Breastfeeding Diet
While you may not need to be on a special breastfeeding diet while you are breastfeeding, you may need to make sure that you are eating enough good food, drinking lots of water, and getting out in the sunshine to keep you healthy.
When you're a new mum you're usually so busy looking after your baby that it can be easy to forget to eat and drink. You're sleeping less, eating less and trying to cope with this new responsibility. Let's face it, it can often take a toll on your body and your ability to function.
Breastfeeding on top of all this uses up on average 2000kj per day. That's huge!! And it's a huge amount of energy to be using up if you're not replacing it.
Generally, no matter what you eat your body will automatically pass on the best nutrients to your breast milk, the rest it keeps for you. So I guess your diet for breastfeeding might revolve around your needs, as in most cases, your baby's are automatically taken care of.
A simple, no fuss breastfeeding diet will involve drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day and eating lots of healthy food. It can be that simple!!
I know lots of mums –myself included– who would simply eat a few biscuits for lunch, hey it's quick and easy and the sugar fix usually keeps you going, right? The problem though, is that apart from being unhealthy it's not replacing any of the proteins, iron or energy that you are now passing onto your baby.
Eating from the 5 food groups will not only help you to replace the proteins and energy that goes into making your breast milk, it will also keep you healthier, happier and more able to cope.
Fresh fruits and veggies make great snacks, as does a glass of milk, yogurt and cheese. Try to eat lots of carbohydrates for breakfast like rolled oats, muesli or wholegrain toast. This will kick start your day with lots of slow burning energy, just what a busy new mum needs.
Food like chicken, fish, ham, almonds, boiled egg, lentils, baked beans and potatoes are high in protein and lots of protein goes into your breast milk so it helps to replace it.
I guess at the end of the day, while there may not be a special breastfeeding diet, as long as you eat lots of healthy food and keep a balanced diet you and your baby should be getting everything you need to keep breastfeeding and feel great.
Please always remember to consult your health professional to find out information that is relevant to your specific situation.
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