Hi,
You have a beautiful baby there. That little human you have is the best blessing you have right now. I know that you really love your baby and you want to give him the best. You want to provide and give a better life than you have ever experienced in the coming days in this world.
One of the greatest investments that you can make right now that will benefit your baby is to start the right nutrition early to see your baby healthy, that is, away from harmful disease. Since your baby will solely depend on your milk for breastmilk for the first 6 months, your nutrition will greatly influence the nutrition of your baby.
Your body produces milk and the composition depends on your diet. For example, the fat ( fatty acids) content of your milk depends on your current diet as well as the milk concentrations of selenium, iodine, and some of the water-soluble B vitamins. Your baby is growing fast, and it needs enough nutrients to support it. The breast milk that comes from you is very important because it will influence the nutrition of your baby.
NUTRITION FOR LACTATING MOTHERS
ENERGY
Breastfeeding your child needs extra energy from nutritious foods (a variety of brown rice, whole wheat bread, pasta, fruits and vegetables, and many more) in order for your body to process and produce milk. It is estimated that on average, your body produces 750 ml of milk per day, with a range of 550 ml to more than l200 ml per day during the first 6 months. It is recommended to intake an additional 330 kcal for the first 6 months and 400 kcal for the next 6 months (DRI-US base) or an additional 500 kcal (PDRI-Philippine Base). In many cases, women trying to lose weight the extra weight gain during pregnancy. The amount of weight you retain after pregnancy is determined by your gestational weight gain ( weight gained during pregnancy) as well as the length and intensity of breastfeeding. When you follow the recommendations for gestational weight gain and breastfeeding, you can easily return to your pre-pregnancy weight by six months. Moderate weight loss has no negative impact on the quality or quantity of breast milk, and infants grow normally.
PROTEIN AND FATTY ACIDS
Your protein and fatty intake recommendations are the same when you are pregnant. There is an additional 25 gram of protein (milk, egg, lean meat, beans, seeds, and nuts) while it is recommended essential fatty acid intake sources of Omega 6 are corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower, soybean oil, cotton seed oil, poultry, seeds, and nuts, and Omega 3 are flax seed oil, canola oil, walnut oil, wheat germ oil, soybean oil, flax seed, and fish. You can incorporate those into your meals in moderation.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Your body's priority is the needed nutrients for your baby's milk. When you don't eat enough nutritious foods, your milk will decrease in quantity (total mL produced) rather than quality (breastmilk nutrients). It will consume the stored nutrients in your body in order to produce enough nutrients for your baby to grow and develop properly. It is still essential that you consume enough nutrients, not just for your baby but also for your own nutrition. For example, dietary calcium has no effect on the calcium concentration of breast milk. Less consumed calcium-rich foods cause your bones to lose density during lactation. When lactation (breastfeeding) ends, bone density returns to normal; breastfeeding has no long-term negative effects on bone density. The nutrients in breast milk that are most likely to decline as a result of chronic undernutrition are vitamins B6, B12, A, and D.
WATER
Your water intake does not influence the amount of your milk production, but enough water intake will prevent you from having dehydration. It is recommended that you drink water after each meal or immediately after breastfeeding your baby.
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
When you intake a well-balanced meal with enough servings, it will provide enough nutrients for your nutrient needs during lactation. Other mothers, after pregnancy, needed iron supplements in order to regain the iron lost from child birth. During your pregnancy, iron stores deplete you, and you supply enough iron to the developing fetus to last for the first four to six months of the infant's life. Furthermore, blood loss may have occurred during childbirth. Thus, it may require iron supplements during lactation even though iron requirements are about half that of other nonpregnant women's ages until menstruation resumes.
PARTICULAR FOODS
Foods with strong flavors like garlic or any other spicy food may alter the taste of your baby. It is advised to reduce the intake of those foods in order not to annoy your baby with a sudden change in the taste of your breastmilk. You can eat any nutritious food that will benefit your baby. If you notice that some of the foods that you eat cause discomfort or allergies in your baby, your doctor may recommend making some dietary changes. The foods that you suspect will be avoided, and observe if there are changes in your baby that will subside. Then reintroduce the food and observe your baby's reaction. If there are foods that should be permanently avoided, it is best to substitute foods that have other sources of nutrients to provide some foods that will ensure that you consume enough nutrients for your baby's growth and development.
Resources Cited:
Rolfes, S. R., Pinna, K., & Whitney, E. (2014). Understanding normal and clinical nutrition.
Cengage learning
Mahan, L. K. (2008). Krause's Food & Nutrition Therapy (L. K. Mahan & S. Escott-Stump, Eds.). Saunders/Elsevier
At this point in your life, your baby is reliant on you to provide the necessities for survival and growth. Your nutrition is one of your gifts to your beautiful baby. I know that you will give your best because you are a great mom. I hope this helps you well. God bless you and your baby.
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