What should a breastfeeding mother eat and drink? Research findings have established that a breast feeding mother needs to eat a balanced diet, including vegetable, fruits and cereals. However, they need not eat any food they dislike or avoid their favorite dish for fear of decreasing milk production or affecting their baby. Excessive or moderate eating of any food items also does not make any difference, provided the mother does go on a fasting spree.
Drinking milk is advisable to suckling mothers, if they want it. But it does not increase the quantity of breast milk. In-take of spicy foods, beverages, or fast foods does not affect the breast feeding mother or child in any manner. Same is the case with alcohol and smoking. What is important is that the mother eats a normal and healthy diet. If proper breastfeeding techniques are followed, the mother’s diet does not affect her milk production or the health of the baby.
Many mothers in the habit of drinking alcohol, coffee, or tea are worried about the quality of their milk and the health of their baby. The same is true with regard to suckling mothers with smoking habits. Researches have suggested that a reasonable use of these items do not affect the breastfeeding mother or the baby. Any ill-effects arising due to these habits are often neutralized by breastfeeding. In other words, breast feeding is good for the mother and baby, even if the mother is a moderate smoker and drinker. Regardless of whether the mother is able to quit her habits, it is better to breast feed the baby rather than bottle-feed it.
It is healthy for the mother and baby if she eats and drinks according to her appetite. Eating more or less does not affect milk supply or quality. The mother should not make matters more complicated by trying to adhere strictly to the rules brandished by the so-called experts on eating. She must eat and drink as much as she wants or less and what ever she likes. Only a mother’s body can tell her how much she needs to drink and eat. She must pay heed to the demands of her body than blindly believing the warnings of the dieting doomsayers.
Posted on January 29th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Baby, Breastfeeding, Toddler
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