Breastfeeding

What to eat when breastfeeding

When mom’s new adventure begins, we start asking ourselves a thousand questions and at the same time a thousand fears arise.

Am I doing the right thing? The baby is fine, has he eaten enough? And so on…

When small pimples appear on the baby’s skin or colic symptoms begin, the first thing we ask ourselves, if we breastfeed, is if we have eaten something that may have “hurt” the baby … and so on with feelings of guilt.

Generally when we are discharged from the hospital they tell us that we can eat a little of everything. But let’s clarify a bit.

When breastfeeding we need about 500 kcal more per day than we need under “normal” conditions. Sometimes this addition isn’t even necessary, especially if there is a slight overweight acquired during pregnancy that needs to be disposed of.

To tell the truth, I had a few extra kilos but with breastfeeding I got rid of everything in about six months, even introducing those extra calories. And woe to not have done it, I was hungry!!!

In any case, the extra calories must be distributed throughout the day since breastfeeding requires continuous energy.

A breastfeeding mother needs a complete diet including fruit, vegetables, cereals and proteins. It has an increased need for protein (20 g more per day) of vitamins of the B complex, but also for vitamins A, C, D and E. There is an increased need (equal to 50% more) also for calcium, iodine and phosphorus.

Generally a balanced and varied diet satisfies all of these dietary requirements . In some cases, however, your doctor may advise you to take vitamin supplements.

There are foods that could change the flavor of the milk (not the quality of its composition which remains unchanged). The modified flavor could make it unattractive to the child and for this reason it is advised   not to exceed in the use of onion, garlic, asparagus and cabbage and Brussels sprouts.

However, if you ate these foods during pregnancy, it may be that the baby has already become accustomed to knowing these flavors through the amniotic fluid and therefore will also appreciate milk with a “particular” flavor. These foods also could contribute to gas leaks that are painful for the baby.

Fish with a high mercury content  (such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, in some cases also tuna, mackerel, porbeagle and grouper) should be avoided.

Alcohol should be avoided (eventually drink a glass of wine or beer with meals but wait two hours before breastfeeding) and of course all spirits.

Also pay attention to the consumption of caffeine, cow’s milk, chocolate and spicy foods.

The diet must instead be rich in :

  •  whole grain products (to avoid constipation)
  • waterfall
  • fruits and vegetables (great sources of vitamins, fiber, and water)
You can safely eat the following foods that you could not eat during pregnancy such as unpasteurized dairy products, raw meat and cured meats, raw eggs…but still be careful of shellfish which could cause allergic reactions in the baby.
Smoking , I won’t even dwell on it, must be absolutely banned.
Dr Kathryn Barlow

Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.

Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.

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