Following a Healthy Diet for Breastfeeding

Many new moms make the decision to breastfeed, as it is known to provide numerous health benefits for your baby. For some new moms, the fact that it is less costly than formula is another perk to breastfeeding. If you are planning to breastfeed, you may be wondering what your diet should be like to ensure that your baby's needs are being met. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Do You Have to Eat Healthy While Breastfeeding?

A common myth about breastfeeding is that a mother must eat perfect in order to benefit her baby nutritionally. It is important to keep in mind that this couldn't be any further from the truth. As long as you are consuming enough calories, your breast milk is a nutritional option for your baby. According to BabyCenter.com, it is also important to ensure that your food is coming from more than one food group to ensure the most health benefits for your baby.

How Many Calories Do You Need While Breastfeeding?

It is ideal to add about 200 to 500 calories to your diet. While consuming too few calories can hurt your baby, there is a greater chance that it will hurt you. Your body needs to be replenished with the nutrients that it is losing when you breastfeed. One of the best ways to determine how many calories should be added to your diet is to see how hungry you feel. Pay attention to what your body tells you when determining how much to eat while you're breastfeeding.

Should Breastfeeding Moms Follow a Well-Balanced Diet?

It is ideal for breastfeeding moms to follow a well-balanced diet. Be sure to consume lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean sources of protein, and diary. Note that you will want to limit fish intake to reduce mercury exposure for both you and the baby. Breastfeeding moms will mostly want to eat healthy to ensure that their own nutritional needs are being met.

Some experts who believe that breast milk from a well-balanced diet is healthier than breast milk from a diet which consists mostly of sweets and junk. That said, no evidence seems to support the idea that mothers who do not follow well-balanced diets produce breast milk which is not nutritional.

Overall, it's important to keep in mind that breastfeeding is generally recommended to all new mothers. Breast milk is thought to offer numerous health benefits, regardless of what your diet is like when you are breastfeeding. If you have any questions about foods which should are safe to consume while you breastfeed, the best thing that you can do is talk to your doctor.

Source:

BabyCenter.com, "Diet for a healthy breastfeeding mom."