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Cereals, porridge and flour when breastfeeding
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Breastfeeding is a very important period in the life of a woman and her child. The health of the baby and the condition of the mother herself often depend on how much and what kind of cereals, porridges and flour products are included in her diet during breastfeeding.
Cereals and porridges during breastfeeding
Cereals and healthy porridges prepared from them are a source of complex carbohydrates that provide the body with energy, vitamins, micro- and macroelements, as well as fiber - dietary fiber that ensures the normal functioning of the entire digestive system and the state of the intestinal microflora. The optimal amount of porridge consumed during breastfeeding is considered to be 150 g per day.
It is important to keep in mind the speed of carbohydrate breakdown in the stomach: simple carbohydrates are considered "fast" (digested in a short period of time), complex ("slow") carbohydrates are absorbed much longer and provide complete satiety, satisfying the feeling of hunger. So it is better to consume complex carbohydrates.
- Can a nursing mother eat buckwheat?
Buckwheat is not a grain, and you can and should eat it while breastfeeding. In addition to carbohydrates, proteins and fiber (naturally, not containing gluten protein), buckwheat contains essential polyunsaturated fatty acid ω-3; amino acids; B vitamins; tocopherol (vitamin E), which promotes the production of the hormone prolactin. This cereal also contains enough magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese and zinc.
- Can a nursing mother eat rice?
Despite the presence of amino acids, nutrients (especially potassium) and B vitamins, rice cereal has little dietary fiber and a lot of starch. Therefore, a nursing mother should eat rice with caution - so that she and, accordingly, the baby do not get constipated. In addition, when women gain excess weight during pregnancy, they should give up rice porridge and rice side dishes for some time - so as not to gain weight during lactation.
- Can a nursing mother eat millet porridge?
Millet (millet grains) is a very healthy cereal, including for nursing mothers. A small portion of millet porridge with butter for breakfast can provide satiety for half a day, since millet (which is a slow carbohydrate) is digested in the stomach for a long time, but is completely absorbed.
This cereal is rich in fiber and proteins, many microelements and vitamins (A, B6, PP, etc.), contains essential amino acids. And those who treat millet porridge with disdain simply do not know how to cook it! Millet "loves" when it is thoroughly washed (on the 5-6th time - almost with boiling water), cooked for a long time and on low heat.
A nursing mother with a healthy stomach, who does not suffer from constipation and does not have problems with thyroid hormones in the form of hypothyroidism, can eat this porridge a couple of times a week.
- Can a nursing mother eat corn porridge?
Well-cooked corn porridge can be consumed during lactation, but only occasionally: this porridge is considered heavy for the stomach and can cause excessive gas formation. The main benefit of corn grits is its low calorie content and the presence of iron, phosphorus and vitamins (A, E, PP and group B). But if you have stomach problems, you should not eat corn porridge.
- Can nursing mothers eat pearl barley?
Pearl barley (polished barley) consists of almost 80% dietary fiber; more than 60% carbohydrates, slightly less than 10% proteins; of the vitamins, it contains the most niacin (PP), thiamine (B1), pyridoxine (B6) and choline (B4); a high content of phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, and of the microelements - iron and zinc.
Barley also contains enough essential amino acids (tyrosine, methionine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, arginine, etc.). Barley (and its crushed version – barley groats) are considered a lactogenic product, but its consumption can cause constipation in a nursing mother and colic in a baby.
- Can a nursing mother eat semolina porridge?
Semolina is made from wheat (by grinding), so it has a lot of gluten and little fiber. And its simple carbohydrates are very high in calories, and it is not recommended for overweight nursing mothers to eat semolina porridge.
In addition, due to the presence of calcium-magnesium salt of phytic acid (phytin) in semolina, frequent consumption of semolina porridge can lead to a decrease in the level of calcium and zinc in the body.
Flour during breastfeeding
Everyone knows that flour products should be limited as much as possible during breastfeeding, especially white yeast bread and baked goods.
- Can a nursing mother eat bread?
Fresh bread made from wheat flour, baked from yeast dough, provides fast carbohydrates and a lot of extra calories, so its maximum daily amount should not exceed 150-200 g. In some cases, such bread will have to be abandoned, as it can cause bloating in the mother and flatulence in the newborn.
Nutritionists recommend eating wholemeal bread, dry bread, as well as malt bread and black rye bread (which contains enough B vitamins). However, rye bread is allowed if the nursing woman does not have increased stomach acidity.
- Can a nursing mother eat buns?
And also – can nursing mothers eat bagels? In both cases, this is a rich dough, not recommended during lactation due to the large amount of sugar, which will add fat deposits to the mother, and can lead to the already mentioned flatulence in the baby.
- Can a nursing mother eat cookies?
Cookies come in different varieties, and a nursing mother can eat biscuits rather than sweet cookies.
- Can a nursing mother eat oatmeal cookies?
It is not forbidden to eat a couple of pieces, but you should constantly monitor the condition of the child's intestines: if the cookies eaten by the mother harm the baby, then he will start to have colic (he will cry and pull his legs up to his stomach).
- Can a nursing mother eat crackers?
Why? Firstly, the technology of their baking leads to the decomposition of carbohydrates, which were originally in the flour. Secondly, they put flavorings and many other things in them (read on the packaging).
- Can a nursing mother eat gingerbread?
To gain a couple more kilograms? And to avoid intestinal problems in the baby, you can do without gingerbread…
- Can a nursing mother eat pasta?
Pasta made from durum wheat flour - with a minimum of gluten - can be consumed by a nursing mother, but of course not every day and in small portions.
Useful information in the article – Menu for breastfeeding.
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What should you not eat while breastfeeding?
Detailed answers to many questions regarding dietary restrictions during lactation are given in the material - Diet for a nursing mother
But some of them are worth paying attention to. For example, can a nursing mother eat beans, and can a nursing mother eat lentils? Beans, lentils, peas and all other legumes are products that cause flatulence, so while the mother is breastfeeding, they should not be in the diet.