Nutrition During Lactation

The nutrition needs of a nursing mother are much more, because the kind of nutrition she consumes, will determine the quantity and quality of milk that will directly affect the health of her baby. The food that the mother consumes not just fulfills her nutritional requirements, but is also used in the production of milk. A nursing mother produces 23 to 27 ounces of milk per day and thus, there arises a need to consume 500 extra calories per day. Read further to explore information about nutrition during lactation…

The nutrition for nursing mothers plays a vital role in defining the quality of breast milk. There is a possibility that the nursing mother might have a healthy baby, despite the fact that she had not fed herself properly, but then that is likely to happen often at the detriment of the mother's health itself. It is during the time of lactation that the body makes milk production as its first priority, leaving the nursing mother deprived of nutrition.

Here are some nutrition guidelines for the nursing mother:

It is during lactation that the nursing mothers tend to feel thirstier, owing to the fact that part of their water consumption is utilized by the body for the formation of milk. It is here where it becomes necessary to increase your water intake by one quart per day, so that you are drinking a total of 2.5 to 3 quarts.

You should increase your calorie consumption to about 2500 calories per day and opt for healthy foods that are rich in nutrients required by the body.

Eat more of protein rich foods. The basic rule says that you should eat I gram of protein each day for every pound you weigh.

Eat multiple small meals. Follow a five-meal routine: breakfast, lunch, after- noon snack, an extra snack during the evening and dinner.

There is a need to keep away from tobacco, as there is likelihood that the nicotine might get transferred into the child's body through breast milk.

Say no to alcohol, as alcohol can retard the growth of your baby.

It is recommended to consult your doctor before taking any kind of medication.

It is advisable for the nursing mother to continue taking her prenatal vitamins.