Medical expert of the article
New publications
Meat and offal during breastfeeding
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Meat and offal during breastfeeding should definitely be in the diet of nursing mothers. But there are cases when the consumption of such products should be limited or, on the contrary, their quantity should be increased. Considering all the nutritional properties of such products, young mothers need to know when such products should be limited.
Benefits of Meat During Breastfeeding
When a woman breastfeeds her baby, she needs more nutrients to stay healthy and make breast milk good for the baby. It is very important for breastfeeding women to maintain a proper balanced diet.
A healthy diet includes eating a variety of foods from the main food groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy products (like cheese and yogurt), and meat. Eating well while breastfeeding will ensure that you stay healthy and that your baby grows and develops normally. However, there are some foods that breastfeeding women should avoid as they may cause problems for the baby. While eating deli meats is safe while breastfeeding, it is important to consider their nutritional value. Meat is one of the most common foods during lactation. After all, the likelihood of problems due to deli meats during lactation is very small.
Women who breastfeed require nearly twice as much protein as women who do not breastfeed. Because protein is an important component of breast milk, consuming plenty of protein can help maximize milk intake, which will help optimize your baby’s growth and development. Choosing healthy, safe, high-protein foods at each meal or snack can help you meet your protein needs while you are lactating.
The recommended daily intake of protein for breastfeeding women is 71 grams per day.
If your diet meets the minimum protein requirements, the amount of protein in breast milk will likely be sufficient to meet your baby's needs. Along with protein, meat also provides essential amino acids, which aid in digestion. Since our bodies cannot produce these amino acids on their own, they must come from food. Animal protein is usually high quality, containing all 8 essential amino acids, which are essential for the growth and maintenance of baby's health.
Meat products, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, soy products, dairy products, nuts and seeds are rich sources of dietary protein. For example, one serving of beef or chicken provides 20-30 grams of protein. What kind of meat is better to choose and can a nursing mother eat pork? Meat, such as pork, is mainly made up of protein. The protein content of cooked beef ranges from 26-27%. The amino acid profile of pork is almost identical to that of our own muscles. For this reason, eating pork can be especially beneficial when breastfeeding. But this type of meat can be somewhat fatty. The amount of fat in beef depends on the trim level and age of the animal, breed, sex and feed. In addition to adding flavor, fat significantly increases the calorie content of meat. Therefore, it is necessary to cook pork correctly and choose the right meat that is not too fatty.
A nursing mother can eat chicken instead of pork. In terms of protein content, this type of meat is not inferior to beef. In addition, chicken is considered a more dietary meat. Chicken contains a large amount of zinc, which helps to increase immunity. Due to its antioxidant properties, zinc is responsible for the creation of antibodies to fight free radicals. Protein, also obtained from meat, helps in the production of these antibodies to protect the body from infections.
Iron is one of the key minerals that helps ensure proper blood circulation and oxygen transport to all cells. And various types of meat are a good source of iron. Iron deficiency can lead to serious health problems and is initially recognized as weakness, lack of concentration, and fatigue. Anemia can occur in the mother after childbirth, as well as in the child due to various reasons. Therefore, in such cases, the amount of meat that the mother should consume should be increased to replenish iron reserves.
The inclusion of essential fatty acids and nucleotides found in meat helps in the cognitive and brain growth of your little one. This helps with the child’s attention span and cognitive development later on. Chicken, turkey, duck, pork, lamb, rabbit – all these types of meat have these beneficial components. But remember that while frozen and canned meat products may be convenient to prepare, nothing beats fresh meat.
The benefits of meat are very clear, but can a nursing mother eat lard? Lard restores a woman's body after childbirth, since its chemical composition contains a unique acid that is necessary for the functioning of many organs and the production of hormones. You can also note the high content of acids and minerals necessary for the body. Lard can certainly be considered a healthy product, but given its fat content and the content of "unhealthy" fatty acids, it is best to exclude this product, at least in the first six months of breastfeeding.
[ By-products during lactation
Many people wonder if a nursing mother can eat liver. Liver is a food that has positive as well as negative effects on your baby’s development. Liver has many nutrients that are good for the health of both mother and baby. It contains: iron, vitamin A, protein, folate. Protein and folate are important for maintaining your baby’s growth, iron ensures adequate hemoglobin formation in the blood. Another benefit of liver is its vitamin D content. Vitamin D is normally produced by the skin when it is exposed to sunlight, but many breastfed babies are at risk of deficiency because infants are often protected from the sun. Since vitamin D deficiencies can cause rickets, adding liver to the mother’s diet can help prevent this disorder in breastfed babies.
Liver contains high levels of cholesterol, which is dangerous for the mother first and foremost. But given that cholesterol is not a very good fatty acid, the baby does not need it either.
Liver contains a high concentration of vitamin A. Vitamin A in the liver is in the form of retinol. Excessive consumption of the vitamin in this form can lead to problems in the child. The exact amount of retinol found in different sources will vary. For example, beef liver will have a higher degree of vitamin A than chicken liver. But even in small quantities it can cause harm due to the form in which it is found. Therefore, if you really like liver, then it is recommended for a nursing mother to eat chicken liver. It is considered less harmful and more dietary. A nursing mother needs to cook the liver properly so that it does not contain harmful substances. Before cooking, you need to soak the liver for several hours in cold water, and then stew it, avoiding frying. This will reduce the amount of harmful fats.
Can a nursing mother eat chicken hearts? This can be a great alternative for those mothers who do not eat liver. After all, chicken hearts are very close to liver in their composition, but they contain less vitamin A and cholesterol. Therefore, their use is even more welcome than including liver in the diet.
The benefits of meat for the baby and mother during breastfeeding are undeniable. But is it also useful to eat processed meat products? Can a nursing mother eat sausages, cooked sausage? On the one hand, these are meat products that have been processed and can be safe in terms of bacteria content. But given such processing, the meat content and benefits in sausages or sausages are reduced. In addition to the low amount of protein, such products contain preservatives, many of which can affect the child. Therefore, it is certainly necessary to give preference to fresh meat that you have prepared yourself. Both the nursing mother and the child will like it more.
Can a nursing mother eat mayonnaise? Mayonnaise is a product made from egg yolk mixed with vegetable oil, lemon juice, or vinegar. The protein and lecithin in the egg yolk act as emulsifiers in mayonnaise. Mayonnaise, consumed in limited quantities, can be beneficial to health. One tablespoon of mayonnaise contains 1.77 milligrams of vitamin E. Vitamin E helps maintain blood sugar levels, reduces the likelihood of respiratory problems in the baby and mother in the future. This product also contains vitamin K. Vitamin K is important in the postpartum period, as it helps in blood clotting and prevents excessive bleeding. Your baby also needs vitamin K for its development.
However, mayonnaise should not be mistaken for a healthy food during breastfeeding. It contains high levels of fat and other harmful elements, and it does more harm than good. Mayonnaise is high in calories and can lead to excess weight gain.
Therefore, it is better to avoid such a product even throughout life, and especially during lactation.
Healthy eating is the way to have a healthy baby. The foods you eat while breastfeeding will have a direct impact on how your baby develops. Meat is always an irreplaceable product that a nursing mother should definitely include in her diet. As for store-bought meat products and offal, it is better to consume them in limited quantities.