How mother’s diet affects growing baby

For her to help this child, she needs to be well fed as well. After giving birth, good nutrition is even more important than during your pregnancy. It can make a difference in the quality of your breast milk and affect how quickly your body rebounds from childbirth. Though doctors once recommended an additional 500 […]

For her to help this child, she needs to be well fed as well. After giving birth, good nutrition is even more important than during your pregnancy. It can make a difference in the quality of your breast milk and affect how quickly your body rebounds from childbirth.

Though doctors once recommended an additional 500 calories a day for breastfeeding mothers, today, experts say what you eat matters far more than your caloric intake. Beyond doubt, the nutritious quality of the foods you eat is of major importance during breastfeeding. Simply adding empty calories, like those found in snacks or junk foods, is not going to help you or your baby, health experts say.

In fact, they say if a mother is not feeding herself with enough nutritious foods, the number of “dirty diapers” goes down, a sign that her baby may not be getting enough to eat.

Mrs Sarah Abagai, Head of Dietetics Department, at the National hospital says a breast feeding mother should eat a healthy diet because her system depends on it. “Breastfeeding mothers should be well nourished to breastfeed their babies. They need to eat very well so that they will not be susceptible to infection. At the same time, some eat profusely because they are breast feeding hence such mothers have to get active so that they can lose some weight and burn off some calories.” Abagai says.

Complex carbohydrates are among the best foods you can eat while breastfeeding says dieticians. Build these into your daily diet: Vegetables such as ugwu, spinach and green peas. Fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges, water melons should also be constants on your table. Again, whole grains such as whole-wheat, rice, bread are also needed.

Among the most important nutrients you need while breastfeeding is calcium — a minimum of 1,000 mg daily is a must. While dairy foods are a great source, you don’t have to drink milk to make milk. To meet your calcium needs, calcium-rich foods including low-fat yogurt as well as non dairy foods such as salmon fish are helpful.

Similarly, breastfeeding women need 25 more grams of protein per day than normal, the same as during pregnancy. This extra demand can be met by eating lean meat/meat alternatives plus three cups of fresh soya beans milk.

Similarly, breastfeeding mothers need more fluids than usual. Drink a glass of fluid each time you nurse or pump, as well as with meals and snacks. Plain water, low-fat milk, and 100% fruit juice are good choices. Limit soda, juice, and fruit drinks, which are high in sugar and calories – choose plain water instead, or try diluting juice with water.

Also, an omega-3 fatty acid, is naturally present in breast milk. It is critical to brain, eye, and nervous system development in babies. Breastfeeding women are encouraged to eat natural sources of DHA (acronym for decosahexanoic acid, an essential omega-3 fat that is crucial for vision and brain development in babies.) Oily, cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and anchovies are good sources of this acid. Some products are fortified with DHA, including certain brands of eggs, milk, yogurt, soy milk, soy products, and nutrition bars.

Essentially, anything that gets into your body gets into your breast milk. As long as you eat a healthy, nutritious diet, neither you nor your baby is likely to fall short of any vitamins or minerals needed for healthy body. This is the challenge Aisha and other breastfeeding mothers need to meet to have a healthy baby for a healthy society.