Good Nutrition for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Diet
Most women probably know that good nutrition is vitally important and thus, take special care of themselves to eat well during their pregnancies since what they eat reach their unborn babies in the form of nutrients essential for growth and development. Likewise, a nursing mother should maintain a healthy breastfeeding diet – eating foods that are rich in nutrients.
You’re Still Eating for Two
Do take note that either when you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you are still “eating for two”. No, you are not to eat double portions or “super-size” your food intake but that what you eat impact both you and your baby. Make sure you have plenty of fresh foods in your pregnancy and breastfeeding diet to ensure an adequate vitamin intake.
Supplementary minerals and vitamins are NEVER substitutes for a well-balanced diet even though your doctor might have prescribed them. An important note: when you consult your doctor for any illnesses or past medical conditions, make sure you highlight to him/her that you are breastfeeding and also to double-check with the doctor and pharmacist that the medication is breastfeeding-safe.
What Is A Breastfeeding Diet?
A breastfeeding diet is not a diet aimed at increasing milk supply but at keeping the nursing mother healthy while she breast-feeds her baby. Although, there are recipes of certain food that will help increase milk supply. It includes her confinement diet. In fact, it is a continual diet from her pregnancy all the way through the breastfeeding period. A reminder, it is definitely not a weight loss diet. During the breastfeeding period, the nursing mother must not go for a weight loss diet. In fact, her weight is easily controlled throughout her breastfeeding period – a miraculous mechanism/advantage of breastfeeding.
Here is a video on Breast Feeding Benefits on Today’s Women:
Is breast best when feeding newborns?
A Balanced Breastfeeding Diet
You do not have to go on a regimented breastfeeding diet; just try to eat things in moderation. The “fresh foods” guide includes all “good things” that you can eat in their most natural packages ranging from fruit in its original form, whole grains, carrots, beans and many more. Check the Food Pyramid guide and you will not go wrong. Try to find organic produce. It can be harder to find and cost much more, but it means fewer chemicals being ingested by you and your baby.
I would like to advice that you avoid as much as you can all things manufactured, refined, canned, and processed; especially anything dyed red #700 foods. That goes for fast foods too. Well, I’m not going to be that regimental but I will only suggest that you rotate all of your less-than-healthy foods; meaning that you allow yourself french fries once a week…. if you really have to have them. So far, these are recommended after your confinement period. I’ll get into that in another blog.
Before I end, you must ALWAYS remember to drink plenty of fluids per day – the usual 8-glasses’ guide is the best. I’ll go into detail what fluids I am taking about.
Best Advice to Your Breastfeeding Diet!
Your Friendliest Breastfeeding Diet Adviser
Jennifer Tan
