Are Weight Loss Supplements and Pills Safe After Pregnancy?

Healthy weight gain during the pregnancy period is normally 10-12kg depending on the pregnant women’s initial weight in the beginning. The extra weight can be attributed to extra fluids, blood, placenta, and fetus. Losing weight can be made easier if you take the necessary precautions right from the start. Always follow a healthy eating regime during your days of gestation because it will result in a gradual extra weight gain which is sure to shed off naturally after delivery.

But are the over-the-counter diet pills safe after pregnancy? Unfortunately, no; answers Laura McKain, an obstetrician in an article on babycenter.com. She states that such pills are harmful to not just the mother but also the baby if you are breastfeeding. To give an instance, many of the over-the-counter pills contain ephedrine which may help in increasing the body’s metabolism thereby resulting in faster weight loss. But studies have also associated it with perilous shooting up of blood pressure, palpitations, and seizures.

It is always recommended to stay on the safer side for nursing moms because whether it be prescription or over-the-counter pills, it has a high chance of containing dangerous elements that can be passed on to the baby through breast milk. As Laura Fijolek McKain points out; there is no such thing as a ‘magic pill’. Even when compared to Phentermine; which is a prescription appetite suppressant, the drug orlistat is approved for long term use. This drug helps block fat from getting digested.

To quote Mayo Clinic, ‘It takes a healthy diet, a commitment to physical activity, and plenty of patience’. A lot goes into what you eat after delivery as well. Inclusion of a lot of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables along with plenty of drinking water can help reduce weight gradually. Also, make sure to eat only when you are hungry. You can involve yourself in little exercises such as taking your baby for a stroll or even walking while on the phone. Remember to eat in small portions.

Even if diet pills promise weight loss; leaving aside the complications it has to offer, the chances are very high that you gain weight once you stop taking those pills. Instead munch on more ‘superfoods’; as they call it, like yogurt, fish, and low-fat milk.