Nutrition for Breastfeeding

Final weeks of pregnancy

During the final weeks of pregnancy, babies store up a lot of iron and vitamin D to carry them through the early months of life, so expectant moms should be sure they are getting enough of this in their diets. Mom has also stored up an extra 5 – 7 pounds of extra fat during pregnancy to provide some of the extra calories necessary for milk production in early months.

Nutrition for Breastfeeding moms:

When breastfeeding, moms need an extra 300 calories a day; a total of at least 1500 calories a day. Dieting is not recommended while breastfeeding. After the initial weight loss, you should eat to maintain your weight, and generally shouldn’t lose more than a pound a week.

Try to eat a variety of healthy foods. You will need extra protein, three servings of calcium-rich foods per day, and plenty of fluids.

Your doctor may recommend that you continue to take prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding.

Foods to Avoid?

There are many old wives tales about foods that nursing mothers should avoid, and many recent research hypotheses about what foods to avoid. Much of this is controversial.

· If you have a strong family history of significant food allergies, consult with your care provider and baby’s care provider for advice specific to your situation.

· Food bacteria: generally does not travel through breastmilk, so the pregnancy prohibition against raw fish, soft cheeses, and lunch meats typically does not apply to breastfeeding moms.

· “Fussy” foods: some people find that cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower cause gassy babies. Some people believe spicy foods cause colic, but there’s no evidence. If baby seems fussy in response to what you eat, keep a diary that tracks: what you eat, what your activities are, and how baby acts. You may discover that activities or time of day is the culprit rather than the foods you eat.

· Allergens: Be aware of signs of food sensitivity. If your baby has diaper rash or skin rashes, chronic runny noses, diarrhea, or excessive fussiness, consult your doctor. The most common allergens in mom’s diet are cow’s milk, eggs, shellfish, wheat, and nuts, especially peanuts.

Nutrition for Baby

In general, breastmilk meets every nutritional need of your baby for the first six months of life. There is no need to supplement with water, formula, or solid foods till six months.

For a while, iron supplements were believed to be necessary, but recent research has shown that a healthy, full-term baby rarely needs iron supplementation before six months of age. After 6 months, add in iron-fortified solid foods to baby’s diet.

Fluoride supplements may be recommended for babies 6 months to 3 years, if their main water supply is not supplemented with fluoride (most city water sources are).

Vitamin D supplements may be helpful for bone development for babies who get very little exposure to the sun, and whose mothers were vitamin D deficient.

For more information, see www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom-diet.html and http://www.wyethnutritionals.com/newmoms/nutri_to_eat.htm www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5370,00.html For a discussion of healthy fats in your diet (Omega3’s), see www.007b.com/breastfeeding_intelligence_diet.php

c. Janelle Durham, 2004

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