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Healthy Eating While Breast-feeding
Perhaps surprisingly, breast-feeding mothers need more calories than
their pregnant counterparts. Producing milk uses up a lot of energy
which is why nursing mothers lose the fat built up during pregnancy
faster than those who bottle feed.
Reserves of fat will be broken down, but the demand for milk will mostly
be met by your daily diet. You will have an increased appetite so follow
your body's signals, being careful to fill up on fruit, vegetables and
starchy carbohydrates like bread, potatoes and pasta rather than snacking
on sweet things like chocolate and biscuits. Care should be taken with
alcohol and checks made before taking medication.
Milk production will not be affected if you don't increase your food
intake, however it's likely that you will feel exhausted.
Dieting should not be attempted while breast-feeding as cutting down
on calories will affect the flow of milk.
With a baby taking over a pint of milk a day it's also likely that you
will feel thirstier than usual so remember to drink plenty, particularly
water and fruit juice. Tea and coffee should be limited as caffeine
can affect the baby.
Dietary
concerns while breast-feeding
Contaminates
in breast milk
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