen Gotsch and Judy Torgus

The Breastfeeding Book by Martha Sears R.N. and William Sears M.D.

Pregnancy, Children, and the Vegan Diet by Michael Klaper, M.D.

Becoming Vegan by Brenda Davis, R.D. and Vesanto Melina, M.S., R.D.

Erin Pavlina is President of VegFamily.com, a website providing information about raising vegan children. She lives in Los Angeles with her vegan husband, Steve, and lifelong vegan daughter, Emily.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Vegetarian Baby and Child
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group