Breastfeeding diet

Most women, experiencing restrictions in food during pregnancy, are also forced to be selective in their choice of food products when breastfeeding. The diet during breastfeeding is usually quite strict, because, according to many experts, all the substances that the mother eats are passed on to the baby with milk.

The nutrition of a nursing woman should be complete and varied, and at the same time easily digestible and hypoallergenic. In addition, many young mothers already from the first days of the postpartum period think about how to lose the kilograms accumulated during pregnancy without harming the child. How to combine all the listed requirements? And how to correctly compose a diet that would meet all the norms of the lactation period?

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The essence of the diet during breastfeeding

Breast milk is a complete nutritious liquid, the first food for a baby. The quality of milk, its content and taste directly depend on the principles of the mother's nutrition. It is for this reason that a diet is necessary during lactation.

What is the main essence of dietary nutrition?

• The menu of a nursing mother should be balanced, rich in vitamins and microelements.
• To avoid problems with the baby's tummy, the mother should eat fewer carbohydrate foods, as well as foods that cause increased gas formation.
• The most strict stages of the diet are the first month of the baby's life. During this period, the baby's digestive tract improves and the bacterial flora in the intestines is established. After about 3-4 weeks of age, the mother's menu is allowed to be gradually expanded, paying attention to the baby's reaction.
• Breastfeeding and drinking alcohol are incompatible. The same applies to products with dyes, preservatives, stabilizers and other synthetic additives.
• When going to the grocery store, a nursing mother should carefully read the ingredients on the label. If the product contains large quantities of any chemical components and substitutes, it is better to refuse it.

What should you not eat while breastfeeding?

• all types of cabbage;
• legumes;
• raw fruits;
• red vegetables;
• whole milk;
• dark breads;
• coffee and strong black tea;
• smoked foods and hot spices;
• large amounts of salt;
• mushrooms;
• canned goods;
• eggs (no more than 1 per day);
• garlic, onion;
• honey;
• sweets, creams, biscuits;
• watermelon.

What can you eat while breastfeeding?

• still water, rosehip tea;
• boiled and baked dishes, as well as those cooked in a steamer;
• oils (butter or vegetable);
• sour cream, cottage cheese;
• soy sauce;
• green;
• potato;
• all types of cereals;
• roots;
• vermicelli;
• bananas;
• dry biscuits (biscuits, crackers), rusks, pretzels;
• lean meat, fish.

It is preferable to cook low-fat soups, porridges, stewed vegetables. For dessert, you can bake fruits or eat cookies. Let us remind you: a strict diet should last about one month, after which the diet should be expanded. It is important to carefully monitor the baby and his reaction to a new product in the mother's menu. If the child has diathesis or flatulence, this means that such a product should be temporarily abandoned.

Diet for weight loss while breastfeeding

It often happens that a woman wants to lose weight after giving birth without interrupting breastfeeding. Is it possible to do this? Of course it is, but it is important to immediately specify what is absolutely forbidden:

• starve;
• take diuretic or laxative pills, as well as slimming teas;
• follow a mono-diet, or a very limited low-calorie diet.

It is important to remember: if a nursing mother is starving, then her baby is also starving, since the milk no longer contains enough useful nutrients. Moreover, with a strict diet, many mothers completely lose breast milk, as a result of which the baby has to be transferred to formula.

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Breastfeeding Diet by Month

In the first month after birth, the following products are allowed:

From the first to the tenth day:

• baked apple;
• porridge on water (rice, buckwheat, millet, etc.);
• banana;
• vegetable soup;
• green tea, possibly with rose hips;
• vegetable oil;
• butter no more than 15 g/day;
• chicken fillet.

From the eleventh day you can add:

• fermented milk products;
• sea fish;
• whole wheat bread;
• potatoes;
• vermicelli;
• vegetables (boiled or steamed);
• green;
• dried fruits;
• biscuits, crackers, pretzels.

In the first month after childbirth it is not recommended to consume:

• fresh milk;
• soups with fatty meat;
• strong coffee;
• heavy cream;
• raw fruits or vegetables (except banana);
• fresh baked goods;
• alcohol.

From the second to the third month you can add:

• fresh tomatoes;
• seasonal vegetables and fruits in raw form;
• walnut;
• veal, rabbit meat;
• berry compotes;
• cream.

Not recommended:

• fresh milk;
• coffee;
• alcohol.

From the fourth to the sixth month we add:

• honey in small quantities;
• spices and seasonings;
• onions.

Not recommended:

• fresh milk;
• alcohol.

After the sixth month, you can gradually add to your diet:

• seaweed;
• garlic;
• beans, peas, lentils.

Throughout the entire period of breastfeeding, it is better to avoid sweets, chocolate, canned foods, carbonated and instant drinks, ice cream, store-bought sauces and ketchups, fast food and semi-finished products.

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Breastfeeding Diet Menu

As an example, we provide a sample menu for a breastfeeding diet:

• For breakfast we have yogurt (without additives) with biscuits or a handful of walnuts.
• For a second breakfast, a cottage cheese casserole with green tea is suitable.
• We have lunch with a light cream soup, a piece of fish with a vegetable side dish.
• For an afternoon snack – kefir, banana or apple.
• We have stewed vegetables, pasta, or porridge for dinner.

It is advisable to drink some fermented milk product at night – kefir, fermented baked milk, yogurt.

The menu can be changed at your discretion, using the permitted products from the list. The main thing is to avoid overeating. If you want something from the "forbidden" list, you can eat it, but just a little. And do not forget to monitor the baby's reaction.

A nursing mother's diet involves eating five or six times a day, more often is possible, but the portions should be smaller accordingly.

Breastfeeding Diet Recipes

Despite the impressive list of prohibited products, you can combine your diet so that all the dishes in it will be both tasty and healthy. The main thing is to include imagination when cooking.

Lazy vareniki recipe

Ingredients:

• half a kilo of cottage cheese;
• flour;
• one egg;
• a little salt.

First of all, we prepare the dough from cottage cheese, salt, and egg. We add flour, as they say, “as much as it will take” to make the dough elastic enough. We form a sausage and cut it into small pieces. We bread them in flour so that they do not stick together.

Cook the dumplings in salted boiling water, then place them in a bowl with butter and sour cream. If desired, you can sprinkle with sugar or drizzle with honey.

Cheese Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

• one onion;
• one carrot;
• 100 g butter;
• some parsley;
• processed cheese 100 g;
• crackers;
• salt and pepper to taste;
• water.

Finely chop the onion, grate the carrots on a fine grater. Fry the onion and carrots in butter and transfer to a saucepan with boiling water.

Grate the cheese, melt it in boiling water and add it to the soup. Salt and pepper to taste. After boiling, add parsley and pour into plates. You can sprinkle some croutons on top.

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Zucchini casserole recipe

Ingredients:

• two medium zucchini;
• flour for breading;
• four medium potatoes;
• 300 ml kefir;
• 150 g grated cheese.

Cut the zucchini into circles, bread them and fry them in a frying pan, first on one side, then on the other.

Cut the potatoes into circles, spread them on a baking sheet, add salt and a little kefir. Put the zucchini in the second layer, and also add a little salt and kefir. Repeat this several times. Sprinkle the top with grated cheese and put in the oven until done (about 30-40 minutes). Enjoy!

Recipe for liver balls

Ingredients of the dish:

• five potatoes;
• two raw eggs and two boiled ones;
• 2 tablespoons flour;
• 0.5 kg chicken liver;
• 2 onions;
• salt and pepper to taste.

Chop the onion, fry, add the liver and simmer. After 15 minutes, add the chopped eggs, salt and pepper. Simmer until done, then use a blender to turn into a homogeneous mass.

Prepare mashed potatoes, mix in flour, eggs, salt and pepper.

Form small flat cakes from the puree, put a spoonful of fried liver mixture in the middle and roll into a ball. Then the balls can be fried in sunflower oil, or cooked in a steamer or baked in the oven. When serving, it is advisable to sprinkle with cheese or herbs.

Almost all women know that there is a diet for breastfeeding. Nutrition is changed in order not to harm the growing child - to avoid colic, flatulence, diathesis and other unpleasant moments. In addition, proper nutrition will help you lose weight without harming the health of both the nursing mother and the baby.

What do nutritionists advise about this?

Most experts believe that a mother who breastfeeds should not think about diets at all. It would be smarter if a woman simply eats properly, fully, without overeating and "eating away" the feeling of fatigue, without abusing sweets and fatty foods. It is advisable to eat every 2.5-3 hours, a little at a time. A fasting day can be planned no more than once a week (but at the same time, in no case should you starve).

If you follow these simple recommendations, then a young mother will be able to lose weight. The fact is that breastfeeding requires about 700 kcal per day from a woman. If you add to this the energy costs of rocking, walking with a stroller, as well as ordinary household chores (washing, ironing, cooking, etc.), then you get full-fledged physical activity that requires nutrition from food products. All this is more than enough to lose weight, and at the same time eat correctly and varied.

Strict diet during breastfeeding

As we have already said, a strict diet during breastfeeding is not welcomed. However, it is sometimes prescribed, but there are certain indications for this.

For example, if a baby is born with a practically closed main fontanelle, then doctors advise sharply limiting the consumption of dairy products and other products with a high calcium content.

If a child is found to have a tendency to allergic reactions, then a strict diet is prescribed in order to prevent the development of diathesis in the baby.

In any case, the decision to follow a strict diet is made not by the mother (for example, to lose weight), but by the pediatrician, and even then only in exceptional cases.

A woman needs to eat rationally and balanced (within the list of permitted foods) if she wants to have a healthy child and maintain lactation.

Hypoallergenic Diet During Breastfeeding

A hypoallergenic diet is used in cases where a baby is predisposed to developing allergic reactions. This nutritional principle can also be used by women who want to avoid the development of diathesis in their baby, or who suffer from allergies themselves.

The hypoallergenic diet consists of the following recommendations:

• food should be taken half an hour or an hour before feeding the baby, so each mother adjusts her diet to the baby's feeding schedule;
• it is necessary to drink at least 3 liters of water per day (if there are no problems with edema and kidneys);
• New products should be introduced into the diet gradually, 50 g every two days, while monitoring the child’s condition.

What foods are not recommended for a hypoallergenic diet:

• sugar, sweets;
• salt, salted and pickled foods, store-bought sauces and canned goods;
• semi-finished products, fast food;
• raw vegetables and fruits;
• animal fats, dairy products;
• eggs;
• oatmeal;
• nuts, honey, jam, dried fruits;
• chocolate, coffee and coffee drinks;
• compotes, fruit drinks, juices;
• dark breads, bran.

It is necessary to carefully study the composition of all food products used in food. The presence of chemical additives in the list is a reason to refuse this product in favor of another, more natural one.

Dukan Diet During Breastfeeding

Some women use the Dukan diet to lose weight after childbirth - this is a widely known way of eating, with a predominant consumption of protein foods and a limited amount of carbohydrates.

The advantage of such a diet is that there is practically no feeling of hunger, and the result is expected to be fast and stable. The disadvantage is that it is quite a big load on the kidneys, which were already overloaded during pregnancy.

Dukan recommends that nursing mothers skip the first two stages of the diet and immediately proceed to the third stage – the stage of consolidation of the result. According to this strategy, the negative impact of dietary restrictions on the baby is minimized.

In addition to skipping stages, the nutritional principles for nursing women have several exceptions:

• you can eat two servings of fruits and berries in one day (instead of one);
• protein fasting days are cancelled (with the regular Dukan diet they are held every Thursday).

The following are permitted:

• low-fat dairy products;
• lean meat products;
• eggs;
• seafood, including fish;
• any vegetables except potatoes;
• whole wheat bread;
• fruit and berry mix (except banana and grapes);
• vermicelli;
• cereals and legumes.

When choosing products for cooking, do not forget to pay attention to the child’s well-being – some of them can cause allergies in the baby.

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Energy Diet during breastfeeding

Weight loss with Energy Diet cocktails is quite popular. But many young mothers are interested in whether it is possible to use such cocktails to lose weight during breastfeeding? After all, many products that are consumed can harm the baby.

It is no secret that one of the reasons for weight gain during pregnancy is a sharp change in hormonal levels. Stabilization of hormone levels after the birth of a child occurs over the course of six months, and for some women even longer. It is the increase in hormone levels that often affects the increase in appetite: both during pregnancy and breastfeeding, overeating and a constant feeling of hunger are often observed. Is it possible to pacify this condition?

Energy Diet manufacturers claim that such cocktails are simply a treasure trove of vitamins and other substances necessary for the body, which will support the health of not only the mother, but also the baby.

For successful weight loss, a specially developed program "Balance" is used, this is the use of one dose of the cocktail per day instead of one meal. This approach will not disrupt the metabolism, not use fasting and malnutrition, provide the body with useful components of Energy Diet.

There is only one limitation: you should not choose cocktails that contain caffeine.

Also remember that when breastfeeding, the use of any nutritional supplements and medications should be agreed with your pediatrician.

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Japanese Diet for Breastfeeding

The principle of the Japanese diet is a significant reduction in the caloric content of the diet, mainly due to easily digestible carbohydrates.

The diet lasts 13 days. It is assumed that during this time you can lose 7-8 kg and maintain this result for a long time. Whether this is true or not, we will not say.

Weight loss occurs by eliminating sugar, salt, sweets, flour and alcoholic beverages from the diet.

However, nutritionists strongly advise against this diet for breastfeeding women. The daily caloric content of such a diet is too low, which can lead to suppression of lactation, and will also have a negative impact on the child. In addition, the list of products from the proposed menu (and it is necessary to adhere to it) is not at all suitable for nursing mothers. For example, the diet involves daily coffee instead of breakfast - you must agree, this is not very healthy, especially during this period.

Therefore, it is better to eat right and lose weight through an active lifestyle.

Protein Diet During Breastfeeding

What is a protein diet? As the name suggests, the amount of protein consumed in the diet is increased many times over, while the proportion of fats and carbohydrates is significantly reduced. Of course, there can be no talk of a balanced diet here. As a result, there is a sharp restructuring of metabolic processes, a carbohydrate-fat "hunger" is created, which contributes to fairly rapid weight loss.

You can't continue this diet for a long time: it will lead to deterioration of the skin, hair and nails, anemia and decreased performance may develop. If you eat mainly protein foods for more than two weeks, kidney function may be seriously impaired, and cholesterol levels will increase, vascular tone will worsen, and blood clots may form. Therefore, there are many contraindications to following such a diet. These include old age, diseases of the venous system, kidneys and digestive tract. Of course, such a diet is also not suitable during pregnancy and lactation.

In pregnant women, the load on the kidneys increases several times, since it is necessary to filter not only the mother's blood, but also the developing child in the womb. If, instead of giving the kidneys a rest, the body is loaded with a large amount of protein food, this can lead to extremely negative consequences. Therefore, it is better to refuse this method of losing weight.

Diet for colic during breastfeeding

Colic occurs to varying degrees in almost all infants. The mother's task is to make sure that colic is less pronounced and does not bother the baby so much.

As we have already said, the composition of breast milk largely depends on what the nursing mother eats. And if the diet contains foods that can cause increased gas formation, then the risk of colic in the child increases several times.

What are these products that it is advisable to avoid?

• Black bread (for example, Borodinsky).
• Whole milk.
• Any cabbage, both fresh and cooked.
• Beans (beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, mung beans).
• Grape.
• Fresh apples.
• Radish.

In principle, in order to avoid increased gas formation, nutritionists do not recommend eating any raw fruits and vegetables. It is better to cook them first: boil, bake, stew, etc.

It is also necessary to combine products correctly. For example, it is better not to eat fruits with protein foods, and vegetables with milk, etc. There are even special product compatibility tables, where all possible and undesirable combinations are carefully described.

If the mother eats properly, but the baby still gets colic, then perhaps the problem is not with the diet, but with the fact that the baby is not latched on to the breast correctly.

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Diet "Minus 60" during breastfeeding

The diet menu according to the "Minus 60" system is designed for gradual weight loss. It does not provide for long fasts, and there are significantly fewer restrictions here. This allows you to slowly but surely lose weight without denying yourself practically anything.

The essence of the diet is that high-calorie food is allowed only in the morning, that is, before noon. After that, there is lunch and a light dinner before 18-00. Sugar should be limited, but in the morning you can eat almost everything except milk chocolate. Hunger and fasting days are not expected.

The Minus 60 nutrition system is effective, complete, and easily tolerated. For these reasons, it can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. True, you will have to be patient: body weight decreases rather slowly, but steadily.

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Protasov's diet during breastfeeding

Protasov's diet involves avoiding salt and sugar. The diet should consist mainly of raw vegetables and low-fat dairy products.

Experts note that in general the diet is quite good, but it is better to avoid it during pregnancy, breastfeeding and childhood.

The fact is that the system proposed by Protasov does not cover the body's needs for proteins and fats, and the main permitted products do not contain a sufficient amount of the amino acids necessary for the baby. Many vitamins are absorbed only if there are fats in food, so a fat deficiency can also lead to insufficient vitamin intake. With a high probability, such a diet will negatively affect the composition of milk and the health of the nursing mother and baby.

Protasov's diet is especially undesirable in the presence of any diseases of the digestive tract, due to the abundance of raw vegetables in the diet. This can cause an exacerbation of chronic diseases and the emergence of health problems.

The 6 Petals Diet During Breastfeeding

"6 petals" is essentially a series of mono-diets that alternate over six days. Every day, the emphasis is on a certain food product:

• first day – fish;
• second day – vegetables;
• third day – chicken;
• fourth day – cereals;
• fifth day – cottage cheese;
• sixth day – fruits.

The creator of this diet promises to lose approximately 4 kg in 6 days, however, after the end of the diet, it is recommended to adhere to dietary restrictions for another week.

Nutritionists strongly advise against following mono-diets, especially for nursing mothers. Therefore, the "6 petals" diet is not the best option when breastfeeding. Moreover, before using it, it is advisable to undergo an examination for the absence of diseases of the digestive and urinary systems, so as not to harm the body.

Low Carb Diet While Breastfeeding

The basis of a carbohydrate-free diet is proteins and fats, which should to some extent compensate for the carbohydrate deficiency.

As we know, carbohydrates are the main source of energy for humans. If you cut back on their intake, the production of insulin, which helps form a fat layer in the body, decreases. As a result, fat is consumed, which leads to weight loss.

However, before going on a diet while breastfeeding, it is advisable to consult a nutritionist. Why?

With increased consumption of fatty foods with minimal intake of carbohydrate products, the body loses moisture, which leads to weight loss, but can provoke kidney disease. In addition, fluid loss can lead to the fact that breast milk will be produced in smaller quantities.

High protein content contributes to the formation of kidney stones and also inhibits the production of sex hormones.

In addition, a lack of carbohydrates provokes a deficiency of serotonin, the hormone of pleasure. As a result, a nursing mother may experience mood swings, nervousness, absent-mindedness, and irritability.

Experts' conclusion: Of course, when breastfeeding, you should limit your consumption of sweets. But you shouldn't give up carbohydrates completely. The body needs energy, and a nursing mother usually has an increased energy requirement.