Breast Feeding Diet

So you’ve had the baby and your pregnancy is over. You may think your pregnancy diet is over too, but you may want to think again if you are choosing to breast feed your baby. During the period of time you are breast feeding, your body will provide the right nutrition to your baby, just as it did when you were pregnant. Stay on the same healthy diet you followed during your pregnancy and keep taking in an extra 500 calories per day. Don’t worry about gaining weight during this time, if anything you will lose weight easier by breastfeeding. Also be sure to stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water and other healthy drinks.

What To Avoid When Breast feeding

It is best to use common sense with what you put in your body while you are breastfeeding. Everything you eat is in turn passed on to your baby. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and most medications. Ask your doctor if you are in doubt. Better to be safe than sorry and put your baby in harm’s way. Also avoid foods that commonly cause allergic reactions in members of your family and anything that seems to irritate the baby. Other types of food that are spicy, for example, may affect your baby too.

Don’t Worry

Many women worry that their diet isn’t enough to sustain their baby’s nutritional needs or that she will not be able to produce enough milk to fill her baby’s ever changing hunger needs. This is an unfounded worry though. A mother’s milk supply, however, will come in just fine as long as her diet is reasonable. Anything that you eat in excess is not a good idea, even if it is a healthy choice. Make healthy food choices, eat sensibly and make sure you have moderate portions.