Showing posts with label breastfeeding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breastfeeding. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Breast Feeding Diet - Eating Right While Breast Feeding

If you do not have a healthy breast-feeding diet that includes a variety of foods after pregnancy, you will expose yourself to a host of breast feeding problems. Your body will use the food that you eat to make milk for the baby, (the nutritional requirements of the baby are satisfied before those of the mother) and you may run short of nutrients for your self, causing you to fall sick.

The Importance of a Healthy Breast Feeding Diet Post Pregnancy

You must have a healthy breast feeding diet post pregnancy. This means, you should consume at least 2500 calories a day, if not more, if you have been breast-feeding for more than three months. Eat at least a gram of protein for every pound you weigh. Do not eat sweets no matter how tempted you are. You should spread your calorific intake over five meals during the day. You should eat vegetables, fruits, fortified cereals, whole grains, and pulses and continue to take your prenatal vitamins and minerals.

You should drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day. A nursing mother tends to feel thirstier, but you should avoid drinking too much water, as it can affect milk production.

Things to Be Careful Of

Nicotine passes from mother to baby via breast feeding. Therefore, smoking at this time can be dangerous for the baby. Similarly, alcohol also passes through the mother’s milk into the baby. Alcohol thus consumed can retard a baby’s growth. You must also never take over the counter medication or any medication, without first asking your doctor, while you are breast-feeding. It can harm your baby immensely. And be careful of pesticides, these come in the form of aerosol cans or coils. You should also always wash fruits and vegetables before eating them, because they have pesticides residues on them.

Those were some important points about your breast feeding diet post pregnancy. Make sure to read a lot about this topic in good books and magazines, to help you stay well informed.

Breast Feeding Clothes - Smart, Stylish And Sexy

Don’t you want to wear smart and stylish breast feeding clothes? You may not want to look stodgy and dull after pregnancy and there is certainly no reason for you to do so. Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful of all times in a woman’s life. It is a well known fact that men find you more attractive at this time. Of course the pregnancy hormones play an important role in giving that amazing glow to your face and body.

Don’t Look Dowdy

This is certainly no time to dress up in dowdy looking clothes. You can be breast feeding and still wear breast feeding clothes that make you look and feel like a queen. You must consider three things while buying maternity clothes, function, comfort and your preferences. Comfort is very essential. As a first-time mother you are learning to breast feed your baby and will not want any awkward clothes play up in public. Not just that, you would like to be comfortable in the clothes you wear to be able to potter about the house with your new born as well.

Choose Attractive Attire that is also Convenient and Comfortable

Remember, while you may think it’s a good idea to ransack your spouse’s cupboard and wear his loose fitting clothes, why dress in ill- fitting baggy clothing when you can have the most fabulous of well fitting maternity clothing to dress up in. In fact we won’t be surprised if you get addicted to your maternity wear. Clothes in different cuts and colors, perhaps clothes that have high waists and a loose body that flatter your look and make you flaunt your tummy at the same time are easily available. Choose clothes that look good and are very convenient too. So that when you want to breast feed your little one you can do so easily.

Lots of Choice on the Internet

There are some amazing choices on the internet, where you can shop till you drop. So forget all those post pregnancy blues and go on a shopping spree for some really cool breast feeding clothes.

Monday, February 4, 2008

The Benefits Of Breast Feeding- A Baby Is Better Off Being Breast Fed

Breast Milk is Very Nutritious

The benefits of breast-feeding are enormous, not just to the newborn infant, but also to the mother. Breast milk contains lactoferrin, which allows the absorption of iron and protects the stomach from harmful bacteria. It contains lipases, which helps in the digestion of fats. It contains hormones, which aid the healthy growth of the newborn infant. The milk strength is naturally regulated. It tastes of as many flavors as the variety of food a mother eats. It is a living biological fluid and it is best for the child and its benefits cannot be easily replicated by formula milk.

Breast Milk Builds Immunity

Here are some more benefits of breast feeding. A breast fed baby will develop a stronger immune system than a formula fed one. This is because; breast milk consists of antibodies, which protect the child from various intestinal and respiratory infections. These antibodies also prevent ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia and gastroenteritis. The baby will not have cancers of the immune system, if it is breast-fed. In addition, the benefits of breast-feeding are immediate and increase with the increase in duration of breastfeeding. Those babies, who are born in families with a history of asthma, eczemas, or allergies, benefit greatly from breast-feeding.

Breast Milk Means Higher IQs

Research shows that, breast-fed babies do not grow into obese adults. They also have better IQs than their formula fed counterparts. There are other benefits of breast feeding too. Babies who are breast fed, do not suffer a risk of baby bottle tooth decay. Suckling the mother’s breast also increases hand- to- eye coordination and finally the child probably enjoys the close contact with you and you can get real pleasure out of nurturing your little infant. For more information visit pregnancy period.