A Must Read Healthy Lactation Diet For Expecting Mothers

A Must Read Healthy Lactation Diet For Expecting Mothers: Expectant mothers start thinking of feeding the baby well before they deliver. With a vast majority of health care providers/ lactation consultants suggesting that breast feeding is the best option, to be and new mothers have multiple questions on lactation diet. These range from –

• What should I eat to produce enough milk for my baby?
• What should I avoid in my diet to ensure that my baby is not colic?
• If I don’t lactate is it alright to give my baby bottle feed?

Well, if you are not lactating, it is alright to give you baby bottle feed. At Kanupriya, we have consulted with many new mothers who are not lactating sufficiently or at all on bottle feed.

Having said that, if you are lactating then it is good to know that breast milk, in any quantity, is wonderful for babies. Some studies suggest exclusive breast feeding for the first six months while some lactation consultants suggest that introducing food at three months maybe alright. Bottom line is that breast milk remains the best meal for the baby for at least the first three months.

What makes breast milk the first universal suggestion is that it contains all nutrients that a baby needs for its growth and development, from proteins to fats to calories and minerals. These nutrients pass from the mother to the child. So here are some sample food groups that help understand a new mother’s healthy lactation diet.
A thumb rule to keep in mind is that when breastfeeding, you need 400-500kcal extra per day. Now coming to the food groups –