A nursing mother will have to give up her favorite foods for a while in order for her baby to feel great. How should a nursing mother eat?
With the existing restrictions in the daily diet of a nursing mother, it is quite possible to compose a menu containing a sufficient amount of nutrients and trace elements. It is only necessary to take into account the recommendations of specialists when drawing it up.
The first weeks of a baby's life are difficult for him. During this period, he must learn to eat correctly. The child should receive from his mother's milk the nutrients necessary for development, while not reacting to harmful elements that enter his body.
Therefore, it is important that the menu of a nursing mom is as harmless as possible for the baby during this period. The quality of food consumed by a nursing mother influences the composition of her breast milk.
General principles of the menu of a nursing mother
The breastfeeding menu should be:
- High-calorie, i.e., be 500 kcal more than non-breastfeeding women.
- Diverse. To provide the baby with the necessary nutrients, a nursing mother should eat a variety of foods.
- With a large volume of liquid. For a nursing mother, the daily volume of fluid should be almost 2 times higher than the generally accepted one.
Specific foods for a nursing mother
The menu for breastfeeding should contain lean meats:
- poultry, pork, veal;
- a variety of dairy products;
- the main source of calcium: fish, eggs, vegetables and fruits;
- various cereals: buckwheat, rice, oatmeal, millet and others.
However, food consumption should be reasonable, without overeating. Also, when using any product for the first time after childbirth, you should pay attention to the baby's reaction. If any allergic manifestations are found, it is worth giving it up until better times.
Dangerous and unwanted foods for a nursing mother
Dangerous foods for breastfeeding are fatty, smoked and salty foods and contain a large amount of spices, onions, and garlic. Their use by a nursing mother will affect the change in the taste of breast milk, which the baby will not like.
Sweets, grapes, pastries are best avoided when breastfeeding. These foods cause fermentation in the intestines.
Do not overuse tropical fruits that can cause allergies in babies. It should be remembered that chocolate, peanuts, strawberries, shrimps and crayfish are the strongest allergenic foods that are contraindicated for a nursing mother.
It is also worth taking care of the selection of an individual menu based on the allergic reactions of the infant.
