Breastfeeding Mothers

The Best Food Source for Newborns

Breast milk provided by breastfeeding mothers contains the best mix of nutrients for infants.

Unless they are extreme, deficiencies or excesses in a lactating mother's diet will generally not affect the nutritional quality of breast milk. However, the production of milk is affected by the diet of the mother. Furthermore, if a breastfeeding mother's diet is unhealthy, her body will work to produce milk first, leaving her health even further diminished.

Benefits of Breast Feeding

One of the biggest benefits breastfeeding mothers find is that they are able to lose weight more quickly than formula feeding mothers.

Other benefits for mothers are:

less bleeding after birth
the uterus returns to normal size faster
bones re-mineralize more quickly
likelihood of pregnancy while breastfeeding is lessened
less risk of ovarian and breast cancer in later life

Staying Healthy While Breastfeeding

First and foremost, breast milk is eighty-percent water. Lactating mothers need to drink a lot of water (2.5 to 3 quarts a day). Most nursing mothers find they are thirstier than normal in any case, so a good habit is to drink at least a glass of filtered water during each feeding.

Avoid any foods you may be allergic to, such as wheat, dairy, eggs.

Maintain a healthy calorie intake spread throughout the day in small meals and snacks. A baby of just a few pounds will receive up to 1000 calories in breast milk.

Making Sure Your Breast Milk is the Best for Your Baby

If your baby seems colicky, avoid spicy food, garlic, onions, sugar, fruit juice, Brussel's sprouts, cabbage and other foods known to be 'gassy'.
Avoid contaminated fish.
Avoid environments where you may absorb toxins and chemicals, such as gas stations and newly renovated buildings.
Avoid using cosmetics, nail polish or hair dye for the duration of your breastfeeding period.
Avoid smoking, second hand smoke and alcohol.

The milk at the end of each feeding is called 'hindmilk', and is very rich in fat, which in turn carries toxins. You can reduce the amount of toxins you pass on to your infant through breast milk by expressing this hindmilk.

Do Lactating Mothers and Their Babies Need Supplements?

Many breastfeeding mothers should continue taking their pre-natal vitamins or a post-natal vitamin.

Many doctors will recommend a Vitamin D supplement in drop form for breastfeeding babies to ensure they are able to absorb and use the rich calcium the breast milk is providing.

Always check with a health care provider before giving your baby anything other than breast milk, and before taking any supplements or medication while breastfeeding.

One brand of Vitamin A, D and C supplement drops for infants is tri-vi-sol supplement.