Your Guide to Good Health During Breastfeeding

1. Your Guide to Good Health During Breastfeeding A very important phase of a woman's life is motherhood. At the very beginning, when things change, a lot of tips from here and there are showered on how to maintain a good diet post childbirth including what to eat and what not to eat. Although not a lot of major changes are required to be done, but there are a few important considerations to be kept in mind. A diet well balanced: A diet for breastfeeding mother should definitely be well balanced and should contain adequate amounts of nutrients to nurture the health of both the mother and the baby. One of the wonderful things about breast milk is that it can meet your baby's nutritional requirement even when you are not eating properly. However, this does not mean that you have an option to eat inadequately because a diet too low in calories could affect the quality and quantity of your milk. Drinking milk is also a very important aspect post pregnancy owing to the strength requirement. It is a good idea to opt for health drinks to add to your glass of milk. They add a number of vital nutrients such as Iron, Calcium, Iodine, Folic Acid, Zinc, Magnesium and other vitamins and minerals to your body. Also, even if certain dietary lapses won't affect your baby's health they sure will affect you. It is important to keep up a good diet so as to provide the body enough energy to meet the demands of caring for a new baby. It is good to feel a little extra hungry when lactating because your body is working round the clock to make breast milk for your baby. Eating small meals with a few snacks in between is a good way to keep your hunger in check and your energy levels high.

2. Don't worry about the calories: There is no numerical value that can be attached to the calorie count for a feeding mother. However, it is a general observation that breastfeeding moms need around 500 more calories than moms who are not. A number of individual factors such as weight, the amount of exercise you get in a day, metabolism and the number of times you are breastfeeding decide your need for food in the day. Healthy foods: A balanced diet can only be achieved by adding variety to the table. Eating a mix of carbohydrates, proteins and fats keeps the body up and running for longer. It also lets you maintain a different taste every time. So, have something you did not eat yesterday. Stay away from contaminated food: Eat only seasonal fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating out especially at roadside eating joints. Go for lean meat and remove the extra skin before cooking. Drink only mineral water while breastfeeding to avoid the inclusion of a lot of unwanted chemicals in your diet. The diet for feeding mother has to be balanced and keeping the above listed points in mind will help you keep up your good health. However, there are a few other points that you can follow for an even better lifestyle. - Drink plenty of water and limit your caffeine intake - Keep taking your vitamins - Go easy on the alcohol - Choose good fats