Breastfeeding Diet

Filed Under Baby |

If you have just had a baby and are now breastfeeding it is important to start thinking about your breastfeeding diet. This is not a diet to try and lose weight this is the basically what foods you intake into your body because what you eat is what your baby is going to drink. The nutrients from the foods you eat go into the breast milk that your baby drinks so it is very important that you eat a healthy diet so that your baby is healthy too.

Your diet while breastfeeding is very similar to the diet you had while you were pregnant. The reason for this is your baby is still going to rely on you for their food just like they did while they were in your womb. You generally want to eat an extra 500 calories per day in your diet because you are going to extra nutrients leaving your body and you still need some for yourself so that you stay healthy. Your diet should consist of about 30% of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and essential fatty acids. These are very important for your baby to receive and if you don’t eat foods that contain them then your baby doesn’t get them. You can find these fats by eating oils such as olive oil and dairy products. breastfeeding-diet

Some other foods that are a great diet for breastfeeding mothers are the usual fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It is also very important for you to consume a good amount of water on a daily basis. Water is a big part of the the milk contents that your baby drinks so if you don’t drink water you are going to be hurting your baby as well as yourself.

Your breastfeeding diet should not include alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs as these things can severely harm your baby. It is also strongly recommended to not consume any caffeine as this can affect your babies development and growth. You also might want to try and be aware of any food alergies your baby may have so if you see your baby getting sick or acting fun after breastfeeding you might want to try changing up your diet to see what happens. Breastfeeding and diet are very important for a mother to think about that is why you should always consult with your doctor about your breastfeeding diet to make sure what you are consuming is healthy for your baby.