Diet tips for lactating mother

29 September, 2012

A proper diet is required for breastfeeding and it is also essential for the production of nutritious mother's milk, as it is the only medium of food for the new born child. Their is no special diet plan for a lactating mother, she can continue the diet plan, which she used to follow during pregnancy.

THE CALORIE recommendation by a pregnant women should be maintained as the same after post pregnancy i.e. about 500-600 calories. Because once the baby is born it is not just you, but the baby also should be properly lactated. The new born needs to be nurtured only by the mothers milk, so for all those calorie requirements you have to maintain the same calorie recommendation of 600 extra calories from the daily calorie routine.

Along with calories, protein requirement of the body also should be increased - 25 gm of extra protein should be consumed. The complex carbs and the protein recommendation goes higher, because the calories are being deducted from the body through mother's milk which is being fed to the infant. This mother's nutrition is totally been neutralized with the infants nutrition. The mothers weight, the mother's depletion of vital nutrients - everything has to be maintained after pregnancy also.

The nutrients that are important for a lactating mother are iron, calcium, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. During post pregnancy the chances of decrease in hemoglobin levels can be seen and during pregnancy there are chances of hemo dilution, so to avoid all this the supplements of iron should be taken and a hemoglobin check should be maintained to avoid the chances of anemia to the mother. About 9 to 10 mg extra iron supplement should be maintained.

The next nutrient that's essential for lactating woman's is calcium. Calcium is essential for muscle growth and bone health. The mother should maintain a calcium level of 1300mg. Dairy products are a good source of calcium. The other sources of calcium are sesame seeds, ragi and green leafy vegetables.

Fats are also essential for breast milk, so a mother's diet should include 45 gm of fat, but it should be the right kind of fat such as omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. The best source of such kind of fat is fish and olive oil.

Vitamins and mineral level in the breast milk can be affected by the length of lactation, so proper amount of minerals and vitamins should be included in the diet. All the whole grains, pulses, cereals and colourful fruits and vegetables are the best source of vitamins and minerals.

The lactating mother who is also looking for weight loss after pregnancy should not rush for a low calorie diet, and should not have a immediate weight loss plans. At least for two to three months the lactating mother should completely nurture her baby, and then for a further six months of lactating period, when the infant's health and nutrition should be taken care of, the mother should ensure proper nutrition, reported Indiainteracts.