Can A Breastfeeding Postpartum Women Eat a Keto Diet?

Can A Breastfeeding Postnatal Patient Eat a Keto Diet?

This question is asked of me quite frequently. This is what I have to say.

Prescribing Is Outside My Scope of Practice

Of course, I am a Certified Lactation Professional and Licensed Perinatal LMT, so prescribing is outside my scope of practice.

I can suggest women and families learn about topics, and provide links and hand-outs , but that’d about it.

Diet is important and always comes up.

During a session of of Lactation Counseling, diet is always a big part of the discussion, as one might expect.

And, most postpartum patients often enjoy discussing diet and wellness, among many related health topics, as wellness is popular in New Jersey, and the United States,  and has been for years now.

Many of the postpartum patients I work with also happen to be medical professionals themselves or work in the pharmaceutical industry.

We usually have many topics we’re both well-studied in regarding health and diet and enjoy the discussions.

However, prescribing a diet, or calling for dietary prohibitions, are both activities clearly beyond my scope of practice, and I always tell postpartum women that they should always discuss any planned dietary changes they are considering with their nutritionist and medical professional managing their birth before setting about doing anything different.

That’s true even if you’re a surgeon or a specialized medical professional; you are a patient, in a different role right now. Don’t just do your own thing.

Ketogenic Diet Can Induce Severe Ketoacidosis In Breastfeeding Moms

Traditionally, most women are given lots of fatty foods during their postpartum recovery like ample coconut and tree nuts.

However, none of these traditional postpartum diets could be said to be a “keto diet,” described in the cited study as a “.. high-fat, adequate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet…”

Lactation ketoacidosis can be life-threatening, and so, to make a long story short, postpartum women should avoid the Keto Diet, altogether, as this is one possible outcome, according to the study cited above.

Keto Safe For Weight Loss For Non-Pregnant and Non-Postpartum People

Men and women can safely do a Keto Diet.

However, two of the sub-populations for whom this would be contraindicated include pregnant women and postpartum women.

This is non-negotiable; if you’re still thinking of going ahead and doing keto and you fall within the bounds of one of these two sub-populations, I suggest you sit down and have a long talk with your nutritionist, in-person, first.

The Desire To Quickly Shed Pounds After Giving Birth

What fuels this risk of doing a Keto Diet after giving birth?

According to the experts in the field, it’s that many women wish to quickly shed pounds after pregnancy.

A woman can gain around 30 pounds, give or take a bit, during pregnancy, and that’s considered normal.

After giving birth, some women want to quickly get rid of this extra adipose tissue.

The route of breastfeeding and gentle postnatal yoga and walking can accomplish the task, but that route will be slower.

Quitting Breastfeeding To Do Keto Diet? Please Reconsider!

Knowing this is the case, dear reader, please do not then think that quitting breastfeeding so you can quickly get back to working on being in shape is a win-win situation.

Breast Milk is irreplaceable, and has so many benefits it’s unbelievable.

This is well-studied, and breast milk is unlike synthetic baby formula, perfectly suited for your baby’s growth.

Just take some time and slowly lose the weight.

You’ll get there!

Nnodum BN, Oduah E, Albert D, Pettus M. Ketogenic Diet-Induced Severe Ketoacidosis in a Lactating Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Case Rep Nephrol. 2019 Jul 8;2019:1214208. doi: 10.1155/2019/1214208. PMID: 31360561; PMCID: PMC6644245.