How Do Diet, Medications, and Alcohol Affect Breastfeeding?
Lots of breastfeeding mothers wonder if they need to make changes in their diet and medications.
| Eating Do's and Don'ts |
Do's:
- Seek out sources of protein such as meat, fish, chicken, milk, eggs, beans, and peas.
- Increase calcium intake.
- Rebuild your iron stores with iron rich foods like red meat, green leafy veggies, whole grain, and legumes.
Don'ts:
- Crash diet
- Skip meals,
- Get dehydrated,
- Consume alcohol in excess,
- Fill up on empty calories,
- Take illegal drugs.
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Food
If you are eating a balanced diet, you shouldn't have to deny yourself the foods you like. However, if you notice that your baby reacts badly after you have eaten something it may be best to leave that food out of your diet for a few days then try again to see if you get the same reaction. Because peanut allergies are a big problem in later life, some are suggesting that you avoid heavy consumption of peanuts/peanut butter while breastfeeding.
Preventing rapid weight loss
Breastfeeding burns up a lot of energy, and can actually help a woman "get her body back" quicker. However, some women will need to eat extra snacks to prevent rapid weight loss. Most experts agree that a woman should up her daily caloric intake approximately 600 calories while breastfeeding to insure that she is getting all of the necessary nutrients.
Note to Vegetarian mothers
A vegetarian diet can meet the nutritional needs of a breastfeeding mother as long as it includes a variety of foods and adequate calories, including:
- Legumes
- Eggs, milk, cheese and yoghurt
- Wholegrain breads and cereals
- Fresh fruit and vegetables.
Drinks (Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic)
Milk is a wonderful source of calcium, vitamins, and minerals. If you have a hard time digesting milk, don't worry. It doesn't take milk to make milk; but, you need to be sure that you are getting plenty of water, fruit juices and other liquids as well as a good source of calcium.
Occasional alcohol intake while breastfeeding can be acceptable. Typically, alcohol intake should be not exceed 8 ounces of wine, 2 ounces of spirits, or 2 regular-sized beers in a 24-hour period.
Caffeine
Though dietary caffeine appears in breast milk, nursing mothers can safely consume small amounts of caffeine without passing on a significant amount to the baby. Higher caffeine amounts could potentially cause problems such as poor sleeping, nervousness, irritability, and poor feeding, so limiting your caffeine intake makes sense.
Caffeine tends to build up in babies? systems because their bodies cannot get rid of it very easily. Try using decaffeinated coffee and tea, and avoid colas and other carbonated drinks that have added caffeine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that nursing women limit consumption to the caffeine equivalent of 1 to 3 cups of coffee per day.
(Source: International Food Information Council Foundation)
Smoking
The mother who smokes
Smoking, especially while breastfeeding, is dangerous. Nicotine is present in breast milk and will easily be transferred to baby. For your health, as well as the health of your baby, quit smoking.
Second hand smoke
All babies need a smoke-free environment no matter how they are fed. Secondhand smoke is dangerous to all children, but especially to newborns. Among other things, it increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Insist that smokers in your household smoke outside or far away from your baby.
Drugs/Medication
Take no chances. Discuss all medications with your health care professional. While most medications are safe to take during breastfeeding, there are a few that can be dangerous for the baby. It helps, however, to take the medication just after you nurse rather than just before. Most over-the-counter medications are compatible with breastfeeding, but play it safe by consulting a trusted health care professional.
Read more here about medicines during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding No-No's
There are very few reasons a health care professional would advise against breastfeeding, but there are some situations when bottle feeding must be seriously considered.
Breast implants or breast reduction surgery: Women who have these surgeries should be counseled at the time of the surgery that these procedures may interfere with their ability to produce milk or deliver the milk to the nipple. Women who have had these procedures should certainly try to breastfeed.
If you are infected with HIV or have active tuberculosis that is not being treated; have herpes with active lesions on your breasts; take illegal drugs; are addicted to prescription narcotics or have an untreated breast abscess, you must receive treatment and special counseling.
Mothers with primary herpes with active lesions (not on their breast) should discuss with their health care provider whether or not they should breastfeed.
Women with Hepatitis C should understand that it is theoretically possible to pass the infection to their infant while breastfeeding, although this has not been documented and maternal Hepatitis C infection is not considered to be a contraindication to breastfeeding.
However, women with Hepatitis B infection can breastfeed if their newborn has received the appropriate vaccine within 12 hours of birth.
Scheduled for surgery? Most moms will be counseled to store breast milk prior to surgery, pump and discard breast milk for a few days, then resume breastfeeding.
Where to get help
National Dissemination Office for Smoke-Free Families: http://www.smokefreefamilies.org. National program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Phone: 919-843-7663.
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