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What can a nursing mother eat after childbirth

Nursing mothers have particular dietary needs to ensure the health of both their newborn and themselves. After childbirth, various beneficial foods can help a mother recover, provide the needed nutrition to her baby, and enhance her overall well-being. A nursing mother should consider whole grains, vegetables and fruits, lean proteins, and healthy fats. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids and take prenatal vitamins. Following a nutritious diet is beneficial for the mother and her child.

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The science of breastfeeding takes into account both the frequency and quantity of feedings, and the diet of mothers. You need to consider which products will benefit and which are harmful. Find out what you can eat a nursing mother, what dishes are recommended to be excluded from the diet for the period of feeding. Find out what modern pediatricians say on this subject – this way you will quickly understand the principles of safe nutrition for nursing mothers.

Basic principles of feeding a nursing mother

What you can eat with breastfeeding is a debatable problem of pediatrics. Some doctors argue that the amount of food should not be severely limited, others believe that a woman should follow a certain diet. The opinions of pediatricians agree on one thing: for the period of feeding, mothers need to adhere to certain principles in their diet:

  1. The principle of calorie content. Nursing mother can not follow a diet for weight loss. The caloric content of a daily set of products should exceed the generally accepted by about 600 kcal, and the main energy load – account for slow carbohydrates.
  2. The principle of fragmentation. It is advisable that the feeding of the nursing mother during breastfeeding comply with the rule “less, but more often.” Doctors recommend reducing the amount of servings by increasing their number per day. Three meals a day should be changed to five-, six-time meals.
  3. Compliance with diet. It is advisable to eat by the hour, correlating the regime with the frequency of feeding the baby. It is recommended to take a small snack immediately before feeding, and eat thoroughly – in a calm environment when the baby is sleeping.
  4. The principle of diversity. It is strictly forbidden for nursing mothers to “sit” on mono-diets even in a very short period of time. This will lead to an imbalance of the necessary substances in the composition of breast milk.
  5. Intensive Drinking Recommended.

What you can and cannot eat for a nursing mother

What can a nursing mother eat?

An unshakable rule – quality products! No canned food, synthetic flavors and only the “first freshness”. All products should only be purchased at verified locations. It is important to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables grown in your native region. With regard to diversity, then nursing mother is allowed any products that do not cause allergies in the baby.

With caution, fresh fruit and vegetable purchases should be made, food must be washed thoroughly, and some should be left in water for half an hour or an hour. It should be remembered that many products can change the taste of milk. This will easily lead to the baby’s rejection of the breast if he does not like the new taste sensations. Many products can change the taste of breast milk, for example:

  • banana;
  • ginger;
  • spicy herbs (mint, parsley, basil, celery).

Vegetables and fruits

These products must certainly be included in the set of meals for nursing mothers, because nothing can replace the vitamins and fiber that make up their composition. They prevent constipation in both mothers and infants, increase the immunity of infants, and some increase lactation. A nursing woman should only remember those products that can harm the baby, and the safest to introduce into the diet gradually. Here is an example of a fruit and vegetable list, a safe minimum that determines what you can eat for a nursing mother:

  • potatoes;
  • carrots and beets;
  • eggplant;
  • pumpkin and zucchini;
  • cauliflower;
  • broccoli;
  • cucumbers
  • apples
  • bananas
  • pears.

Young mother eating salad

Of no small importance is the color of the products that a nursing mother includes in her menu. So, for example, green vegetables, lettuce should be eaten fresh, and “colored” must be boiled, stewed or steamed. Plant foods should be introduced gradually. With special care, eat those that are painted with red pigment (apples, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries). The main thing is to monitor the behavior of the baby after the mother consumes potentially dangerous food. Its danger lies in the allergenic nature of red pigment.

Poultry, meat and meat products

A healthy diet for a nursing woman is inconceivable without protein products indispensable for the growing body of the baby. Their safe source is lean meat and poultry:

  • rabbit;
  • veal;
  • chicken fillet;
  • turkey;
  • lamb meat.

You should adhere to the rules for the preparation of meat products. The meat needs to be steamed, boiled, stewed, baked. Soups should be prepared on secondary broths, because many modern manufacturers introduce growth hormones and antibiotics into food. These elements pass into breast milk and can harm babies during breastfeeding. Secondary broths (the first water after five minutes boiling is drained) will prevent this potential danger of animal products.

Family at the table

Fish and seafood

If you include in the menu of mothers during breastfeeding sea or river fish. Non-greasy types of this product are recommended, those that you can eat for a nursing mother:

  • pollock;
  • zander;
  • crucian carp;
  • hake;
  • pink salmon;
  • flounder.

You should know that some types of fish (for example, flounder, mackerel) significantly change the taste of milk. The methods of preparing fish dishes allowed for nursing mothers are steaming, cooking, stewing, baking. Only calamari remain seafood safe during breastfeeding, all other seafood will easily provoke an allergy in the baby.

Lactating mom

Cereals

This is a source of slow carbohydrates, due to which the calorie intake of lactating women increases significantly. Cereals in the form of cereals are especially useful in the first thirty days of feeding. The obvious advantage of cereals is their absolute safety. The only exception is semolina, which at low nutritional value easily leads to overweight gain by a nursing mother, and instant cereals devoid of vitamins. Here’s what you can eat nursing mothers with cereal products:

  • buckwheat;
  • oat groats;
  • pearl barley;
  • rice
  • corn grits;
  • millet;
  • barley grits.

Milk products

With breastfeeding, all dairy products are allowed, but some are only in a certain form and quantity. For example, whole milk (200 ml per day) is preferably used for making cereals and be sure to dilute it with water. Fresh cottage cheese (with a fat content of 5-9%) – 150 g per day, and one that is older than three days is only for cooking casseroles and cheesecakes. Sour-milk products allowed for consumption (2.5%, 800 ml per day) are:

  • kefir;
  • natural yogurts;
  • yogurt;
  • fermented baked milk;
  • bifilin;
  • acidolact.

Girl eats vegetable salad

What you can not eat nursing mother

There are several reasons why some products are forbidden to be used by nursing mothers. This is all food containing potentially dangerous allergens for the baby:

  • red fruits and berries;
  • chocolate;
  • crayfish and crabs;
  • whole milk;
  • peanut;
  • honey;
  • Red caviar;
  • chicken eggs;
  • Exotic fruits;
  • citruses.

The number of products prohibited to nursing mothers includes those that have an exciting effect, are able to provoke gas formation in a baby after feeding:

  • green, black tea;
  • coffee;
  • Rye bread;
  • beans, peas;
  • grapes;
  • soda;
  • raisins.

What can a nursing mom absolutely not eat? Dishes and products with toxic effects on infants:

  • alcoholic drinks;
  • vinegar;
  • watermelon (accumulates nitrates);
  • spice;
  • canned foods;
  • snacks (chips, crackers);
  • factory confectionery (sweets, cakes, cakes);
  • spicy and fried foods;
  • smoked products.

Table of allowed and forbidden products for HS

In the first six months of life, a baby who is breast-fed should try all products through breast milk. This applies to natural food, so products with chemical additives are at the top of the list of foods that are categorically forbidden for nursing mothers. In second place is what can cause allergies. All other products are considered safe. What can nursing mothers eat, what foods are prohibited, presented in the table.

Type of products (dishes) Forbidden Permitted Allowed in limited quantities.
Fruit and Vegetable Food Set Red, orange berries and fruits (tomatoes, persimmons, pomegranates, etc.)

Citrus fruits

A pineapple

Kiwi

Avocado

Sauerkraut

Garlic

Radish

Radish

Raisins

Melon

Vegetables, fruits of green, white, yellow Dried apricots

Dates

Figs

Prunes

Milk products Fermented Cheeses Flour-free fermented milk products

Cottage cheese

Natural yogurt

Sour cream

Diluted whole milk

Ice cream

Condensed milk

Cereals Legumes Buckwheat

Rice

Millet

Perlovka

Yachka

Oatmeal

Manka

Instant porridge

Pasta

Seafood, Fish Caviar

Crabs

Crayfish

Shrimp

Low-fat sea and river fish Squid
The drinks Alcohol

Beer

Non-alcoholic soda

Cocoa

Coffee

Strong tea

Kvass

Compotes

Fruit drinks

Apple juice

Carrot juice

Pumpkin juice

Chicory

Confectionery Chocolate

Halva

Sweets

Marshmallows

Factory cakes, pastries

homemade baking

Sugar

Meat products Sausages

Fat

Fat meat

A hen

Veal

Turkey

Rabbit

Mutton
Nuts, seeds Walnut
Eggs, mayonnaise Quail eggs
Mushrooms
Honey
Canned food

Marinades

Spices (pepper)

Smoked meats

Salted products (herring)

Synthetic Food Products

Salt

Wheat bread

Menu for a nursing mother in the first month after giving birth

Breast cells (lactocytes) have the ability to pass or block various substances. In the first few days after birth, there are gaps between the lactocytes, therefore, all substances enter milk freely during feeding. Later, the gaps are shortened, a blood-milk barrier is formed, the body blocks the potential danger to the newborn. This feature determines the nutrition of a nursing mother safe for babies in the first month after birth:

  1. For the first week, a woman is allowed to eat cereals on the water, baked apples, bananas, lean or vegetarian soups; low-fat meat, vegetable oil and cow, stewed or boiled vegetables, rosehip broth, weak tea.
  2. The first two days of breastfeeding, the woman’s diet is poor. It is limited to low-fat soups, cereals, boiled vegetables (potatoes), gray (pecked) bread.
  3. From the third day, baked apples and meat are added to the diet.
  4. What can I eat after childbirth, from 10 days? These are dairy products, quail eggs, fish, pasta, stewed vegetables, tea, stewed fruit, crackers, cookies, dried fruits.
  5. During the entire first month of feeding, a woman should not eat meat broths, whole milk, raw (fresh) vegetables, berries and fruits, sour cream, coffee, wheat bread.

Woman eating an apple

It is necessary to introduce new products in minimal portions, be sure to observe the reaction of the baby after feeding:

  • how he takes the chest;
  • whether there is frequent regurgitation;
  • whether rashes appeared on the skin;
  • whether sleep is disturbed;
  • Do gases form after feeding, etc..

The right nutrition of a nursing mother for months – table

In the process of feeding (as during pregnancy), the child’s body becomes addicted to a variety of foods, so you need to calculate the menu of a nursing mother for months:

1st month products Of meat products, preference should be given to poultry and fish, and meat should be consumed very moderately. Otherwise, it will negatively affect the functioning of the liver and kidneys of the baby. For the same reason, nursing mothers are obliged to refuse all salty, spicy, sweet, products with synthetic dyes, canned food, raw fruits and vegetables.
2nd month products From this time, it is allowed to cook porridge (in diluted milk) from barley and barley, season them with butter and sugar. From vegetables, you need to start eating carrots, beets, pumpkin, cabbage (borscht, cabbage soup), beef tongue, pasta, seasonal fruits, greens.
Products from the 3rd month of feeding Fresh vegetable and fruit juices, onions, honey, walnuts, homemade jam (except raspberry, strawberry) are gradually introduced into the set of products for a nursing mother.
Products from the 6th month of feeding Legumes, corn, white bread, beef and other permitted foods are introduced.

Drinking regimen during lactation

During childbirth and breastfeeding, a woman loses a lot of fluid. She needs to replenish the volume with twice the daily norm: instead of the laid one and a half liters – three. Pediatricians recommend drinking a glass of plain water immediately before feeding (for 20-30 minutes). The main drink of a nursing woman is plain water (you can buy bottled, but not carbonated).

Water is allowed to be replaced with a rosehip decoction, herbal (chamomile, lemon balm, thyme, linden), weak tea with lemon. Milk-milk helps some lactating women to enhance lactation, but start drinking it no earlier than the second month of feeding. Other drinks allowed to the nursing mother are fruit drinks (cranberry), jelly, stewed fruit (from dried fruits), juices.

What can nursing mothers eat? Each pediatrician has an opinion on this. It either coincides or differs in the traditional idea of ​​the norms by which a nursing woman should eat. Watch a video from the author’s program of Dr. Komarovsky on breastfeeding. You will get acquainted with the point of view of a professional doctor, learn about the areas of theoretical and practical pediatrics, get acquainted with the reviews of nursing mothers, their vision of the list of useful and harmful products.

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Comments: 1
  1. Josiah Foster

    What should breastfeeding mothers include in their diet postpartum to ensure optimal nutrition for their baby’s health and milk production? Are there any specific foods or dietary restrictions that can assist with recovery and promote lactation?

    Reply
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