The Right Breastfeeding Diet for Women
If a woman thinks that everything about pregnancy ends the moment the baby is delivered, then there is something wrong about her beliefs. As such, if pregnancy is demanding enough, in terms of dietary requirements, it is even more so by the time a woman is breastfeeding. As such, it is very important for a woman to keep watch over her diet when she is breastfeeding because she is the sole source of nutrition for her baby. Because of this, a woman must eat the right kinds of foods in order to give the best nutrition to her baby
Breastfeeding Essentials
Before we get into the best breastfeeding diet, we must first state the following vital elements to ensure breastfeeding is indeed beneficial for a woman and her baby:
1. A woman must make sure that she has enough energy to keep up with the demands of her baby. Essentially, breastfeeding involves a process where the baby takes its nutrition from its mother. As a result, if a woman does not have enough energy, she may easily give in to the task of breastfeeding. To make sure a woman has enough energy, it is necessary to eat a lot of carbohydrates. However, one must avoid or take as little sweets as possible. This will only elevate the blood sugar level of both mother and fetus.
2. To make sure that the baby will get the right kind and amount of nutrition, a mother must make sure to give these first to herself so she can pass them on to her baby.
3. One must avoid gaining too much weight. This is not only intended to avoid falling into any of the problems obesity brings, but also to make sure a woman will remain healthy once she decides breastfeeding is finished.
Proper Breastfeeding Diet
Every woman is eager to give her breastfed baby nothing but the best food there is. The following are things that must be included in a breastfeeding mom’s diet.
1. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. However, one must avoid taking carbonated drinks or alcoholic beverages. Drinking plenty of fluids will ensure a woman will not become dehydrated while breastfeeding. If one cannot drink too much water, supplement it by eating a lot of soup. Boiling a few pieces of the leaf of leguminous plants is a good source of liquids.
2. One must make sure to provide her body with enough calcium to keep her immune system strong and to provide a very essential nutrient to her baby. As such, cheese, milk, soy, spinach, and asparagus are other great sources of calcium.
One must also eat a lot of foods rich in carbohydrates. This is important, not only to provide the body with a good source of energy, but it allows mother to make sure she has enough food intake for energy to sustain the demands of breastfeeding.
