Keeping mom and baby health during breastfeeding

As you can imagine, the subject of feeding an infant is a hot topic here at Luna Lullaby.  To go along with products like our award winning breastfeeding pillows, our desire is to help new parents learn more about caring for their children – and one of the questions new mom’s most often have is “What can I eat while breastfeeding?

Let’s start with some good news – there are very few restrictions about what you can eat while breastfeeding! In general, as long as you have a varied diet, you can most likely eat whatever you like.

However, there are some good general suggestions regarding your diet that you may want to keep in mind:

• Drink lots of water. Breast milk is over 85% water, so it can be easy to get dehydrated.
• Avoid carbonated beverages. Carbonated beverages are usually higher in sodium, so it’s best to stay away from these. This includes sparkling water!
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine. These chemicals can get into the breast milk and are unhealthy for babies.
• Whole grains are a great choice. Whole grains are healthy in general, and the fiber found in these foods can help with constipation that many women experience while breastfeeding.
• Fruit, fruit, and more fruit. The great thing about fruit is that it is a good source of many vitamins, water, and fiber, so it’s helpful in many ways.
• Fish that are high in omega-3 acids, including salmon from the ocean and rainbow trout. Be careful, though, to avoid any fish that may be high in mercury.
• Drink your milk! Make sure that you are getting enough calcium. Both pregnancy and breastfeeding have been shown to draw calcium from women’s bones, so it is important to give your body the extra calcium it needs at this time.

While these tips are a great place to start when deciding what to eat while you are breastfeeding, in reality, you have a lot of flexibility. As long as you are eating a sufficient amount and avoiding harmful substances, your body should produce nutritious milk for your infant.

However, if you have any questions, health issues or dietary restrictions, make sure to consult with your doctor or nutritionist before starting on any type of diet changes.