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.
