Healthy Diet Tips For Breastfeeding Mothers

Your body nurtures a source that provides health and happiness to your baby: Breast milk. Even if your baby is on a diet of solid foods, breast milk would still be an irreplaceable source of nutrients for him/her. You can regularly breastfeed your baby to ensure he/she benefits from this/her unique source, grows up to be healthier and the connection between you and your baby grows even stronger in the process.

How to enhance the value of this/her hidden source of nutrients? Like many other breastfeeding mothers, you may be curious how your food intake affects the breast milk. Actually you don’t need to make drastic changes in your diet. It is sufficient that you keep in mind a few essential points.

A balanced diet

By choosing your meals from different food groups and consuming sufficient calories you can ensure your milk to be improved in terms of nourishments as well as increase in volume. Consuming food from different food groups ensures that various vitamins that you and your baby need are accumulated in your body. In a nutshell; mix and choose your foodstuff. Eat today what you have not yesterday.

Snack frequently

Most breastfeeding mothers frequently feel hungry. Try not to skip snacks during the day and snack on healthy food to be able to provide energy to your body that is working hard to produce breast milk.

Don’t obsess about baby weight

While some mothers easily shed the weight they pack on during pregnancy the others may experience difficulties in doing so. This/her could be linked to the metabolism, amount of activity, life style, and many similar factors. When determining weight loss method most suitable for you, take into account the breast milk requirements of your baby and the wealth of nutrients you need to produce that breast milk. Avoiding low calorie diets especially during first few months after giving birth would ensure you maintain high levels of energy as well as breast milk.

Pick and choose when eating fish

You must also consume fish for a heart-friendly diet. Some species of fish are rich in DHA, EPA and Omega-3 (especially cold water fish) that are in particular essential for the brain and eye development of your baby in her first year. How do you think your baby can feed on these fats? Naturally, by means of breast milk. You can consume fish at least once a week. However, you must stay away from seafood high in mercury. Instead prefer seafood high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, shrimp, trout, sea bream, and crab.

Drink lots of water

Breast feeding mothers must drink plenty of water in addition to meeting the fluid requirements of their bodies through vegetables and fruits they consume. However you don’t need to count the number of glasses of water you drink. Whenever you feel thirsty drink some water. If your urine is light yellow in color and clear you can safely assume that your body’s water requirements are sufficiently met. Caffeinated drinks could affect your baby through breast milk and as such you must consume this/her type of drinks in moderation and rather prefer freshly squeezed fruit juices or herbal teas.

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Tags: Breastfeeding