The Impact of Maternal Diet on Breastfeeding and Milk Production
Deepti Arora
Lactation Coach to First-Time Moms, Founder Deliver Delights™ | ACLP | Natural Birth Educator | PSI Certified Maternal Mental Health Professional | Infant Nutritionist | Empowering mothers to Raise a Happy Healthy Child
How maternal diet impacts breastfeeding and milk production. Yes. Breastfeeding mothers do need extra calories to maintain nourishment and nutrition during breastfeeding.
Having a nourished meal the whole day while breastfeeding amazes you in two ways: It enhances your milk quality and comforts you in your postpartum phase. A new mother experiences physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual strength to raise a happy and healthy baby and enjoy good health from day one of childbirth. A mother can bear all the pains but would want her favorite meals every day. Nice, warm healthy food is medicine. No brainer.
Let's get deeper
Should breastfeeding mothers increase their intake of any nutrients?
Yes. It's unknown for a new family that, a mother's need for iodine and choline increases during lactation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend breastfeeding women consume 290 micrograms (mcg) of iodine and 550 milligrams (mg) of choline daily throughout the first year after giving birth. It's more than just knowing for any family that a new mom should drink milk to produce more milk.
Do you know that Iodine can be found in:
And, choline can be found in:
Healthcare providers should work with breastfeeding mothers to determine if they need an iodine or choline supplement to achieve adequate intake. No supplementation would do better than homecooked, regional, traditional warm food cooked with love for a new mother.
Is there any food a new mother should avoid?
Yes. Generally, women do not need to limit or avoid specific foods while breastfeeding. Mothers should be encouraged to eat a healthy and diverse diet
. However, certain types of seafood should be consumed in a limited amount. Some mothers may wish to restrict caffeine while breastfeeding. Fish is an excellent source of protein and contains essential vitamins and minerals. Yet breastfeeding women must be careful about the amount and types of seafood they consume. Fish has omega 3, it's beneficial for lactating mothers to comfort them in their postpartum phase too. Eat a variety of fish from the "Best Choices" and "Good Choices" categories. https://www.fda.gov/media/102331/download
Any kind of caffeine or soda passes from the mother to the infant in small amounts through breast milk. This usually does not adversely affect the infant when the mother consumes low to moderate amounts. It can cause poor feeding patterns and sleepiness in the baby. 2-3 cups of coffee is recommended.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Are there any recommendations for breastfeeding mothers who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet?
Yes. Breastfed infants of women who do not consume any animal products may have very limited amounts of vitamin B12. Low amounts of vitamin B12 can put infants at risk of neurological damage from vitamin B12 deficiency.
An expert IBCLC should work closely with breastfeeding women eating a vegetarian or vegan diet to determine if they also need supplementation of iron, vitamin B12, and other nutrients, such as:
When a mother is ill, how she can ensure her nutrition and her perfect health
Key Note - 90% of the medications can safely be taken by breastfeeding mothers. Some medications don’t pass into a mother’s milk, some are not absorbed from a baby’s digestive tract, and for some, there is a long history of safe use by nursing mothers.
However, it’s wise to check with your doctor as certain medications can cause problems. Along with medications, a new mother must take care of her recovery, rejuvenation, and healing through balanced meals every day.
If she has any common sickness, rest and healing will comfort the mother and baby. As she is rested and not sleep-deprived, her oxytocin levels will drive her to make more milk and nurse as per the demand of the baby. Frequent healthy meals, during the day will heal her heart and gut both.
If a mother is going through a mental illness, a heart-to-heart connection with home-cooked nutritious food is a good place to start the recovery.
A new mother is not ill, she can eat everything she wants in moderation. My heart goes with the postpartum moms. I am so glad to share that I have created a baby-wise postpartum meal plan for a month that heals your body, balances your emotions, and restores your vitality.
If you want your easy, and implementable plans on your fridge to rejuvenate you and make the whole family wondrous, ask for your own here, I will connect with you and share the same right away.
All the Love!