Question:
Is it a good idea to do a Whole 30
while trying to conceive and breastfeeding?
No Specific Answers
Research Contradicts Itself
Deanna Schober who wrote the article, Breast Feeding & Fat Loss: Is it Harder To Lose Fat While Breastfeeding, says "A lot of the studies about fat and breastfeeding contradict each other leaving an unclear answer" (Schober).
We Don't Know How It Will Affect You Specifically
As for the question you're asking if doing this (Whole 30) diet while breastfeeding and trying to conceive a good idea, no one can give you a for a sure and specific answer. Mostly because we don't know how it will affect you in a positive or negative way.
We Don't Know Your Personal Goals
Weight: We also don't know the reasons for doing the diet: is it to lose weight, maintain weight, a healthier lifestyle, and whether your body personally needs more or less fat to ovulate while breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding: We also don't know your goals, is it to breastfeed for a certain period and / or is it to become pregnant while breastfeeding? Also how old is your nursing child, under a year or over? The bright side is there are many testimonials of breastfeeding moms nursing new babies to toddlers saying the Whole 30 did not impact their milk supply negatively and even increased production.
It Should / Could Help
Is Whole 30 Safe During Pregnancy & Lactation?
The website gives a disclaimer that they are not doctors, but agrees a healthy diet should be helpful. The quote is from Michele Blackwell, an OB/GYN in Houston, TX, says:
"I have personally experienced the benefits of the Whole30 program, and I wholeheartedly recommend the Whole30 plan to my patients to optimize a woman's health during pregnancy and lactation. The nutrient-dense foods recommended providing ample vitamins and minerals without the need for the standard prenatal supplement. Eating real food Whole9-style will also help regulate blood sugars, alleviating hypoglycemic spells common in pregnancy. In addition, the Whole30 will reduce the likelihood of gestational diabetes, excess pregnancy weight gain, and possibly macrosomia [large babies] and polyhydramnios [excess amniotic fluid]." -Michele Blackwell, M.D., F.A.C.O.G, Board Certified Obstetrics, and Gynecology (Hartwig). So it should / could be considered safe for most pregnant women.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding on the Whole 30
The 3 meals a day no snacking rule does not apply to pregnant and breastfeeding women (Hartwig). It was noted that many breastfeeding moms tend to eat 4-5 meals a day. In the forums, some extended breastfeeding moms of older toddlers did not feel the need to snack while others did. A few tandem breastfeeding mothers reported symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite if they are not eating enough. So depending on your goals, I did see this blog article that discusses 5 tips for completing a whole 30 while breastfeeding.
Trying To Conceive on the Whole 30
There have been testimonials that women who were doing the whole 30 while trying to conceive became pregnant. In the forums, one woman said after four months of trying to conceive, she started the Whole 30 in January and became pregnant that month. Another woman said she been trying to conceive for 8 months, started the Whole 30 at the beginning of her cycle and became pregnant that month. There was even a testimonial from a woman diagnosed with Endometriosis and given a 5% chance of becoming pregnant on her own. She required the use of IVF to conceive her first pregnancy. However, to conceive her second she did the Whole 30 challenge with her husband was ovulating and to their surprise became pregnant (Whole 30 While Trying To Get Pregnant).
Maybe Consider Stopping
Ovulation Issues
Depending on how long you do this and if you are monitoring your cycles, will probably help you determine if it's helping or harming your chances for trying to conceive. If you start to see that you stop ovulating or ovulating irregular if you were having regular ovulation, you could determine it may not be helping.
Sources
Hartwig, Melissa. "Is the Whole30 Safe for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women? - Whole30 While Pregnant or Breastfeeding." Whole9. Whole9, 2 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Jan. 2016. <http://forum.whole30.com/topic/11-is-the-whole30-safe-for-pregnant-and-breastfeeding-women/>.
Schober, Deanna. "Breastfeeding and Fat Loss: Is It Harder to Lose Fat While Breastfeeding?" Fit To Be Pregnant. Fit To Be Pregnant.com, 17 Dec. 2014. Web. 25 Jan. 2016. <http://fittobepregnant.com/2014/12/17/breastfeeding-and-fat-loss/>.
"Whole30 While Trying to Get Pregnant/early Pregnancy - Whole30 While Pregnant or Breastfeeding." Whole9. Whole 9, 2012. Web. 25 Jan. 2016. <http://forum.whole30.com/topic/151-whole30-while-trying-to-get-pregnantearly-pregnancy/>.
Last Edited: December 31, 2016
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