Diet while breastfeeding

introduction

Breastfeeding is a very special phase for both the newborn and the mother.
It is well known that breastfeeding has a positive influence on the development and health of the child, but how does the diet affect breast milk? And what should you watch out for when you are breastfeeding?

Read more on the topic: Breastfeeding - All You Need To Know

What nutrition is particularly good for my baby when breastfeeding?

There is no specific diet that must be followed while breastfeeding. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet is important for the health of the baby and mother. A whole food diet with sufficient carbohydrates, fats and proteins is recommended. A very strict vegan diet should be avoided.If it is not possible to do without this diet, sufficient vitamins and iron should be substituted so that there are no deficiency symptoms.

Fresh fruit, vegetables and high-quality carbohydrates such as wholegrain pasta, brown rice or wholemeal bread are highly recommended. The general recommendations for moderate meat and fish consumption are also recommended during pregnancy. High-quality oils, such as rapeseed and olive oil, are preferable to animal fats. Dairy products such as yogurt and cheese should not be removed from the menu either.
Unhealthy foods such as fried foods, sweets, and fast foods, as in general, are not recommended. It is also very important to avoid alcohol.

Read more on the subject: Behavior during breastfeeding

These foods are recommended

For a healthy diet while breastfeeding, these foods are recommended:

• Fresh fruit
• vegetables
• whole grain products
• High quality oils such as rapeseed and olive oil
• Iron and calcium rich foods (fish, meat, eggs, dairy products)
• Enough liquid!

One should avoid that

A balanced and nutrient-rich diet should be observed during breastfeeding. A vegan diet is not recommended as the baby can develop deficiency symptoms. Pediatricians recommend that the following substances should also be avoided while breastfeeding.

• nicotine
• alcohol
• Caffeine (no more than 2 cups of coffee)
• Strict diets
• Food combining

Alcohol while breastfeeding

In general, you should refrain from consuming alcohol while breastfeeding. In particular, high and regular consumption of alcohol leads to reduced milk flow and changes in the composition of breast milk.
Alcohol should therefore only be consumed on special occasions, if at all, and ideally immediately after breastfeeding, so that the interval between the next breastfeeding meal is as long as possible. Some sources argue that consuming less or a glass of wine a day has no negative consequences for the infant, but the majority of paediatricians completely advise against alcohol consumption.

Read more on the topic: Alcohol while breastfeeding

How important is a healthy diet for mother and baby?

Diet is primarily important for the health of the nursing mother. The child's health is also strongly influenced by diet and, above all, by the intake of toxins such as alcohol or nicotine.
Therefore, a healthy diet and the avoidance of such noxious substances are very important, especially when breastfeeding. The consequences of malnutrition in the mother are also clearly noticeable for the child. The milk production is restricted and the child does not receive important nutrients.

Special foods

Can raw meat be eaten while breastfeeding?

During pregnancy you should avoid raw meat due to the risk of infection with toxoplasma. This infection, which can also be caused by cats, can lead to serious and irreversible damage to the unborn child. However, this risk no longer exists during breastfeeding, which is why there is no need to do without raw meat.

Raw meat, for example in the form of tartar or a steak, perishes quickly, so it should be eaten quickly after purchase. Sufficient cooling must be ensured during short storage. The consumption of raw meat, especially spoiled meat, can lead to gastrointestinal infections in the mother, which are not dangerous for the infant but very restrictive breastfeeding.

Can you eat spicy food while breastfeeding?

Many women avoid spicy foods while they are breastfeeding for fear of harming their child. But it doesn't have to be.
Hot spices are not harmful to the health of babies. In fact, some foods and spices can cause sore bottoms in babies, but this should be tried out. If a mother has the feeling after a particularly spicy meal that her child could not tolerate it, she can simply leave out the food or the spice. However, a complete waiver in advance is not necessary

Can you eat raw milk cheese?

Raw milk cheese should not be eaten during pregnancy, as should raw meat and products that contain raw eggs. However, it is safe to consume raw milk cheese while breastfeeding.
During pregnancy, women are particularly susceptible to infection with listeria, which is mainly caused by the consumption of products containing raw milk. This can lead to complications in the unborn child. However, this risk no longer exists during breastfeeding, so that the raw milk cheese can be consumed again.

Can you drink coffee while breastfeeding?

Small amounts of coffee, about one to two cups a day, are safe when breastfeeding. There is no need to take a break between consuming coffee and the breastfeeding session.
However, large amounts of coffee can be problematic as small amounts of caffeine pass into breast milk. This can lead to hyperactivity in the infant and difficulty falling asleep. Therefore, the amount you drink should be reduced to one or two cups a day if possible. The same also applies to drinks containing caffeine, such as cola or iced tea.

Read more at: Coffee during breastfeeding- what you need to consider!

Flatulence while breastfeeding

Flatulence while breastfeeding can be due to a number of causes. It often takes a few weeks or even months after a pregnancy for the woman's physical condition to return to normal. Temporary digestive disorders are not uncommon in this context. If you suffer from flatulence, you should avoid foods that promote this as much as possible.

Dairy products are often the cause of flatulence. Fast food, high-fat foods or fried foods can also promote flatulence. Fruit juices, spicy foods, legumes and whole grains should also be skewed in moderation as they also promote gas. Furthermore, some vegetables, such as cabbage or asparagus, but also onions and mushrooms, have a flatulence effect.

As a nursing mother, you should therefore pay attention to whether the flatulence occurs after eating certain foods and if necessary avoid or reduce them. Contrary to some assumptions, flatulence foods that the mother eats do not lead to flatulence in the breastfed child.

Read more on the topic: Flatulence while breastfeeding

Can you eat vegan while breastfeeding?

A vegan diet is not recommended during breastfeeding as it can lead to deficiency symptoms in infants. A vitamin B 12 deficiency, in particular, can lead to permanent neurological damage. Zinc, iron and calcium are also often greatly reduced in people who follow a vegan diet.

Even if many vegans try to prevent a deficiency situation through a balanced diet, this is very difficult to do while breastfeeding. If the mother cannot make up her mind to at least consume animal products in the form of eggs and milk, important vitamins and trace elements must be substituted.

How should you eat to lose weight while breastfeeding?

Many mothers want to finally lose the excess pregnancy weight after the end of their pregnancy and childbed. However, this should not be achieved through strict dieting during pregnancy. A sufficiently nutrient-rich diet is very important, especially during breastfeeding, which is why diets are not really recommended.

Rather, one should try to lose weight through a healthy diet and light exercise. The physical training should be adapted to the regression of pregnancy. If the pelvic floor is weak, for example, you should avoid lifting heavy weights. Pelvic floor exercises, yoga and light endurance training, on the other hand, are highly recommended.

Avoiding sweets, fatty and fried foods and drinking at least 2 liters of water or unsweetened tea a day is the best way to lose weight.

Read more on the topic: Lose weight while breastfeeding

Why is my baby getting a sore bottom?

There is no scientific evidence that certain foods lead to a sore bottom in children. Therefore, a general avoidance of foods such as tomatoes, fruit, onions or cabbage, which are often suspected, is not justified. They are important sources of vitamins and nutrients and should therefore continue to be included in the mother's diet.

If the child has a sore bottom, it is much more advisable to observe when the symptoms occur. If it is related to the consumption of a certain food, the mother can simply leave it out. If the symptoms improve, the food can simply be avoided or reduced a little.

However, such intolerances are usually of a short nature, so that a complete waiver is not particularly useful. After a while you can try to eat the food again. If the infant recurs, it can be left out for a longer period of time. A general waiver should not be practiced, as a balanced diet is very important for the mother's health.

Read more on the topic: Problems during breastfeeding in the infant