Breastfeeding your child can provide a long list of benefits compared to formula. It promotes healthy immune function while providing vital vitamins and nutrients to your growing baby. So just as it’s important to eat healthy during pregnancy, it’s just as important to do so during the postpartum phase if you’re breastfeeding. In addition to seeking support for breastfeeding moms, here are some tips to maintain optimal health that will benefit both you and your baby!
Up Your Caloric Intake
You’ll be amazed at how fast your metabolism works if you are breastfeeding. It’s recommended to add about 330-400 calories to your daily diet to support breastfeeding.
Stay Hydrated
Breastfeeding can deplete your body of fluids for obvious reasons, so it’s important to stay hydrated while you’re breastfeeding. Drink plenty of water and try to avoid sugary drinks and/or caffeinated beverages. If your urine appears dark yellow, it’s a good sign that you need to drink more water.
Maintain a High Protein/High Calcium Diet
It’s recommended that breastfeeding women maintain a diet rich in protein and calcium. Be sure to eat at least 3 servings of protein daily and at least 1,300 milligrams of Calcium per day. Dairy products are often rich in calcium and protein and are great additions to your postpartum diet.
Consider Allergies
If you have a history of food allergies or asthma in your family, it may be important to consider this when creating your postpartum diet plan. If you notice your baby is having an allergic reaction to your breast milk or frequent diarrhea, consult with a physician to try and identify what could be causing it.
Avoid Fad Diets
You may be anxious to shed the pounds you gained during pregnancy, but this usually happens naturally for new moms who are eating and living healthy. Breastfeeding moms in particular tend to lose the weight gained during pregnancy faster than those who feed with formula. Don’t force weight loss by adopting fad diets, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Your diet is your baby’s source of health during the breastfeeding months, so it’s very important to maintain a balanced diet, which fad diets often lack.
