Improving Nutrition While Breastfeeding
Most women pay very close attention to their health and nutrition while they are pregnant. There are long lists of what you should eat and should not eat, what supplements you should or should not take, and much more. Once you have your baby, you are all of a sudden thrown into a world dictated by their schedule (or lack thereof) and their wants and needs. It is all too common for the diligent attention to nutrition to fall by the wayside a little in favor of convenience due to exhaustion. However, if you are breastfeeding your child, your nutrition is just as important now as it was when you were pregnant.
As in pregnancy, everything you eat and drink can have an effect on your child’s health and well-being. The following are only some steps you should take to improve your nutrition and you should always follow the advice of your doctor.
- Watch what you eat – Eating well is at the heart of nutrition and you should focus on a diet that is balanced and free from potentially harmful toxins, such as mercury or pesticides. In addition, though you may want to risk to lose baby weight, breastfeeding requires that you increase your calorie intake so your body has enough energy to make breast milk and provide other care for your new baby.
- Stay hydrated – Drinking plenty of fluids will prevent dehydration and will help with the production of your breast milk. Focus on water and other pure fluids, as drinks with too much sugar or caffeine can affect the health and mindset of both you and your baby.
- Consider supplements – Many doctors may recommend that you keep taking your prenatal supplements while you are breastfeeding. In addition, you can discuss additional vitamins or supplements that can help if you are not getting all of your nutrition from food for some reason.
- Limit your alcohol – While it can be possible to wait for alcohol to pass through your system before you breastfeed, this process is slow and your child may need to eat when you still have alcohol in your breast milk. So, you should always be cautious.
Call or stop by today for more information!
Our compounding pharmacists can not only work with you to improve your nutrition while you are breastfeeding but we can also tailor medications to meet the specific needs of your baby. We can personalize medications and supplements based on dosage, taste, and more, so please call Kress Speciality Apothecary at 856-323-8723 or stop in to speak with one of our pharmacists today!