Not all of you will have reached the six-week postpartum stage. You brand new moms shouldn't even begin to worry about losing weight until at least six weeks after delivery. You should just focus on taking care of yourself and your new baby. For those veteran moms ready to start losing weight, this book will give you the information you need to plan a sensible, gentle weight-loss program. Always keep in mind that your primary goal is to have a safe and satisfying nursing experience.

Some people say that new mothers shouldn't be forced to worry about losing weight because the challenges a new baby brings are all they should have to cope with. Being a sexy, skinny woman is an additional hassle they don't need. I absolutely agree. This book is not about trying to please someone else or about telling women they must look like models in fashion magazines. A new mother is doing the most important job of her life. She should be proud of herself and not be apologetic about some excess bulge around her middle.

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it: while you are breastfeeding, your primary job is to take care of yourself and your baby. It is not the time to be a supermom. Resist the pressure to jump back into the rhythm of your previous life. You had a baby: whether it is your first or your fifth, take it easy on yourself.

But even if you decide that now is not the time to lose weight, it's still the perfect time to look critically at the food that passes over your family table. If your child hasn't started on solid food yet (and he doesn't need to until four to six months old), he will eventually adopt the same eating patterns you have. If you eat lots of snacks or fried foods, then when your child is older and can make choices of his own, he'll eat the same way. So not only do you affect your own health by examining what you eat, you'll influence your child's health, too.

This book isn't just for mothers who want to lose weight; it's for any breastfeeding mom who wants to eat well. In chapter 1, you'll see why your decision to breastfeed is the right one. In chapters 2, 3, and 4, I'll explain how your body makes milk, how the food you eat affects your milk, and which nutrients are particularly important. In chapter 5, I'll discuss weight loss and how you can lose weight safely while breastfeeding.

In chapter 6, I'll show you a simple meal plan for weight loss that is safe for you and won't compromise your baby's health or your breastfeeding experience. In chapter 7, I'll talk about exer-cise - why it s important to set realistic goals for yourself and find a physical activity that you like. I'll also address the common reasons moms don't exercise and suggest ways for you to overcome those obstacles.

In chapter 8, I'll debunk some of those old wives' tales about foods like chocolate and cabbage upsetting your baby. I'll also discuss more serious concerns about pesticides, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol passing into your breast milk and affecting your baby's health. Smart food choices can eliminate or minimize the risk these substances pose.

Mothers who have delivered by cesarean or who have health problems such as diabetes, anemia, or high blood pressure will have unique nutrition questions, which will be handled in chapter 9. In chapter 10, you'll find recipes to simplify your life. They are easy to prepare, made with familiar ingredients, and are nutritious, delicious, and freezable.

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© 2007 by Eileen Behan

Tags: Breastfeeding

About the Author

Eileen Behan is a memeber of the American Dietetic Association, a registered dietitian, and the mother of two. She has worked for the Harvard School of Public Health and the Veterans Administration, and for five yuears her show, Food for Talk, has aired on Boston Public Radio. She currently works as a nutrition consultant. She lives with her family in New Hampshire. This is her sixth book on nutrition. More