Breastfeeding Nutrition: Tips for Mothers

Breastfeeding feeding can be confusing. How much should you eat? What should you avoid? How can your diet affect your child? Follow these important feeding tips.

By Mayo Clinic employees

Breast milk gives nutrients that enhance growth and health. If you are breastfeeding, it is common to have questions about foods and drinks best for you. It is also common to wonder how your diet may affect breast milk and your child.

Understand the basics of breastfeeding feeding.

Do I need additional calories during breastfeeding?

Yes. You may need to eat more food to give you energy and nutrition to produce milk. It is customary to take about 340 to 400 additional calories per day.

To get these additional calories, choose foods rich in nutrients. Examples include a slice of whole grain bread with a tablespoon (about 16 grams) of peanut butter, medium bananas or apples, and 8 ounces (about 227 grams) of yogurt.

What foods I should eat during breastfeeding?

Focus on making healthy choices to help fuel your milk production. Choose protein -rich foods, such as lean meat, eggs, dairy products, beans, lentils and low seafood in mercury. Choose a variety of whole grains as well as fruits and vegetables.

Eat a variety of foods during breastfeeding will change the flavor of breast milk. Darling flavors may help children more easily to accept solid foods later when they can eat solid foods.

Your healthcare professional may suggest that you take a daily multi -vitamin and mineral supplement until your child is sinking. This can help make sure that you and your child gets all the vitamins you need.

How much is the fluid I need during breastfeeding?

Drink when you are thirsty. Drink more if the urine looks dark yellow. You may drink a cup of water or another drink every time breastfeeding breastfeeding.

Choose water most of the time. Avoid choosing juices and drinks with added sugar. Also reduce the amount of caffeine in your drinks. Caffeine in breast milk may make your child flourish or affect your child’s sleep.

What about vegetarian or vegetarian diet and breastfeeding?

If you follow a vegetable or vegetable diet, it is especially important to choose foods that will give you the nutrients you need.

  • Choose foods rich in iron, protein and calcium. Good sources of iron include lentils, beans, fertilized grains, leafy green vegetables and peas. Vegetarians may also choose dairy products. To help your body absorb iron, eat iron -rich foods with high foods in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits.

    For protein, try plant sources, such as soy products, meat alternatives, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Eggs and dairy products are other options.

    Good sources of calcium are dark green vegetables, fertilized foods and calcium. Examples include cow’s milk, milk, juices, soy milk, soy and tofu.

  • Consider adding nutritional supplements to your diet. Your healthcare professional may suggest that you take a daily vitamin B-12 supplement. Vitamin B-12 is often found in animal products. It is difficult to get enough vitamins in vegetable meals unless you take an attachment.

    If you don’t eat fish, talk to a healthcare professional about taking an omega -3 supplement.

    If you do not eat enough foods fortified with vitamin D and you have a limited exposure of sunlight, you may need to take vitamin D supplements. Good sources of foods full of vitamin D are cow’s milk and some grains. Very little of vitamin D can cause rickets, softening and weak bones. Tell your healthcare professional if you give your child a vitamin D supplement. Make sure to inform your child’s health specialist as well.

What foods and drinks should I shorten or avoid during breastfeeding?

Be careful about the amount of some foods and drinks during breastfeeding. For example:

  • Alcohol. There is no level of alcohol in breast milk, which is considered safe for the child. If you drink, avoid breastfeeding until alcohol completely cleanses breast milk. This takes at least two hours for one drink. One drink is 12 ounces of fluid (355 millimeters) of regular beer, 5 ounces of fluid (148 milliliters) of wine, or 1.5 ounces of fluid (44 milliliters) of solid alcoholic drinks or distilled spirits. Before you drink alcohol, you may want to pump milk for later use.
  • Caffeine. Avoid drinking more than 2 to 3 cups (0.4 to 0.7 liters) of caffeine drinks per day. Caffeine in breast milk can make children young or affect their sleep.
  • Fish. Seafood can be a great source of protein and omega -3 fatty acids. But most seafood have mercury or other pollutants in it. Many of these things in breast milk poses risks to children with the growth of the nervous system. To reduce this risk, avoid high seafood in mercury. Examples include shark, sword thickness and kingdom. To know what polluted seafood in your area is, look for local fish recommendations.

Can my diet cause my child to be more screaming or a reaction?

Some foods or drinks in your diet can cause your child to become small, a reaction, or suffer from intolerance. Symptoms of intolerance include rash, diarrhea, and whistles. Talk to your child’s healthcare professional if your child becomes a rebel or suffers from intolerance symptoms shortly after breastfeeding.

If you think something in your diet may affect your child, avoid this food or drink for up to a week. Do this to see if you notice any changes in your child’s behavior or symptoms.

Remember that you do not need to follow a special diet while breastfeeding your child. Simply focus on making healthy options. You and your child will gain rewards.

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