What To Eat When Breastfeeding Your Baby
For mothers, wanting the best for their newborn baby it’s a constant worry. When a first-time mom starts nursing and feeding her baby, it is important for her to take care of her own health and wellbeing. The nourishment of the mother is just as important as the child. After giving birth, one of the most important things to monitor is the diet for breastfeeding mothers. Women often wonder what should they eat and what foods to avoid when breastfeeding. While it may sound overwhelming, breastfeeding comes naturally to mothers and within a week or two, they find what works for them and their baby.
One of the things to remember is that you should not change your diet much if the food you eat is not causing allergies for your baby. Your dietary restrictions from your pregnancy are not applicable after birth. Ideally, for proper nourishment for moms, they should eat 2-3 servings of protein-packed food such as eggs, poultry, and nuts. They should also consume 2-3 servings of fresh vegetables every day since veggies contain very important vitamins and minerals. Breastfeeding moms should also include plenty of water in their everyday intake.
If you are vegetarian, ensure you eat enough food containing iron. These foods include dairy, seeds, and dry fruits. If you are vegan or follow a plant-based diet, consult your doctor for a Vitamin B12 supplement so that your baby does not develop a deficiency.
When a new parent is worried about their diet, they should consult a doctor for a customized diet plan in extreme cases. But in general, a nursing mother needs more calories than usual. If mothers carry their baby weight after their pregnancy, it’s usually used up in breastfeeding. But if you think you have lost your baby weight, you might need to increase your food intake.
A first-time mom should always keep it simple and eat healthy on an everyday basis. But keeping a record of your food and how it reacts with the baby helps you understand their needs. For example, if every time you eat spinach and feed your little one and they have diarrhea, you might want to stop eating spinach for a while.
A mother’s diet is very much connected to the baby’s. While the consumption of alcohol and caffeine does not affect the baby, it is best to wait 2-3 hours after you consume alcohol or coffee before you feed your baby.
Mothers share nutrition with their babies through their milk. It is important for new moms to consume plenty of DHA, which helps in the development of the baby’s brain.
It is fairly common for your food flavors to be present in the breast milk, you can experiment to find what your baby likes.
Finally, baby feeding essentials boil down to the mother’s diet and the baby’s compatibility to the food. New moms can always create diet plans with a professional or themselves to see what works best for them and their baby.