What can a nursing mother eat? A woman's diet while breastfeeding What a nursing mother should not do

Breastfeeding is considered by some to be a reliable natural contraception, while others, on the contrary, the right way get some weather. Why during breastfeeding no menstruation and is it possible to get pregnant before the menstrual cycle resumes?

Prolactin is not just about milk

Both during pregnancy and during breastfeeding, serious hormonal changes occur in a woman’s body. While the baby is waiting for the moment of birth, important role plays the hormone progesterone. At the beginning of pregnancy, its level increases, and because of this, the immune response decreases (the embryo is not rejected as a foreign body), the muscles of the uterus relax (which allows the baby to grow and develop). In addition, progesterone promotes the growth of secretory tissue of the mammary glands, where milk will be produced, and at the same time inhibits (that is, slows down) lactation. A drop in progesterone levels after childbirth is one of the signals for the start of milk production.

And now, after childbirth, two other hormones come to the fore - oxytocin and prolactin. Oxytocin begins to be released during childbirth - it is this that provokes contractions, promoting contraction of the uterus and opening of its cervix. During breastfeeding, it produces a kind of “microcontraction” of the milk ducts, causing milk to be released.

” Prolactin plays a more diverse role. Firstly, it causes the formation of milk in the mammary glands. The level of prolactin in a woman’s body increases during pregnancy, but then, as you remember, progesterone interfered with the appearance of milk. And secondly, prolactin “slows down” the menstrual cycle: it interferes with the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thereby preventing ovulation from occurring and, then, menstruation or new pregnancy. This phenomenon is called lactational amenorrhea.

Both oxytocin and prolactin are produced in the body of a nursing woman in response to mechanical irritation of the receptors located in the nipples. As soon as the baby takes the breast, this becomes a signal for the production (prolactin) and release (oxytocin) of mother's milk.

Lactational amenorrhea. With milk, but without menstruation

If you have taken the time to understand the role of hormones in the process of lactation, you have probably noted two important facts.

The hormone prolactin interferes with the onset of ovulation, and therefore a new pregnancy.

Prolactin is not produced continuously in the body of a nursing woman, but only in response to irritation of receptors in the nipples during feeding of the baby.

It’s easy to conclude: the more often you put your baby to your breast, the less likely the menstrual cycle will be restored. How much less?

” Statistics show that in the first six months after childbirth, breastfeeding protects against the onset of another pregnancy with a 98% probability. Not bad, as effective as a condom!

But... To do this you must follow several rules!

The child must be exclusively breastfed(sometimes, on the advice of a pediatrician, it is possible to supplement with water in small quantities). Any complementary feeding dramatically reduces the contraceptive effect of breastfeeding.

Baby need apply to breast regularly; It doesn’t matter whether you have established a specific feeding schedule or you feed your baby on demand, you need to put him to the breast every 3.5-4 hours, at least.

Night feedings are required. The break, even at night, should not exceed 6 hours.

If these conditions are met, pregnancy will definitely not occur in the first 6 months, however, depending on the regularity of feedings, lactational amenorrhea can last 14 months.

” As a rule, with the introduction of complementary foods, the contraceptive effect of breastfeeding disappears.

Signs of pregnancy while breastfeeding

Doctors do not recommend getting pregnant more often than once every two years. A shorter period does not allow the mother’s body to recover and devote at least a year to fully breastfeeding the baby. It’s not difficult to start using contraception on time if you notice that your menstruation has resumed. Talk to your healthcare provider about which contraceptive method is right for you.

However, the menstrual cycle is restored not with menstruation, but with an outwardly imperceptible phenomenon - ovulation. One ovulation is enough for a new pregnancy to occur, and if there was no menstruation, it may come as a surprise to the mother!

” If you reduce the number of feedings, then your menstrual cycle will be restored within 2-3 months. Worry about contraception not when your period returns, but when you introduce your first complementary foods!

If the menstrual cycle has not yet returned, what signs may indicate a new pregnancy? In addition to the usual ones (nausea, drowsiness, frequent urination, increased pigmentation), there are also specific ones associated specifically with breastfeeding.

The amount of milk decreases. As you remember, from the first days of pregnancy, the amount of progesterone, the “pregnancy hormone”, which inhibits the formation of milk, increases in the future mother’s body.

The taste and quality of milk changes. Often babies become capricious at the breast after their mother becomes pregnant again - they don’t like the changed taste. This can also happen during menstruation if the cycle has already resumed.

Pay attention to vaginal discharge as well. With lactational amenorrhea they are absent altogether. Watery, clear discharge may indicate the onset of ovulation. Finally, scanty, irregular bleeding may indicate an ongoing pregnancy and, moreover, the threat of its termination (more on this below).

” Perhaps you are healthy, full of strength and enthusiasm and have nothing against children of the same age. But even in this case, you must remember that breastfeeding may not in the best possible way affect a new pregnancy.

It's all about the hormone oxytocin, which, as we have already mentioned, is secreted by a nursing mother in response to mechanical stimulation of the nipples. If you are not pregnant, then it simply helps the milk to separate. But if a new pregnancy occurs, then oxytocin also affects the uterus, causing its contractions. Sometimes this can even lead to miscarriage (in the first trimester), premature birth (in the third trimester), not to mention deterioration of blood supply and fetal hypoxia. And although not everyone has such problems, a nursing mother needs to strictly follow the advice of the supervising doctor; You may even have to stop breastfeeding.

Restoration of the menstrual cycle during lactation

As we have already mentioned, as soon as the number of feedings decreases (usually this happens after the introduction of complementary foods, when the child is 6 months old), the woman’s menstrual cycle is restored within 2-3 months. That is, the average period of lactational amenorrhea is 6-8 months after childbirth. However, this period may vary. If the baby is not put to the breast regularly (for example, the mother expresses milk in advance so that someone close to her can feed the baby with a bottle), then the cycle will be restored earlier, even if the baby is still completely breastfed. The fewer feedings and the longer the breaks between them, the sooner you can expect the onset of the first ovulation.

” In women who are not breastfeeding, the menstrual cycle may resume as early as 6-8 weeks after birth.

However, if the baby continues to attach to the breast at every feeding even after the introduction of complementary foods, and suckles for a long time and productively, then lactational amenorrhea can last a year or even longer. If you stop breastfeeding and your menstrual cycle has not returned within three months, you need to see a doctor to check your hormonal levels.

So, if your baby is fully breastfed, with frequent feedings both day and night, you can be sure that you are protected from another pregnancy. But remember that if the feeding regime is not followed, pregnancy may occur unnoticed by you. So if you're relying solely on natural birth control, keep a pregnancy test handy!

Prepared by Anastasia Sergeeva

What problems regarding breastfeeding are most common and what should a nursing mother do to cope with them as quickly as possible and establish breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding problem #1

Irregular shape of nipples. Very often young mothers think that irregular shape nipples (flat or inverted nipples) serves as an obstacle to breastfeeding the baby. In fact, when breastfeeding, it is not the shape of the nipples that is important, but the ability of the areola and breast tissue to stretch during sucking. The shape of the nipple is not of primary importance in breastfeeding, since with a correct latch on the breast, the baby should grasp not only the nipple, but also the entire areola.

What to do?

• Try to teach the child to grasp the breast correctly when sucking, persistently place the breast in the baby’s mouth and make sure that he grasps the entire isola.
• Use special nipple shapers. The nipple former is a plastic cup, the inside of which is made of silicone and has a hole in the middle for the nipple. A denser silicone roller is located along the diameter of the hole. It stimulates the nipple to move forward and makes it more comfortable for the baby to latch on to.
• Use special silicone nipple covers for feeding. With the baby's first sucking movements, the nipple is pulled out in the shield and rests directly against the holes in it.

Breastfeeding problem #2

Cracks and pain in the breasts when feeding. One of the most common problems that women face in the first weeks of breastfeeding is the appearance of cracked nipples.

The process begins with the mother feeling pain in the chest when feeding the baby, and after a while redness, abrasions and skin damage in the form of cracks appear on the nipple, which can bleed.

What to do?

• Make sure your baby is latching onto the breast correctly. When sucking, the baby's lower and upper lips should be turned out (not tucked in), the mouth should be wide open, and the nose and chin should touch the chest.
• Change the baby's position during feeding so that different areas of the areola and nipple are exposed to sucking.
• Do not remove the nipple from the baby's mouth if he does not let go. When it becomes necessary to remove the breast from the baby's mouth, do it very carefully. In order for the baby to open his mouth, the mother needs to insert her little finger into the corner of his mouth and free the breast.
• Start feeding the baby from a breast that does not have cracks, because a hungry baby sucks harder, and this increases the pain.
• In case of severe chest pain during feeding, reduce the duration of feeding to 5–7 minutes, and express the remaining milk with your hands.
• Apply a “rest mode”, that is, do not put the baby on the sore breast for 1-3 days, but feed him only on the healthy breast. Milk from the damaged breast must be expressed by hand and the baby must be fed with expressed milk. This method is used if the crack, after starting medical treatment, does not heal within 2–5 days.
• Do not use a breast pump to express. This further injures the nipple and prevents its healing.
• Organize proper care behind the chest.
• Contact a pediatrician or gynecologist who can prescribe medications to treat a cracked nipple.
• For cracked nipples, you can also use special silicone nipple covers, which makes feeding less painful and traumatic for the mother and allows the crack to heal. Silicone pads should not be used for a long time (several weeks), as this can lead to a decrease in milk production. The fact is that when using a breastplate, adequate stimulation of the nipple does not occur, and as a result, its production decreases.
• If the temperature rises and purulent discharge appears from the fissure, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.

Breastfeeding problem #3

The baby refuses to breastfeed. Breast refusal should not be considered as a reason to stop breastfeeding. The mother needs to figure out why the child refuses to breastfeed and make every effort to maintain and restore breastfeeding. The basis for breast refusal may be problems of improperly organized breastfeeding, peculiarities of the formation of lactation in the mother, or problems with the health of the baby.

Most often, this problem occurs in children who are weakened due to an unfavorable course of pregnancy and difficult childbirth. If there is a sucking reflex, but the baby is very weak after birth, he sucks little and sluggishly, quickly gets tired, abandons the breast and falls asleep.

What to do?

• Be sure to consult a neonatologist, pediatrician or neurologist.
• Offer your breast to your baby every feeding.
• Weak babies are recommended to be put to the breast every 1.5–2 hours.
• If the baby does not latch on to the breast, be sure to pump (every 3 hours) so that the body receives a signal about the need to produce milk in sufficient quantities.
• If necessary, supplement the baby with expressed breast milk from a spoon, pipette or syringe (without a needle).
• Do not bottle feed your baby.
• Refusal to breastfeed may be one of the symptoms of the baby’s incipient illness, such as ear pain, nasal congestion, etc. In this case, it is important for the mother to assess the child’s condition, try to find out what is bothering the baby, and, if necessary, consult a doctor.

Breastfeeding problem #4

Lactostasis and mastitis. One of the most pressing problems that worry women during breastfeeding is lactostasis. This is a blockage of the milk duct, which occurs when there is insufficient emptying of any part of the breast. In this case, in addition to chest pain, a nursing mother may experience an increase in body temperature and the appearance of an area of ​​compaction or a lump when palpating the breast. Lactostasis can occur due to feeding the baby “by the hour” and not “on demand”, incorrect technique of putting the baby to the breast, or premature weaning of the baby.

What to do?

• Don't stop breastfeeding! The most important task for a nursing woman with lactostasis is to ensure a good flow of milk from the breast. To do this it is necessary to establish correct technique feeding:
• Ensure that the baby is properly attached to the breast.
• It is important to feed the baby “on demand”, and it is important to put him to the breast at least once every 1.5 hours, and the duration of sucking should be at least 15–20 minutes.
• Find a comfortable position for feeding. In order for effective outflow of milk to occur, when sucking, the baby’s chin should be as close as possible to the place of stagnation. If the seal is on the inside, then it is suitable for feeding classic pose"cradle"; if outside under the armpit - the “under the arm” pose; if there is stagnation in the upper lobes - the “jack” pose. During one feeding, the baby can be applied to the breast from different positions, which promotes uniform and complete emptying of the breast.
• Express milk after feeding. It is important to remember that you should not put too much pressure on the lump area and adjacent breast tissue. Severe compression can compress other milk ducts and cause blockage elsewhere.
• For better milk flow, before feeding, it is recommended to massage the breast from the base to the nipple with soft stroking movements. This procedure can be conveniently carried out under a warm shower for 5–7 minutes.
• Maintain a drinking regime: during the period of lactostasis, it is recommended to limit the amount of liquid consumed to 1.5 liters per day.
• If within 1–2 days, while establishing breastfeeding techniques, you cannot cope with the problem on your own: the area of ​​compaction does not decrease, chest pain increases, swelling of the mammary gland appears, an elevated temperature persists, pain appears when moving your arm, you need to contact an obstetrician-gynecologist, mammologist or pediatrician, since against the background of lactostasis, inflammation of the mammary gland may occur - mastitis.
• Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland, which is accompanied by an acute deterioration in general health, a sharp increase in temperature to 38–39 ° C, soreness and redness of the breast. The causes of this disease are cracked nipples and lactostasis. If you suspect mastitis, a nursing mother should immediately consult a doctor. Treatment of mastitis usually requires the use of antibiotics, which must be prescribed by a doctor. The question of whether it is necessary to stop breastfeeding during treatment is decided individually in each case, depending on the compatibility of the drugs chosen by the doctor with breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding problem #5

Lactation crisis. This is a periodically occurring decrease in the amount of milk associated with growth spurts in the child and with the fact that the nursing woman’s body adapts to the new needs of the growing baby for milk. Most often, lactation crises appear at 3–7 weeks and 3, 7, 11 months of a child’s life. Lactation crises are a temporary phenomenon and usually last no more than 2–3, rarely 5 days.

What to do?

• The most important thing is not to give your baby supplementary feeding in the form of formula milk! Supplemental feeding and the use of a bottle reduce the number of attachments to the breast, reduce its stimulation, and, consequently, milk production.
• A lactation crisis does not require any special measures to eliminate it.
• To maintain normal lactation, it is very important not to be nervous.
• Put your baby to your breast as often as possible. The interval between feedings should be no more than 1.5–2 hours.
• You can give two breasts at one feeding: first, the baby sucks the first breast “to zero”, then the second (start the next feeding with the one that was the second).
• Maintain drinking regime. The amount of fluid entering the body should be at least 2–2.5 liters per day.
• Be sure to feed your baby at least 3-4 times at night, with two feedings occurring between 3 and 7 am.
• Before feeding, gently massage your breasts under a warm shower. This improves milk separation.
• Provide skin-to-skin contact - in this case, the mother places the naked baby on her stomach or chest, and he lies there until he gets tired. This contact gives the brain a signal to produce milk.
• Organize co-sleeping with your child (at least during the day).
• If within 5-6 days there is no more milk, you should seek help from a pediatrician or breastfeeding specialist.

Breastfeeding problem #6

Excess milk. Excess milk is dangerous because the baby cannot completely empty the breast and there is a risk of lactostasis and mastitis. Too much milk often occurs at the very beginning of lactation, when the so-called milk supply begins. Other reasons for this condition are most often the unreasonable use of lactogonic drugs and pumping after each feeding in the on-demand feeding mode.

What to do?

• Check that the baby is attached to the breast correctly and is sucking well. Do not limit the time of feeding - do not wean the baby from the breast until he lets go.
• Express some of the milk before each feeding, but only until the breasts become soft, without trying to release “to the last drop.” Do not pump after feedings, as this stimulates even more milk production.
• You should not take drugs that reduce lactation.
• Do not limit the amount of liquid you drink. Milk production depends on the amount of the hormone prolactin, and not on the amount of fluid you drink.
• Avoid hot drinks and warm showers before feeding, as this stimulates milk flow.
• Increase the intervals between breast “duties”. This means that we must try to increase the time during which the same breast is given to all the child’s demands. In this case, stimulation of the prolactin reflex is reduced and milk production is reduced in accordance with the baby's needs.

Breastfeeding problem #7

Lack of milk. Insufficient milk production may be due to a disruption in the production of hormones in a nursing mother, which directly affect the formation of lactation. But still, most often, a lack of milk occurs due to improper organization of breastfeeding.

What to do?

• Put the baby to the breast more often. The interval between feedings should be no more than 1.5–2 hours. To maintain full lactation at first, a minimum of 10–12 applications per day is necessary. The more your baby sucks, the more milk will be produced in the following days.
• The duration of feeding should be set by the child himself, on average at least 15–20 minutes;
• Night feedings are required, since at night the production of the hormone prolactin, which stimulates lactation, is much higher than during the day.
• Correctly attach the baby to the breast.
• It is important for a nursing mother to get enough sleep and not be nervous.
• Maintain drinking regime. You need to drink enough to not feel thirsty. For good lactation, it is recommended to drink warm drinks 30 minutes before feeding.
• An additional measure to increase lactation can be a warm shower before feeding the baby. At the same time, you can massage the mammary gland using circular kneading movements from the center to the periphery and from top to bottom while simultaneously expressing the remaining milk. It is advisable to carry out this procedure for 10 minutes, 2 times a day for each breast.
• Expressing can be used as a temporary measure to improve lactation. It stimulates milk secretion as a result of the reflex release of lactogenic hormones from the pituitary gland. It is important to stop pumping once the amount of milk sufficient for the baby is restored, so that it is not produced in excess and does not stagnate.
• Herbal medicine and the use of homeopathic medicines to increase lactation under the supervision of a physician.

How to properly care for your breasts?

1. Wash your breasts no more than 1 or 2 times a day while showering.
2. Do not use soap every time you wash and do not treat nipples with disinfectants - brilliant green and other alcohol solutions that dry the skin.
3. Do not rub your breasts with a towel, so as not to further irritate or injure the delicate skin of the nipples.
4. After feeding, lubricate the nipple with drops of hind milk, as it has protective and healing properties, protecting the nipple from dryness.
5. After feeding and between feedings, give the nipples air baths, that is, keep them open for about 10 minutes. After each feeding, the nipple should be allowed to air dry on its own.
6. Use special breast pads that absorb milk released between feedings.

A loving mother always cares about the health of her child. What is most important for a newborn? One of the important points is to solve the problem - what can a nursing mother eat while breastfeeding, because along with milk she will pass on to the baby as useful components your diet, and not very much.

Download the food list (what you can eat and what you can’t eat) —

What you can and cannot eat while breastfeeding

First of all, you should prepare - the first month of breastfeeding will not help you even strict diet– the baby adapts to the outside world, to eating through the stomach, and not the umbilical cord, so sometimes he may have gas, intestinal colic or diarrhea. You shouldn’t be afraid of this - the baby will very quickly get used to the new conditions, and then it will be possible to gradually introduce new products into the mother’s diet.

To track your child's reaction to any food, you can keep a food diary. Every day, write down the foods you eat and your child's behavior.

Brief list of permitted products

1. Vegetables. Be sure to cook them; at first, refrain from eating them raw. Bake, boil, stew. Freshly squeezed juices are possible after one month. After three, add fresh vegetables to the menu. >>>
2. Fruits. Avoid grapes, citrus fruits, mangoes, papaya, avocados, strawberries and raspberries. Apples are only baked, try to peel them. You can eat bananas without fear. Freshly squeezed juices are possible after one month. After three, you can introduce one new fruit every two days, monitor the baby’s reaction. >>>
3. You can eat almost all porridges, they aid digestion, plus they are filling and contain many nutrients. Except instant porridges.
4. Variety of soups in vegetable broth.
5. Meat We eat separately from all foods and only lean foods.
6. Cheese.
7. Poultry meat.
8. Fermented milk products You can introduce kefir, fermented baked milk (it’s better to use it, it’s softer than kefir), cottage cheese, yogurt, yogurt in a week.
9. Boil fish (sea, river), bake with vegetables. ()
10. Eggs You can also eat it, but remember that it is an allergen.
11. Bread can be eaten in small quantities with additives - for example, bran.
12. You shouldn't indulge in sweets, however, you can eat dried fruits, biscuits, biscuits, and bagels.
13. Butter and vegetable oil.
14. Dry crackers, cookies, marmalade, marshmallows, marshmallows (without chocolate).
15. Weak green and black teas, weak coffee, fruit drinks, compote, herbal teas with mint, thyme and oregano, still mineral water.
16. After a month you can gradually introduce it into the menu borscht, sour cream, nuts, fruit drink, jam.

After six months you can eat honey, various herbal seasonings, legumes, seafood. You can also eat during this period macaroni, cheese, seasonal fruits and vegetables(this is important, only for the season!).

Note to moms!

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In addition, you need to know about stop products, the use of which is strictly prohibited for all nursing mothers. First of all, this:

1. Alcohol.
2. Chocolate, some sweet products - baked goods, especially with the addition of various dyes and substitutes.
3. Coffee and tea, refrain from this at least for the first six months. Subsequently, you can use them, but only high-quality ones, coffee - well brewed, tea - brewed, not in bags. ATTENTION! The exception is special teas, the so-called, which contain fennel, cumin, lemon balm, anise - such breast milk teas.
4. You must refrain from semi-finished products, products with artificial preservatives and dyes; you can only eat high-quality and fresh products.
5. You should also avoid carbonated drinks - they will not bring any benefit to either the baby or the mother.
6. Garlic, onions and other spicy foods.
7. From smoked meat, sausage, fish.
8. From fatty meat and lard.
9. From legumes and black bread.
10. From sauerkraut, radishes, radishes, fermented cheeses (suluguni, feta cheese, Adyghe), sausages, ham.
11. From exotic fruits.

The list of prohibited foods when breastfeeding is quite long. Nutrition for breastfeeding women has strict restrictions, since any food eaten by the mother directly affects the well-being and condition of the baby - some are good, others are bad. So, which foods are prohibited and which are allowed when breastfeeding?

To make it easier for mothers to understand these food intricacies, we offer a kind of “food traffic light” - it will help you remember what a nursing mother can eat and is safe for a newborn, and what should not be eaten during lactation.

____________________________

· Red color is forbidden for mom!

This category contains liquids and products that are prohibited during breastfeeding, the consumption of which by the mother during breastfeeding can be dangerous for the baby. As a rule, it is recommended to exclude all allergens from the diet for breastfeeding women. In particular, a nursing mother can eat vegetables and fruits, but not orange or red. I think you've heard that food during breastfeeding should not contain tangerines, oranges, red apples, carrots and other “dangerous” foods. That is, all orange and red foods are prohibited when breastfeeding, due to their possible allergenicity. However, the baby may not be allergic to these products, but it’s definitely not worth checking before 6 months, and then with caution - one slice is unlikely to do any harm.

What breastfeeding foods should absolutely not contain is alcohol. Calming herself with the thought that one glass of red wine will not affect the baby in any way, the mother must be aware that any alcohol, without exception, is 100% absorbed into the baby’s blood along with breast milk!

The list of prohibited foods when breastfeeding includes fresh and canned spicy and spicy foods. Such as onions, garlic, hot peppers, wild garlic, mayonnaise, hot sauces and other concentrated, rich foods. They give the milk a spicy taste and can cause breast refusal, heartburn and other digestive problems for the baby.

Mustard, horseradish, black strong coffee (especially instant), dark chocolate containing more than 70% cocoa, blue cheeses and soft, so to speak “fresh” cheeses with various herb additives - a list of products that make milk bitter, and are not recommended for feeding breastfeeding mothers.

Food during breastfeeding should not contain spicy herring, mussels, squid, octopus, especially in sauce. Mom should not eat cod caviar, pollock, especially those containing additives. In addition to possible allergies and a heavy load on the kidneys, they make the milk salty.

Foods prohibited when breastfeeding include fresh or canned tuna and shrimp. These products provoke allergic reactions.

· Yellow color - be careful, but possible!

There are a number of different foods that until recently pediatricians forbade nursing mothers to eat. Modern doctors came to the opposite opinion. Eating these products is not only possible, but even necessary, but they should be introduced into the diet during breastfeeding carefully, gradually and in small quantities.

Eat little by little and sometimes you can melon, beets, fresh kefir, beans, peas, vegetable oil. If there is an excess of them in the mother’s diet, this leads to bloating and upset bowel movements in the baby.

Pears, persimmons, pomegranate, rice, shortbread, fresh bread - a list of foods that can stick together when breastfeeding and, if in excess, cause constipation.

Cow's milk, grapefruits, oranges, black currants, red fish and caviar, eggs, semolina, corn and millet porridge - definitely healthy products, but can cause allergic reactions in a child.

· Green color - as much as you like!

The list of foods marked with this “food traffic light” color can be eaten without hesitation or special restrictions while breastfeeding. It’s good for both you and the baby!

Dill, parsley - contribute to your baby's visual acuity.

Lettuce, gooseberries, black currants are foods that boost immunity.

Pumpkin, zucchini, perch, cod - contribute to the rapid development and growth of the baby.

Natural yogurt and cottage cheese are essential for the skeletal system and dental health.

Ryazhenka, kefir, ayran, oatmeal, cauliflower, broccoli - promote better digestion.

And of course, allowed foods during breastfeeding are:

1. natural meat (chicken, quail, rabbit, beef, veal);
2. porridge: oatmeal, buckwheat, rice, corn, barley, wheat);
3. lean soups;
4. cereals (buckwheat, rice, oatmeal, corn, millet, wheat, pearl barley);
5. legumes and beans (from 6 months);
6. seafood;
7. fish (boiled or stewed);
8. vegetables (boiled, baked or stewed);
9. baked, boiled potatoes;
10. pasta in small quantities;
11. eggs (chicken is fine, but quail is better);
12. fermented milk products - fermented baked milk, kefir, cottage cheese - preferably homemade;
13. hard, mild cheeses;
14. gray bread, bread with bran, white bread - only dried or slightly stale, not freshly baked!
15. seasonal fruits;
16. nuts, excluding peanuts and pistachios;
17. greens and spices (parsley, dill - from birth; mint, savory, celery, basil, lemon balm, oregano, thyme, tarragon - from 3 months);
18. onions (in soups from birth, fresh - from 3 months), garlic - no earlier than 6 months;
19. honey (rich in calcium and vitamins) - introduced from 3 months, and pollen - from 6 months;
20. drink freshly squeezed juices, combining them to taste, but introduce them carefully, one at a time and starting no earlier than 3 months of age;
21. compotes and decoctions of dried fruits and rose hips without sugar;
22. make homemade compotes and fruit drinks (from blueberries, lingonberries, cherries, gooseberries) - from 1 month;
23. herbal tea (yarrow, chamomile, linden, horsetail, mint, lemon balm, eucalyptus, nettle, coltsfoot, elderberry, Bogorodskaya herb (thyme), string, calendula - one at a time or combining 2-3 types of herbs, no more), brew teas from branches of fruit trees;
24. green tea (without additives, loose leaf); weak black tea; teas for lactation;
25. distilled or spring water, table mineral waters.

· list of foods that can be eaten and which are prohibited while breastfeeding

Let's summarize. So, nutrition during breastfeeding can include everything you ate during pregnancy. By the way, this also applies to so-called generally allergenic products. The only exceptions can be considered cases of real allergies in a woman to certain foods or dishes. If the mother has an allergic reaction to food products, then the baby who is breastfed will most likely manifest it.

Of course, this rule only works if the measure is followed. That is, you can easily eat one peach, or 10 strawberries, if you really want to. A piece of chocolate will not do any harm if you are not allergic to it. To identify foods that really are not suitable for your baby, enter and track all your baby’s reactions to new foods. Introduce everything new gradually and step by step, making sure it is safe for the baby.

In the first months of life, in 90% of cases, various rashes appear on the skin of babies - some have less, some have more - as a rule, this is normal. Often, products that are suspected of being allergenic, when tested again after a couple of weeks, do not give any allergic reaction, including a rash. Most often, the reaction occurs to flavors and dyes in food products for breastfeeding mothers. Therefore, the most important thing is that the mother’s food is natural, the dishes are prepared independently, and consumed freshly prepared. And of course, everything should be in moderation!

You can also drink almost anything, it is advisable to be careful with new juices, and the most common drinking clean water should prevail in the diet.

Remember: before the introduction of complementary foods, that is, up to 6 months, the baby must try everything through mother’s milk!

· List of prohibited foods when breastfeeding:

1. highly allergenic food products are caviar, fish, seafood, mushrooms, eggs, nuts (except walnuts), honey, chocolate, cocoa, coffee;
2. vegetables, fruits and berries of orange and bright red color, as well as exotic pineapples, avocados, kiwis, and cucumbers;
3. marinades, broths, canned food, spicy and salty dishes, smoked fish and meat, spices;
4. products containing preservatives and dyes;
5. sauerkraut, radish, radish, fermented cheeses (Suluguni, feta cheese, Adyghe), sausages, ham;
6. legumes;
7. carbonated drinks, kvass;
8. alcohol.

· Breastfeeding: limited foods allowed

1. sour cream - only in dishes, whole milk - diluted and only in porridge;
2. pasta and bakery products made from premium flour, semolina;
3. sweets, confectionery;
4. sugar;
5. salt.

· Breastfeeding: permitted foods

1. fermented milk products (kefir, yoghurts without additives, bifikefir, bifidok, etc.);

2. cereals (buckwheat, rice, oatmeal, corn, etc.);

3. bread - rye, with bran, 2nd grade wheat;

4. fruits and vegetables (green, white);

5. meat - lean pork, beef, turkey fillet, stewed and boiled chicken, steam cutlets;

6. soups - vegetarian;

7. drinks - tea, fruit drinks, dried fruit compotes.

· Strong allergens for nursing mothers and newborns:

Milk. There is still a common misconception that a woman needs to specifically drink up to a liter of goat or cow's milk per day to increase the nutritional value of breastfeeding. In fact, it increases the risk of your baby developing a lactose allergy. Whole milk contains more than 20 substances that can cause allergic reaction. Milk proteins are particularly resistant to heat, which means that it should not be drunk in large quantities, even when boiled. In a one-time case, an allergy can manifest itself as skin rashes; with regular attacks by allergens, the baby may develop intolerance to milk and any dairy products, and even to mother’s breast milk, which is the worst thing. When breastfeeding, it is better to give preference to fermented milk products, and add milk to porridge, diluting it with water.

Egg whites. This product can be a serious allergen for your baby. This mainly applies to chicken eggs, less often allergies are provoked by goose or duck eggs. Quails become irritants in extremely rare cases, almost never. It is recommended that a nursing mother eat only one hard-boiled egg per week.

Fresh meat. This product should not be included in a woman’s diet while breastfeeding. This is especially true for the “lower parts” of the carcass, as it contains the most dangerous substances. Buy fresh, fresh meat and send it to freezer your refrigerator - after freezing and further thawing, the concentration of allergens in the meat decreases.

Yana Lagidna, especially for the site

And a little more about what nutrition should be like during breastfeeding:

Women who are preparing for the birth of a child and plan to breastfeed, as well as those who are already safely feeding their baby, often ask their gynecologist: is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding?

Most young mothers are confident that breastfeeding reliably protects them from unwanted pregnancy, so there is no need to use any additional means of protection. Is this really true?

The method of natural contraception, which is called “lactation amenorrhea,” is that breastfeeding is an obstacle to a new pregnancy. However, in some cases, conceiving a child is still possible.

After childbirth, a woman’s reproductive function is not immediately restored. For nursing mothers, this period is usually much longer than for those who practice mixed or completely artificial feeding. Sometimes the recovery process continues until the end of lactation. All this time, a woman may not have menstruation, but, nevertheless, conception is still possible.

This fact is confirmed both by medical practice and by numerous stories told on forums on the Internet. Therefore, to the question of whether it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding, the answer will be unequivocal: yes, it is possible. The fact is that the woman simply will not notice the onset of the first ovulation after childbirth, before the restoration of the menstrual cycle, and conception can occur precisely at this time. The chance of pregnancy is approximately 10%.

In what cases does the “lactation amenorrhea” method work?

Of course, the probability of pregnancy is not too high. During lactation, fertility, i.e. a woman's ability to conceive, is seriously reduced. During the lactation period, the body of a nursing mother intensively produces hormones that suppress fertility. These hormones include prolactin, the high concentration of which prevents a woman from becoming a mother again when she is breastfeeding. infant. If several important conditions are met, the reliability of the “lactation amenorrhea” method increases to 98-99%.

1. Firstly, a woman should feed the child not according to the clock, but according to his request, including at night, without resorting to supplementary feeding with formulas and not giving the child water and a pacifier. That is, during the day, the baby should have ten short feedings or six long ones, the intervals between which are no more than five to six hours.
2. Secondly, the child’s age should not be more than six to seven months. If the child is older than this age, then the frequency of feedings no longer plays a special role. After six months, complementary foods begin to be present in the child’s diet, and he needs less and less mother’s milk. During this period, you should not ask “is it possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding”; it is better to start using contraceptives.

When a woman gets her period again, it means her body is ready for another pregnancy. If a woman does not want another child, then she needs to take care of additional contraception.

Contraception for a nursing woman

1. Barrier contraception or, more simply put, condoms and a vaginal diaphragm. As for condoms, their effectiveness as a contraceptive is quite high. You just need to choose the right type and, if necessary, use a special lubricant. The fact is that women after childbirth often complain of excessive vaginal dryness and discomfort during intimate contact, and lubricant helps to cope with this problem. The vaginal diaphragm is a latex dome-shaped cap with a spring that closes the cervix and thus prevents sperm from entering the uterus. The effectiveness of the vaginal diaphragm, when used correctly, is almost 90%. Its advantages include simplicity, convenience and the possibility of repeated use.
2. Spermicidal agents. Women are well aware of creams, tablets and suppositories for intravaginal use, such as Pharmatex or Patentex Oval. The principle of their action is associated with the creation of a special environment in the vagina, which suppresses the vital activity of sperm. The effectiveness of spermicidal contraceptives is more than 80%, which is quite enough for women whose fertility has not yet fully recovered after childbirth. These women already know whether it is possible to become pregnant while breastfeeding, and therefore choose a reliable and safe remedy contraception. The active ingredients of suppositories and creams do not reach breast milk, which means they do not harm the baby.
3. Intrauterine device. An excellent contraceptive for those women who have no contraindications to it. The IUD can be installed soon after birth (six to eight weeks). During this period, the cervix still remains slightly dilated, so the doctor can easily install the IUD without injuring the uterus with medical instruments. The spiral lasts for a very long time - from five to seven years, but, if necessary, it can be removed at any time. The reliability of the IUD as a contraceptive is almost one hundred percent.
4. Certainly more effective method protection than oral contraceptives, on at the moment does not exist. Since it was already discussed above whether it is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding if you do not have periods, it becomes clear that precautions will not hurt. Modern birth control pills that do not contain ethinyl estradiol are called mini-pills, and you can take them two months after giving birth, without waiting for your menstrual flow to begin. Mini-pills do not affect the mother’s milk supply in any way; they have also not been identified negative influence on the child's body. But, in any case, you cannot prescribe mini-pills to yourself; you need to visit a doctor who will select the appropriate drug. A woman must remember that she must take pills such as “Charozetta”, “Ecrolut”, “Mixluton” exactly on time. A delay, even by three hours, significantly reduces the effectiveness of the drug.
5. After the child turns six months old, you can move on to combined oral contraceptives that are more familiar and physiological for the body. These medicines contain ethinyl estradiol, guarantee a high degree of protection against pregnancy, and only slightly reduce the amount of milk. The last circumstance is not so important, because at six months the baby begins to receive additional complementary foods.

As you can see, the number of contraceptives that a nursing woman can use is quite large, and choosing the right one is not difficult. It is important to remember that the likelihood of getting pregnant while breastfeeding, although small, still exists, so you should not rely only on natural contraception.

Breastfeeding during pregnancy

A not very common, but possible situation is planning a new pregnancy while breastfeeding. It also happens that pregnancy occurs by accident, but, nevertheless, the woman wants to keep the baby and asks the question: should she continue breastfeeding while pregnant?

If we wean a baby from the breast, how will this affect his development and health? But if you continue to feed, will this not harm the child whose body is just developing? An obstetrician-gynecologist whom the woman trusts will help you make the right decision.

When normal developing pregnancy lactation will not be a hindrance. However, a woman must remember that nature took care, first of all, to protect the weakest link in the chain “mother - infant- fruit."

This means that all the resources of the female body will first be directed to the development and growth of the unborn baby, then to the nutrition of the already born child, and lastly to the woman herself.

Therefore, before becoming pregnant while breastfeeding, you need to weigh your strengths and assess your health status. After all, a nursing woman, having become pregnant with another child, should rest and eat three times better than before.

In the first weeks of pregnancy, a woman may feel discomfort when feeding, which passes quite quickly, without consequences for the developing baby. The hormone oxytocin, which is produced during feeding, does not affect the muscle tone of the uterus, so there is no need to worry about premature termination of pregnancy.