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Breastfeeding soups: vegetable, meat, fish soups
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Can a nursing mother eat soups? This question is quite obvious, because young mothers need hot food every day. But in addition to this, such food should also be healthy for the child. Therefore, it is necessary to understand which soups should be preferred during lactation. [ 1 ]
Benefits of vegetable soups during lactation
To achieve active and good breastfeeding, the mother must eat healthy, well-balanced food. Hot soup before breastfeeding is known for its properties to increase lactation, that is, increase breastfeeding. [ 2 ]
Hot soup containing nutritious ingredients when consumed before breastfeeding increases blood circulation in the blood vessels, which results in increased milk flow. [ 3 ] Protein-rich soup enriched with nutritious fresh ingredients is essential for maintaining health for every part of the body. Thus, the level of essential vitamins, minerals and folate in breast milk will depend on the mother’s nutrient intake. Nutritious soup also provides energy for milk production.
Soups provide the necessary level of fluid. Breast milk consists of 87.2% water. Therefore, to enhance the lactation function, it is necessary to drink enough fluids, including hot soups.
Mothers who are vegetarians can also successfully breastfeed their babies if there is adequate intake of plant protein from a variety of sources in the form of plant-based soups.
Every breastfeeding mother should pay close attention to her diet as it can affect your breast milk production. Your diet should include the most important food groups such as protein, calcium, iron and vitamins.
Bean soup in moderation can be very beneficial during lactation. Beans are the mature form of legumes and you can easily find them in the market in canned, frozen or dried forms. They are an excellent source of plant proteins and also contain nutrients such as iron and zinc. Vegetarians can consume bean soup as a substitute for animal protein. Beans also contain high levels of potassium, folate and dietary fiber. A nursing mother can safely prepare black bean soup throughout the lactation period. Bean soup is very beneficial for the body.
Researchers conclude that higher levels of bean consumption reduce the risk of heart disease. The phytochemical present in the ingredient helps protect your body from myocardial dysfunction.
The soluble fiber present in beans helps regulate blood cholesterol levels during lactation. Studies show that 10 g of soluble fiber per day reduces LDL cholesterol by 10%. Saponins and phytosterols play a significant role in reducing LDL cholesterol levels. [ 4 ]
After giving birth, one of the problems that haunts a mother is weight loss. The rich fiber content of beans helps to satisfy appetite and provides a constant source of energy. This helps to maintain a healthy body weight, especially after the birth of your baby.
But we should not forget that beans can increase fermentation in the mother, and then in the child. Therefore, by drinking bean soup, you reduce the amount of beans themselves, and the liquid helps to properly absorb the beneficial properties of beans.
Some types of beans can cause allergic reactions and migraines in women. In such cases, the mother should immediately remove the specific type of bean from her diet. [ 5 ]
Some types of beans, such as soybeans, can interfere with the absorption of vitamin D, B12, and beta-carotene. When you cook beans at high temperatures, the components of the beans can sometimes become inactive and initiate vitamin absorption. Therefore, bean soup must be cooked properly. Therefore, always try to use canned beans and rinse them thoroughly with tap water several times. This will speed up the cooking process while maximizing the amount of nutrients.
If you want to use uncooked beans for soup, try soaking the beans in water overnight. When making soup, boil the beans in water for at least 2-3 minutes and drain. This helps remove the indigestible carbohydrates from the beans and reduces gas. Adding herbs such as fennel, lemon balm, or cumin to your bean soup can help prevent flatulence.
Pea soup is one of the healthiest vegetable soups. Like most vegetables, peas can help meet your daily fiber needs. A 1/2 serving of pea soup contains 4.4 grams of fiber. Fiber also lowers blood cholesterol. In general, women need 21-25 grams of fiber per day.
Eating pea soup can also improve your heart health. In addition to fiber, peas also contain lutein. Lutein is a carotenoid like lycopene. It primarily acts as an antioxidant, protecting your cells from oxidation. Lutein and vitamin A in peas also protect your eyes. Lutein, a natural plant pigment, is concentrated in the eye, and its antioxidant activity can protect you from cataracts and macular degeneration by preventing oxidation. Vitamin A helps maintain eye health. A 1/2-cup serving of peas contains 1,610 IU of vitamin A, which is 32% of the daily value for vitamin A.
Peas can also help you meet your iron needs while breastfeeding. A ½ cup of pea soup contains 1.2 milligrams of iron. Not getting enough iron reduces your oxygen supply, which can make you feel tired and reduce your ability to concentrate.
A 1/2 cup of cooked pea soup contains 2 grams of protein and 0.4 grams of total fat. Protein and fat are important nutrients, just like carbohydrates. The protein in foods like peas is used to boost your immune system and make hormones and enzymes. Your body also uses the fat in food as an energy source. Fat is needed to maintain cell membranes and helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins. You should get 10 to 35 percent of your calories from protein and 20 to 35 percent of your calories from fat.
Cooked peas will also help you meet some of your vitamin and mineral needs, including vitamin C, folate, and potassium. You need vitamin C to repair tissue while nursing. It’s also an antioxidant that protects your cells from free radical damage. Folate is a B vitamin that helps create new cells. Breastfeeding women need enough folate for their babies. Potassium is a mineral needed to build protein and muscle, and it also helps control the acid-base balance in your body. [ 6 ]
Therefore, pea soup should be in the diet of every nursing mother. But it should be taken into account that the presence of this dish can increase colic in young children.
Mushroom soup during lactation can be very beneficial and can also affect the well-being of the baby. [ 7 ] B vitamins are important during lactation because they help you use energy from the food you eat, and they promote healthy skin, nerves, and digestion. Mushrooms are a good source of B vitamins, especially riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid. One serving of mushroom soup has 8% of the daily recommended amount of riboflavin for lactating women and 21% of the recommended amount of niacin. Studies have shown that mushrooms boost immunity and promote weight loss [ 8 ], [ 9 ]
Vitamin D is another important nutrient because it is needed so that your body can absorb calcium from the intestinal tract and for the development of your baby’s bones and teeth. Very few food sources contain vitamin D, and mushrooms are the only plant food that contains the vitamin. Most children are deficient in vitamin D, so they should take this supplement.
Anemia during breastfeeding can cause anemia in the baby. This means that the new mother's body also requires additional iron, as iron is an important component of hemoglobin. It can be difficult to get 27 milligrams of iron in your diet, but one serving of mushroom soup has 8 milligrams of iron.
Another nutritional benefit of mushroom soup while breastfeeding is the antioxidants it provides. Selenium found in mushrooms helps protect your cells from free radical damage and boost your and your baby’s immune system. The fiber in mushrooms, along with other high-fiber foods, can help prevent constipation, which is common in babies in the first few months of life.
Why mainly mushroom soup? Mushrooms are considered heavy food for a young mother. Therefore, they should be cooked well. Mushrooms in soup can be considered an excellent option. Champignon soup for a nursing mother can be considered the lightest type of food of all types of mushrooms.
Sorrel soup provides a large amount of vitamins and minerals. Eating sorrel also poses some dangers, so understand the potential risks to your health before including it in your diet.
You can use either French sorrel or garden sorrel to make the soup, although French sorrel produces a milder, lemony flavor while garden sorrel has a more sour taste.
Sorrel soup is low in fat. Most of the calories in this soup come from carbohydrates, with 6.5 grams per serving. You also get 2.3 grams of protein. One serving is an excellent source of vitamin A.
But sorrel soup consumption may be limited for some nursing mothers because sorrel contains high amounts of oxalic acid, the main component of kidney stones. You may need to avoid sorrel if you are prone to developing these stones. In addition, it can also increase the synthesis of stomach acid, which can worsen heartburn, and also has a diuretic effect. If you have any symptoms when consuming sorrel soup, you should remember that such soup is not recommended.
When making sorrel soup, do not use cast iron or aluminum cookware because the oxalic acid in this green state reacts with metals to produce a metallic flavor in the sorrel, making it inedible. When aluminum is used, the acids in this food can become potentially toxic.
Cabbage soup during breastfeeding has a low vitamin content, and at the same time can increase the formation of colic in your baby. Since cabbage in soup or borscht is subject to heat treatment, the amount of vitamins there is less than in raw cabbage. Therefore, of course, cabbage soup can be eaten during lactation, but its benefits are not so significant. [ 10 ] ]
Rassolnik soup is considered one of the varieties of soups that contains cabbage. But the cabbage used in this soup is pickled or salted. Such cabbage can increase the fermentation processes in the intestines. Therefore, rassolnik soup is not recommended during lactation.
Benefits of Meat and Fish Soups During Lactation
Meat and fish are the main sources of healthy proteins for a nursing mother, as well as sources of energy. Soup with meat or fish can be an excellent dish for a young mother. Since boiled meat and fish contain a sufficient amount of vitamins and are not harmful to the baby, they must be included in the diet. Fish should be in the diet of every nursing mother, at least twice a week. Since it is not only a source of phosphorus and calcium, but also amino acids, fish dishes are very healthy and nutritious.
Fish soup is considered a nutritious food and is considered a particularly good dish for nursing mothers as part of the postpartum diet. Although there is concern among mothers that contaminants present in fish may leach into the soup, which may pose a risk to their baby, but in our region such fish is practically not used in the diet.
Fish contains high-quality proteins and many essential nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids. Therefore, moderate consumption (including by breastfeeding women and young children) of various fish is recommended. Fish broth is a delicious, vegetarian alternative to bone broth that offers a surprising array of health benefits.
One of the most important and unique benefits of fish soup for nursing mothers is iodine, which is essential in your diet.
When it comes to intelligence, fish soup is a powerful brain food in every sense of the word. It provides a mix of fats, vitamins and minerals that are perfect for keeping your brain in tip-top shape. So fish soup made from white sea fish varieties is a must-have and an indispensable dish.
Canned soup is sometimes considered an alternative to fish soup. However, these are not quite identical concepts. Canned food is a processed fish product that contains a lot of oil. Fish in this form also contains protein, but the amount of vitamins is less. Due to the oil content, canned soup can be fatty. Therefore, when lactating, it is better to give preference to boiled fish or fish soup made from fresh fish.
Chicken soup for new nursing mothers can be the number one way to maintain the health of all organs and provide energy needs for both mother and baby. Chicken broth or soup can obviously be part of a healthy diet and has certain benefits for nursing mothers. A very nutritious and healthy food, the soup is made by combining ingredients such as chicken and vegetables. Chicken soup is usually made with chicken meat and chicken parts with a high ratio of flesh to bone. Chicken broth is made mainly from chicken parts that have a very low ratio of flesh to bone. Water, vegetables, herbs and salt are the ingredients that are common to both soup and broth. Onions in the soup provide the benefit of antioxidants that reduce inflammation and act as antihistamines. It contains a protein complex of calcium, sulfur and vitamin A, B, C and E. They contain sulfur compounds and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, onions add not only flavor to the soup but also health benefits, and allergies to onions are almost non-existent.
The main and most beneficial ingredient in chicken soup is the protein in chicken. It helps to strengthen your strength when your body feels low on energy and also in between feedings.
Chicken soup has been shown to inhibit the production of neutrophils, white blood cells that eat bacteria and cause inflammation. These are the cells that rush to attack an invading virus. This is important because while neutrophils kill pathogens, their antimicrobial products damage host tissue. It also inhibits white blood cells that cause an inflammatory response (causing sore throats and mucus production), which clears congestion and facilitates the flow of nasal secretions. Chicken soup can also be used in this capacity to prevent viral illnesses during the season. [ 11 ]
Chicken soup or broth contains nutrients such as protein, calcium, phosphorus, which enhance the activity of the immune system. This increases the body's ability to fight infections. During times of poor health, the digestive system becomes sensitive and is unable to effectively absorb nutrients from food. Chicken broth provides nutrients in a form that can be easily absorbed from the intestines. It provides easily digestible calories, vitamins, and therefore some of the body's nutritional requirements during breastfeeding can be maintained. Vegetables and herbs can be added to chicken soup for fortification. These ingredients add flavor and micronutrients needed for better functioning of the body's systems.
Although chicken soup has numerous health benefits, there are some disadvantages as well, especially when you are breastfeeding.
Although chicken soup provides good micronutrients, it may not be enough. Including vegetables and herbs will increase the nutritional value of chicken soup. For example, dill in soup adds a lot of useful elements. It contains two components that provide unique health benefits: volatile oils and flavonoids. The activity of dill volatile oils qualifies it as a “chemoprotective” food – a food that can neutralize certain types of carcinogens. Sometimes your baby may have an allergy, but it may not be a reaction to the soup in general, but to one component of it, such as carrots in the soup or dill. This is something that mothers should take into account, and if the child does not have any negative reactions to this product, then chicken soup is considered a healthy food and can be included in the daily diet.
Cheese soup can be a very tasty dish, but during lactation it is not so useful. Different types of cheese contain calcium, the amount of which can reach significant numbers. When cheese is subjected to heat treatment, calcium can be destroyed, and fats are formed that can irritate your intestines. If you combine low-fat cheeses with vegetables, for example, with broccoli, you can get a very tasty cheese soup. Therefore, you can eat cheese soup, but reduce the amount of harmful products in it by adding more vegetables. [ 12 ]
Lentil soup for a nursing mother is considered the most useful soup made from legumes. Lentil soup is a healthy option and contains many nutrients. One serving of lentil soup contains 163 calories.
Lentils are a healthy source of carbohydrates, a macronutrient that your body converts into glucose, which provides energy during lactation. Each serving of lentil soup provides 26.7 grams of carbohydrates. This soup is a good choice for protein; one serving provides 8 grams of protein, which is consistent with the recommended daily intake of 46 grams for women. Lentil soup has 11.1 grams of fiber. Fiber benefits your digestive system by preventing diarrhea, constipation, and diverticulitis. [ 13 ]
One serving of lentil soup meets almost all of your daily iron requirements. Women require more iron each day when nursing their baby. A serving of this soup contains 16.2 mg of iron, which helps in the production of red blood cells and is essential to help you maintain and prevent anemia in both mother and baby. This soup also contains potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and pantothenic acid.
While the fat content of lentil soup is not excessive, you do consume 6.9 grams of fat per serving. You can cut down on the fat by choosing low-fat varieties of broth.
Lentils help lower blood cholesterol levels because they contain high levels of soluble fiber. Lowering cholesterol levels reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke by keeping your arteries clear.
Lentils are also a great source of folate and magnesium, which contribute greatly to your baby’s heart and nervous system health. Folate reduces homocysteine levels, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. Magnesium improves circulation, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body.
Of all the legumes and nuts, lentils contain the third highest level of protein. 26 percent of lentils' calories come from protein, making them a great source of protein for new moms.
Milk soup during lactation can be more beneficial than it seems at first glance. Calcium in milk really helps us not only to create strong bones, but also strong, healthy teeth. Protein in milk can give us an extra boost of energy and help us feel fuller longer. Potassium in milk helps maintain stable blood pressure. Vitamin A promotes a strong immune system. Vitamin D and phosphorus also help with bone strength. Vitamin B12 helps to create red blood cells. These are all undeniable benefits, but there is one “but”. If you are breastfeeding a baby for the first three months, then you should give up milk, as the risk of colic in the baby increases. [ 14 ]
Rice soup can be consumed during breastfeeding and is considered a dietary product. Especially if the child has functional diarrhea, eating rice soup in the diet can cure this problem. Rice soup contains a large amount of selenium. One of the main roles of selenium in the body is the recycling of vitamin C, which ultimately increases antioxidant protection. Rice soup contains a large amount of dietary fiber, which can help in losing weight. Rice soup instantly activates the body due to the high concentration of carbohydrates. Different types of wild rice stimulate neuroprotective enzymes in the brain that inhibit the action of free radicals and other toxins. [ 15 ] Phenolic compounds, especially in brown or wild rice, have anti-inflammatory properties, so they are also good for soothing irritation and redness. [ 16 ] Therefore, rice soup can be considered the least allergenic product. [ 17 ]
Soups for a nursing mother should be a must-have dish, since hot food not only provides energy potential, but also stimulates normal bowel function. Before choosing a dish, you should understand which soup will be most useful for the mother and the child, and which one is better to refuse during the lactation period.