What should lactating women pay attention to in their diet?

Breast milk is the best gift a mother can give to her baby. Breast milk is the best food for the baby's growth, development, and digestive system. The diet of lactating women is directly related to the health of the baby and the mother. Only when the mother takes in enough nutrition can the nutritional content of breast milk be guaranteed. The diet of lactating women is very important. Many mothers think that the baby has been born and don't care about their diet. Let's learn about what lactating women need to pay attention to in their diet.

Breast milk is the ideal food that best suits the growth and development needs and digestive ability of infants. The mother's proper nutrition is directly related to the health of both the mother and the baby. Only when the mother takes in adequate nutrients can the quality and quantity of breast milk be guaranteed. Breastfeeding mothers should pay attention to the following aspects in their diet:

1. Heat energy: The heat energy requirement of a nursing mother is about 25% higher than that of a normal woman. During the lactation period, women should increase their heat intake by 800k on the original basis. Malnutrition can directly reduce milk production.

2. Protein: Insufficient protein supply in the mother’s diet will affect milk secretion and put the mother in a state of negative nitrogen balance. On top of the normal protein intake, breastfeeding mothers should increase their protein intake by 25g per day.

3. Lipids: Lipids are related to the development of infant brain, especially lipids are particularly important for the development of the central nervous system. Essential fatty acids can increase milk secretion, so mothers should eat more vegetable oils that are high in essential fatty acids.

4. Inorganic salts: Among them, calcium, iron, copper, zinc and iodine are the most noteworthy for nursing mothers. Because it is easy to lack these substances at this stage. For example, zinc. If the mother is malnourished in the first three months after delivery, the zinc content in her breast milk is significantly lower than that of a well-nourished mother.

5. Vitamins: Many vitamins consumed by breastfeeding mothers play an important role in maintaining the stability of breast milk nutritional components, maintaining the health of breastfeeding mothers and promoting milk secretion. For example, VB1 has the function of promoting mammary glands to secrete milk. Others such as VB2, VA, VD, and VC also play very important roles.

What should new mothers not eat during breastfeeding?

1. Foods that inhibit milk secretion: such as leeks, malt water, ginseng and other foods.

2. Irritating things: The diet after childbirth should be light. Do not eat irritating things, including spicy seasonings, peppers, alcohol, coffee and cigarettes.

① Alcohol: Generally speaking, a small amount of alcohol can promote milk secretion and has no effect on the baby; if it is excessive, it will inhibit milk secretion and affect uterine contraction, so you should drink less or not drink it.

②Coffee: It can excite the human central nervous system. One cup of 150 ml coffee contains 100 ml of caffeine. It is best for normal people not to drink more than 3 cups a day. Although there is no evidence that it is harmful to infants, breastfeeding mothers should drink it in moderation or stop drinking it.

③Condiments that are too stimulating, such as chili peppers, should be used in moderation by breastfeeding mothers.

3. Fried foods and high-fat foods: These foods are difficult to digest and are high in calories, so they should be consumed in moderation.

4. Cigarettes and tobacco: If a breastfeeding mother continues to smoke while breastfeeding, nicotine will quickly appear in the breast milk and be absorbed by the baby. Studies have shown that nicotine has adverse effects on the baby's respiratory tract. Therefore, it is best for breastfeeding mothers to quit smoking and avoid inhaling secondhand smoke.

5. Medicine: For breastfeeding mothers, although most medicines will not affect the baby at normal doses, it is still recommended that breastfeeding mothers should actively tell their doctors that they are breastfeeding before taking the medicine on their own, so that the doctor can prescribe suitable medicines and choose medicines with shorter duration to minimize the amount of medicine that passes through breast milk.

In addition, if a mother takes medicine after feeding her baby breast milk, she should feed the baby when the concentration of the medicine in the breast milk reaches the lowest, so that the baby will be safer.

6. Allergic conditions: Newborns may sometimes experience some allergic conditions. Postpartum mothers may wish to observe whether the baby’s skin has rashes and evaluate their diet as a reference for early detection and early treatment. Therefore, it is recommended that postpartum mothers breastfeed and avoid eating any food that may cause allergies in the baby.