What a breastfeeding mother eats will determine what she will produce?

Lactating mothers "eat for two" and not only have to complete postpartum recovery, but also secrete milk to feed the baby. In the "confinement" custom that is prevalent throughout China, the top priority is to eat meat and drink soup to ensure that the mother has adequate lactation and "nutrition".

For breastfeeding mothers, eating sometimes becomes a task: right after finishing a meal, a bowl of thick white meat soup is served in front of them... Although they can't drink it, there are always people around them saying that it is for the good of the baby, so they should eat more, and they feel that they will be sorry for the child if they don't eat.

Should breastfeeding mothers only eat thick soup?

It's not about eating more and producing more.

Can eating more meat and drinking more soup increase milk production?

Generally not. For a nursing mother with good nutritional status, the milk production within 6 months after delivery is adapted to the needs of the baby (750 ml per day on average). Eating a little more or less will not significantly affect the milk secretion. Nursing mothers lose a lot of water, so they should drink more drinking water instead of thick soup. Drinking too much soup before meals will affect the intake of other nutritious foods. Thick and oily soup will also affect the appetite of nursing mothers and cause fat indigestion diarrhea in babies.

But eating too little will indeed reduce the amount of milk. When the energy intake of a lactating mother is seriously insufficient, the amount of milk will be reduced to 40-50% of the normal amount. Therefore, mothers who are still breastfeeding should not rush to diet to lose weight!

It’s not “you are what you eat”

Does a breastfeeding mother’s diet affect the nutritional content of breast milk?

For breastfeeding mothers with good nutritional status, the nutrient content in breast milk is relatively stable, and the dietary status of breastfeeding mothers generally does not significantly affect the nutrient content in breast milk. This is because breast milk nutrition comes from three aspects: maternal food intake during lactation, mobilization of maternal reserves, and decomposition of maternal tissues (such as adipose tissue). The mother has a certain balance compensation mechanism, that is, when dietary nutrient intake is insufficient, the mother's nutrient reserves will be mobilized to maintain the constant nutrient content of breast milk. Some vitamins and minerals are more dependent on the breastfeeding mother's dietary supply, such as VA, VB3 (niacin), selenium, iodine, etc., and they should be supplemented in the diet.

The diet of a lactating mother directly affects her own health. The energy and some nutrients required by a lactating mother are indeed greater than those of a non-pregnant or non-lactating woman. A sufficient and balanced diet during lactation is essential for the lactating mother. For example, lactating causes the lactating mother to lose a lot of calcium. If it is not supplemented, the body will mobilize calcium from the bones to meet the needs of breast milk, thus affecting the mother's bone mass.

But "eat everything"

The mother is weak in the first week after delivery, so it is not advisable to take a lot of supplements. It is advisable to choose light, soft and easily digestible food, and then transition to a normal diet. The same principle as the dietary guidelines for residents, as complete and diverse as possible, the daily diet should include six major categories of food: cereals and tubers (including whole grains), vegetables, fruits, livestock, poultry, fish and eggs, milk, soybeans and nuts. Diversification of food can be achieved by choosing small portions of food, exchanging similar foods, matching coarse and fine foods, combining meat and vegetables, and using a variety of colors.

These are the things you should remember to eat

Eat 150 grams of aquatic products, poultry, lean meat, and 1 egg every day. The proportion of fish, shrimp and seafood can be increased appropriately. Adequate high-quality protein can promote milk secretion and postpartum body recovery.

Eat animal liver (85 grams of pork liver or 40 grams of chicken liver) 1-2 times a week. Animal liver is rich in vitamin A, which can promote the development of your baby's vision, immune function, etc.

Milk is rich in calcium. Drinking 300-500 ml of milk every day can meet the needs of breastfeeding mothers and babies. At the same time, don't forget to supplement vitamin D to promote the absorption and utilization of calcium. You can supplement it through foods such as eggs and liver, nutritional supplements or outdoor activities.

Don't touch these

Avoid smoking and drinking. Nicotine and alcohol in tobacco will enter the baby's body through breast milk, affecting the baby's sleep and even the development of the nervous and motor systems.

Eat less of these

Eat less high-fat, high-sugar and smoked foods, such as candy, chocolate, potato chips, etc. These foods are generally high in calories, relatively poor in nutrition, and even contain some harmful substances.

Drink less strong tea and coffee, as the caffeine they contain may affect the development of the newborn's nervous system.

What are the dietary habits during confinement in your family? Feel free to share them in the comment section!

References:

[1] Guo Yanhong, Su Miya, Liu Cuiping, et al. Current status of research on dietary nutrition of Chinese lactating mothers[J]. Dairy Science and Technology, 2015, 38(2): 20-222.

[2] Chinese Nutrition Society. Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022). People's Medical Publishing House. 2022.

Contributors: Shen Liping and Song Qi

Editor: Gu Tianmin

Reviewers: Wang Zhengyuan, Zhu Zhenni, Feng Xiaogang