Food Precautions For A Nursing Mother

Being a mother is an unmatched feeling, but, it is also a great responsibility. Delivering a baby and then taking care of his until he is grown and is not a cakewalk. Taking care of yourself and the baby inside your womb is a hard nut to crack. Most of the times, the mothers pay a lot of attention towards themselves during the pregnancy, but after the delivery, they shift all the focus towards their little ones. But, the new mothers should keep one thing in mind that it is as much important to take care of yourself as it is to take care of the baby. You should consider the fact that you are a nursing mother, whatever you eat and do, will affect your baby. Unfortunately, the new mothers don't consider this thing.

This article focuses on this age old problem. Lets discuss, what all food precautions a nursing mother should take:

Food For Nursing Mother
  • Fish and Other Seafood With High Mercury Levels

All the seafood that the mother has been avoiding since her pregnancy should be avoided during the lactating period too. A nursing mother should avoid king mackerel, tilefish, swordfish and shark. These fishes carry high levels of mercury which hampers the kids at large.

  • Alcohol

A lactating mother should limit the consumption of alcohol. Drinking a little alcohol is safe during the breastfeeding period, but if the mother drinks alcohol quite often, it may hamper the growth and sleep pattern of the baby. If you have had a drink, wait about two to two and a half hours before feeding the baby.

  • Caffeine

If you are a lactating mother, you also need to cut down the caffeine levels. Though, having normal amount of caffeine has no noted side effect on the baby. You can have 5 cups of coffee a day without have to worrying about baby's health, but consuming 10 or more cups a day is a strict no- no. It can cause disturb sleep cycle, jittery behavior as well as fussiness in the kid.

  • Allergies

A baby may be allergic to some foods that his mother is consuming and hence, may manifest the signs and symptoms like fussiness, unexplained and uncontrollable crying, et al. Thus, a mother should be very cautious about her diet. Common food items that cause allergies are soy products, dairy products, chocolate, nuts, wheat, citrus fruits and shellfish.

  • Foods Containing Trans Fats

Food items containing trans fats must be avoided. These fats replace the other healthier fats like monounsaturated fats and omega- 3 fats. Margarine and baked off items contains trans fats.

A mother should always remember that her baby can only stay hea.thy, if she is healthy. So, she should take a healthy and nutritious diet as whatever she eats, will reach her baby, even after the baby's birth, through her milk.