The good news about breastfeeding
is that you don’t have to eat specific foods to make high quality breast milk for
your baby. Mothers from all over the world, eating many different diets, have
all been nursing successfully for thousands of years. However, a healthy,
balanced diet will increase the quality of your breast milk and will help you
as well. Nutritious foods help you to heal from childbirth and give you more
energy to meet the needs of your growing baby.
Breastfeeding is when an infant receives only breast milk
without addition of water, foods and supplemental formula.
For many women, breastfeeding proceeds with no difficulty and
a plentiful supply of milk, along with comfort and ease for infant and mother.
On the other hand breast feeding can be more
difficult with varying challenges such as lack of adequate milk, pain,
difficulty in getting the baby to suckle, fatigue, and medical problems of
either baby and mother.
There are no specific foods to eat that will stimulate
production of breast milk, but there are things that can help with milk
production. More important than what you eat is how your baby eats.
When a baby is properly positioned, well attached and sucking
effectively, the longer a baby nurses at the mother’s breast the more milk will
be produced. This is the single most important way to increase the mother’s
milk production.
From the diet and nutrition point of view, there
are two important factors critical to breast milk production. The first one is
to take enough fluid. The fluid to take does not have to be milk only, but also
water and juice.
It is very important to take enough water during breast
feeding periods. Drinking sufficient fluids may not make the mother produce
more milk, but is important in replenishing lost fluids.
It should be noted that feeding a baby may take an extra 500
calories per day. Women that go on restricted diets in an attempt to lose
weight while they are breast feeding may be eating too few calories, which
leaves them fatigued and without the energy necessary for optimal milk
production.
However, it should be noted that some drinks are not good for
the mother to take during breast feeding periods. Beer is harmful to the baby’s
life and babies too do not like to take alcoholic breast milk that in turn
results in less stimulation to the breast. Ultimately, this means a decrease in
milk production.
Stress can negatively affect milk production.
Mothers need to eliminate unnecessary chores, and perhaps relax the standards
for tidiness.
Caffeine stimulates milk production, but the problem is that
caffeine finds its way into breast milk and large amounts can affect the health
of the baby. Caffeine stays in baby’s system longer than in an adult’s, which
will prolong its effect. Caffeine can make the baby irritable as well as
interfere with his sleep.
One cup of coffee or a soda is not a problem, but in large
quantities for example five or more cups of a caffeinated beverage a day is not
good. The best prescription for maximum milk production is effective and
frequent breastfeeding or milk expression, plenty of fluids, adequate calories
and rest.
Nutritional demands on the physiology of a mother breast
feeding a baby is important or even more important than during the pregnancy.
Continuing a well balanced diet with extra calories and protein for example 400-500 Kcal a day more is fundamental,
along with adequate fluid intake and a prenatal vitamin.
A mother’s milk does reflect the specific fatty acids found
in her diet. Thus, a diet of healthy oils including fish, ground nuts, and
cow’s milk is important. Some herbs such as Fennel and Fenugreek have
been found to improve on the quality and quantity of the breast milk supply.
Fennel has the advantage of not only increasing the breast milk, but easing
after pains and settling the digestion of the mother. For the new baby it helps
to dispel gas and treat some diseases found within intestines.
Fenugreek does not only improve lactation (breast feeding
period) but also promotes digestion and stimulate the appetite, while also
improving the taste of breast milk.
Also to mention are herbs known as nettles and raspberry that
encourage a greater supply of breast milk and supply a source of trace minerals
and vitamins to enrich the milk.
Additionally, herbs such as blessed thistle and borage seed
oil and flower tops encourage the supply while helping the mother with
postpartum moods and settling the nerves.
Blessed thistle is a bitter herb useful for liver function
and digestive problems as well as increasing the flow, richness of breast milk.
This herb does not only increase milk flow but also help to bring normal sleep
for the infant.
