DIET FOR BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS If you are a breastfeeding mother, you probably have ample questions about your diet — what needs to change, what you should and shouldn’t eat, and how much to eat, so on and so forth. In this article, we’ll tell you about diet for breastfeeding mothers which will help them stay healthy.
STAY HYDRATED Breastfeeding every 2–4 hours can be dehydrating. Make it a habit to drink 8–10 glasses of water every day to stay hydrated.
3 NUTRITIOUS MEALS A DAY Breastfeeding uses up calories, thus new mothers should have 3 regular meals and 2 to 3 light snacks a day as part of their lactation diet. Do not skip meals, particularly breakfast.
LIMIT FOODS HIGH IN SUGAR AND FAT Cut down on high fat and high sugar foods like potato crisps, chocolates, cakes and soft drinks. These foods are full of “empty” calories and have very less nutritional value.
AVOID “DIETING” DURING BREASTFEEDING Dieting during breastfeeding might reduce the quantity and quality of your milk. To lose your pregnancy weight, limit the intake of foods that are high in fat and sugar and add some moderate exercises like brisk walking or swimming 3 times a week.
When you take a healthy and nutritious diet, it helps to replace the nutrients that your body loses through breastfeeding and ensures that your breast milk is as nutritious as it can be for your child.