Nutrition for the nursing mother

While breastfeeding, it is important to eat a well-balanced diet like you did during your pregnancy. If you have concerns or special needs, check with your health care provider or dietician.

A well-balanced diet

Dietary Needs

After delivery, most women have an increased appetite and thirst. It is important to eat nourishing foods and drink enough liquids to support your health and your body’s production of breast milk. A well-balanced diet contains:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Milk and other dairy products
• Breads and cereals
• Protein foods (such as meats, poultry, eggs, beans and peanut butter)

Most women need about 500 extra calories per day to establish and maintain an adequate milk supply. Caloric needs may vary depending on your activity level, weight gain and desired weight. Weight loss should be slow and gradual.

Most women need about 8 to 10 glasses of fluids per day while breastfeeding. Juice, water, soup or milk can provide the liquid you need. You should drink enough fluids to satisfy your thirst and/or produce pale, odorless urine or ease constipation.If you have concentrated urine, strong-smelling urine and/or constipation, you may not be drinking enough fluids.

Almost everything a breastfeeding mother eats or drinks will come through in her breastmilk. Foods that are good for you will be good for your baby too. It is rare to have to eliminate foods from your diet. Although some babies may become fussy or cry when a mother eats certain foods, there may be other reasons for your baby’s fussiness.

For questions or concerns about your diet and its effect on breastfeeding, contact a lactation consultant.

Substances you may want to eliminate or cut down on while breastfeeding:

• Coffee, tea and cola beverages containing caffeine may cause your baby to be jittery and restless.
• Alcohol in your blood quickly passes into your breast milk. Too much alcohol in your blood will have the same effect on your baby as it does on you. It can also slow the let-down or release of your breast milk to your baby. Discuss concerns with your health care provider.
• Smoking is not recommended while breastfeeding. Nicotine is passed through to the breast milk and may be consumed by your baby.
• Illegal drugs, including marijuana, will pass through breastmilk and are harmful to babies.

Many medications are passed into breast milk, but usually in such small amounts that the baby is not affected. To be safe, check with your health care provider before taking any medication. Always remind health care providers, including dentists, that you are breastfeeding.