Nutrition and breastfeeding
To breastfeed or not to breastfeed?
If you are pregnant, you are
probably thinking about how you will feed your bundle of joy as soon as it is
born. The loud and clear message from the vast majority of doctors is that breastfeeding
is the best source of nutrition for your baby's development.
“Exclusive breastfeeding for approximately the
first six months of a child's life, then breastfeeding in combination with
complementary foods until at least 12 months of age, and continued
breastfeeding for as long as mother and child mutually desire it.
What are the nutritional benefits?
While we continue to see low
rates of breastfeeding in the United States compared to most other parts of the
world, the research on the benefits of breast milk is very robust—there simply
isn't an adequate substitute for breast milk when it comes to protecting your
baby's health. health.
Breast milk contains the exact
amount of fat, sugar, water and protein your baby needs. Breast milk also
contains antibodies, growth factors, essential fatty acids, and hormones that
protect your baby from disease and help him grow at the right rate.
Breastfed babies have a
reduced risk of many childhood illnesses, including asthma, ear infections,
intestinal infections, and allergies. In addition, breastfeeding can help
reduce the risk of adult-onset health problems and diseases, such as obesity,
diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
A question that many new moms
have is whether or not to take vitamin supplements while breastfeeding. As in
pregnancy, how you eat is very important during breastfeeding: the healthier
you are, the easier it will be for you to maintain the energy needed to care
for your newborn baby.
Studies show that the higher
the nutritional value of the mother's diet, the higher the nutritional value of
milk. So, while you're breastfeeding, make sure you take care of yourself the
best you can: eat a balanced diet (you'll need around 300-500 extra calories a
day while you're breastfeeding), drink plenty of water, and as much as you can.
rest as much as possible.
Should I take a multivitamin while breastfeeding?
Many breastfeeding mothers also find it helpful to take a multivitamin, as it provides some assurance that they are getting enough nutrients to protect their health and produce quality breast milk. While many women opt for their regular multivitamin or prenatal vitamins, there are postnatal vitamin supplements specifically designed for breastfeeding women.