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- Diet of a nursing mother
Diet of a nursing mother
13.02.2025
Author: obstetrician-gynecologist (head) of the obstetric physiological department, highest qualification category Dvornik E.V.
An important condition for maintaining full lactation throughout the entire period of breastfeeding is proper nutrition for the nursing mother. The main thing in the diet of a breastfeeding woman is variety and balance, and no special diet is required.
Mandatory components of a nursing mother's diet are:
- cellulose. Its main sources are porridges: rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, pearl barley. Fruits and vegetables are initially best consumed in processed form: stewed, boiled, baked, or in the form of baby purees. It is better to add fresh fruits and vegetables to the menu only after you are sure that they are well tolerated by mother and baby in heat-treated form.
- milk and fermented milk products, while it is better to focus on fermented milk products (kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk), as they are easier to digest and contribute to the formation of proper intestinal flora. We must not forget about cheeses and cottage cheese, butter. In addition, it is better to eat low-fat foods, since milk fats are used by the body to build new cells, create hormones and for many other purposes.
- meat as the main source of protein and easily digestible iron. It is better to eat meat boiled, baked, stewed, or in the form of canned meat for children. Preference should be given to low-allergenic types of meat: rabbit, turkey, lean pork. Beef and veal, like fish, should be added to the diet gradually, with caution. Products such as sausages, sausages, and ham are best avoided.
- drinking regime. A nursing mother needs to drink at least 2.5-3 liters of liquid per day, and you can drink drinking water, unsweetened juices, fruit drinks, compotes, weak tea and coffee, special teas for lactation.
For successful long-term breastfeeding, it is better to exclude all types of alcoholic beverages from the diet, raw or semi-cooked meat, fish, eggs, canned food, and limit caffeine to 200 mg per day. Strong allergens that nursing mothers should avoid in their diet, especially in the early stages, are: nuts, honey, citrus fruits, chocolate, seafood (squid, octopus, mussels, scallops, crabs, crayfish, shrimp, red fish).
It is worthwhile to dwell specifically on the nutrition of women who have undergone a cesarean section. After surgery, food should be as delicate and gentle as possible. During the first few days, it is preferable to refuse any food, but drink a lot of liquid, mainly drinking water without gas. On the second day, the basis of the diet should be low-fat chicken broth; in the evening you are allowed to eat canned meat for children. Starting from the third day, it is necessary to gradually increase the calorie intake, but follow the principles of a gentle diet. The diet includes porridges, casseroles, lean boiled meat, compotes, and fruit drinks. In this case, it is better to eat food in small portions every 2-3 hours. By the 6th day after surgery, you can switch to your usual diet, the main thing is to exclude foods that can cause gas formation: fresh fruits and vegetables, flour products.