Does breastfeeding require a special diet?
By following your own tastes, you can maintain a healthy, balanced diet that makes you
well. It is not necessary to exclude particular foods.
Below are some general guidelines:
- try to have a regular diet, do not skip meals; in fact, have several snacks during the day;
- adopt a balanced and varied diet: you should take in about 500 extra calories (don't eat for two!), varying between meat, fish, eggs and legumes combined with cereals; don't neglect dairy products (better fresh rather than seasoned) and plenty of fruit and vegetables. Beware of certain foods that can be allergenic: tomatoes, peanuts, citrus fruits, shellfish and molluscs, milk and dairy products, chocolate ... in particular be careful if there is already a predisposition to allergies in the family;
- the breastfeeding period is not the right time to start slimming diets or use meal replacement... this could affect milk production;
- increase the amount of liquid intake: natural (non-carbonated) water, herbal teas, juices and fruit juices, broth. limit your intake of cow's milk, which could be allergenic to your child. One specification: alcohol should be avoided in all its forms; in fact wine, beer, spirits, aperitifs and digestives can be toxic for the child;
- choose fresh or frozen food and prefer simple cooking methods (steamed, baked, pressure cooker);
- avoid preparing preparations, gravies and fried foods;
- some foods, which do not cause allergies, can however give milk an unpleasant taste ... so use them in moderation. These foods are: garlic, onions, cabbage, asparagus, chilli peppers and very hot spices.
A separate discourse must be made for certain substances that can pollute breast milk, such as:
→ smoking: to be avoided absolutely for the breastfeeding period
→ medication: if you need to take medication, talk to your doctor first, specifying that you are breastfeeding;
→ alcoholic beverages: they can be poisonous with negative effects on the baby's nervous system, so limit the use of wine and beer to one glass, and avoid spirits, aperitifs and alcohol-based digestives absolutely
→ stimulating drinks: coffee may disturb the baby by passing it into the milk. Limit yourself to two cups a day
What about sweets?
Sweets are not forbidden, but should not exceed 2-3 portions a week (ice cream, slice of tart, jam) and only at the end of a meal so as not to cause sudden glycaemic peaks.