Nutrition During Lactation

On the basis of a comprehensive literature review and analysis, Nutrition During Lactation points out specific directions for needed research in understanding the relationship between the nutrition of healthy mothers and the outcomes of lactation.

Of widest interest are the committee's clear-cut recommendations for mothers and health care providers. The volume presents data on who among U.S. mothers is breastfeeding, a critical evaluation of methods for assessing the nutritional status of lactating women, and an analysis of how to relate the mother's nutrition to the volume and composition of the milk. Available data on the links between a mother's nutrition and the nutrition and growth of her infant and current information on the risk of transmission through breastfeeding of allergic diseases, environmental toxins, and certain viruses (including the HIV virus) are included.

Nutrition During Lactation also studies the effects of maternal cigarette smoking, drug use, and alcohol consumption. Table of ContentsFront Matter1 Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations2 Introduction3 Who Breastfeeds in the United States?4 Nutritional Status and Usual Dietary Intake of Lactating Women5 Milk Volume6 Milk Composition7 Infant Outcomes8 Maternal Health Effects of Breastfeeding9 Meeting Maternal Nutrient Needs During Lactation10 Research RecommendationsAppendixesA Detailed Abstracts of Studies in Industrialized SocietiesRelating Breastfeeding with Infant and Child MortalityB Detailed Abstracts of Studies in Developing Societies RelatingBreastfeeding with Infant and Child MortalityC Summary of Composition Data for Macronutrients of Human MilkD Biographical Sketches of Committee MembersAcronymsGlossaryIndex