It takes nine months for babies to grow inside their mothers. During this time of pregnancy, you pay careful attention to what you eat and drink as you know there is the potential to affect your unborn baby. When you are breastfeeding, what you eat continues to be an important consideration.
However, a breastfeeding diet is not as strict as a pregnancy diet, although it is still important to know what you should be ingesting during this time. That way, you can rest assured that you will only be making the very best milk for your baby.
So, not only will you be producing milk that is high in nutritional content for your baby, you will also be eating foods that are healthier for you. At such a busy time, you need to have all the extra energy you can have as you care for your child. Also, if you can choose low-fat, nutrient-dense meals, you may find it easier to shed some of the weight you gained over the last nine months.
A breastfeeding diet is actually fairly simple. Just as when you are and are not pregnant, you want to eat foods from the meat, fruits and vegetables, grains, and milk food groups. Make sure that the grains are whole grain, and that you eat meat products that are higher in protein and iron. If you are vegetarian or vegan, there are appropriate food substitutes to get the necessary requirements. And because you will be moving less and might even feel like you are attached to the sofa in your home as you nurse, you will want to ensure adequate fiber intake.
As you enjoy healthy foods from all four of the food groups, you will want to consider having a daily vitamin that is appropriate for breastfeeding moms. Unfortunately, the food that we buy in the grocery stores is no longer as nutrient-rich as years ago when people grew their own foods. Because even if you are missing vitamins and/or minerals in your diet, your body will steal from itself to produce the best milk possible for your baby.
When it comes to breastfeeding diets, you have no doubt heard that you should avoid certain foods that can make your baby fussy or gassy. However, no two babies are alike and so what bothers one baby is not necessarily going to bother the next one. Some babies do not even seem to be bothered by foods their mothers eat. Some, but not all, suspicious foods to monitor your baby’s responses to are onions, garlic, cabbage, and broccoli. These foods can alter the taste of the breastmilk resulting in rejection by your baby.
Continue not to eat fish such as king mackerel, swordfish, and shark, to name a few, as they contain the most mercury. Instead, consider eating fish (in moderation) that contain less mercury, as their fish oils are important for your baby’s neurological system.
The last point I want to mention is that of drinking alcohol beverages. Alcoholic mothers are better off not to breastfeed their children, as there are known long-term effects that can result. But if you want to have a drink every now and then, most experts would agree that there are certain precautions you can take in order that you reduce the effects on your child. This can include drinking immediately after your baby has just breastfed, or saving expressed breastmilk earlier that week that can then be fed to your baby after you have an alcohol beverage.
As you can see, a breastfeeding diet is not overly complex or difficult. It is also not quite as demanding as a pregnancy diet. Following a diet though, will provide the two of you with benefits for years to come.
