Dieting while Breast Feeding

The general feeling about dieting while breast feeding is to take things easy and try to not change too much from your usual diet. Certainly a crash diet for the weight conscious among you is not to be advised, there will be plenty of time for that after you have finished nursing. In the meantime, it is important that you remain healthy, eat a balanced diet and enjoy the experience of giving your infant the best start in life.

Dieting while breastfeeding tips

• Keep an eye on your vitamin and minerals intake. We're often on top of this throughout our pregnancy, however sometimes fail to keep up the levels after baby's arrival. If you're not sure whether you're missing out on important vitamins, have a chat with your Doctor or Midwife who will be able to advise you.
  
  
• A good healthy balanced diet is the best approach; this means lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, wholemeal bread, lots of water and foods rich in protein and calcium. If you already know you dislike certain foods that are rich in one particular nutrient such as iron, this is where you should be looking to use a vitamin substitute.
  
  
• There are no real rules about drinking alcohol whilst breast feeding, our advice is to not drink at all during pregnancy and the nursing period. However, if you find that you miss a glass of wine with your meal, it will not be a problem.
  
  
• One thing you will quickly learn to do is to be careful with eating certain foods. For example, eating a curry with yellow pillou rice could have very messy consequences when it comes to changing your baby's nappy.

The general view on dieting while breast feeding is to keep things much the same as they always were. Also, don't be worried too much about having the odd chocolate bar or tub of ice cream. The nursing period can be such a wonderful time of bonding that it is important that you're settled and free within your own mind. Try not to take on the additional burden of dieting or worrying about your weight as it will not be long until you're looking back on the breast feeding stage with fond memories.

It's probably worth clearing up one particular urban myth we've heard a number of times via letters through this site and at our regular classes, if your baby does not want to feed, or appears to be more flatulent or gassy following a feed, it is very unlikely this has anything to do with the food that you were eating. Many mothers have told us they have stopped eating a lot of their favorite foods because junior did not like their milk after, seriously the food you ate will almost certainly not be the reason.

You'll also find that your Doctor or medical support team will encourage you to drink plenty of water; this is to keep you from becoming dehydrated. Try to drink around five pints of water a day, sipping from a glass or a bottle on a regular basis. If you can, try to avoid drinks such as Cola or Coffee as these will have a negative affect on your hydration.

Read more of our articles on breast feeding

Breast Feeding Problems
Breast Feeding in Public
Breast Feeding Techniques
Advantages of Breast Feeding
Breast Feeding vs Bottle Feeding
Breast Feeding and Weight Loss
Breast Feeding Diet
Breast Feeding and Alcohol
Breast Feeding and Medication
Smoking and Breast Feeding
Dieting and Breast Feeding
Foods to Avoid While Breast Feeding