Hot topic filled with myths!
What am I supposed to eat?
- The quality of your milk will be fine, regardless of what you choose
- Your body pulls whatever nutrients your baby needs
- Eat what you enjoy and everything in moderation
- Whole foods are going to be best
- Go for as unprocessed as possible
- While milk supply is based on the demand, it can diminish if you’re too depleted in food or fluid. You also don’t want to be facing a nutritional deficit of vitamins, minerals, protein, etc. so aim to consume nutrient dense foods and about 500 extra calories a day.
- You’re healing and your milk is providing all of baby’s calories for growth
- It’s not time to “diet.”
What about the foods/herbs that are supposed to help produce milk?
- AKA galactagogues, these include oatmeal, and brewer’s yeast (it’s where the old advice to drink a beer came from - but you can get it in the baking aisle now).
- Herbs such as fenugreek and blessed thistle have mixed reviews.
- Please check with an IBCLC first before buying stock in “lactation cookies” because there may be something else going on.
What foods to avoid?
- Nothing has to be avoided
- Advised to limit inflammatory foods such as dairy, gluten, ultra processed, sodas, and things with added sugar or zero nutritional value.
What about alcohol?
- Adult beverages can be enjoyed and continue to safely breastfeed
- Pay attention to amount and timing!
- Women metabolize one drink every 2-3 hours
- Nurse first
- Limit yourself to one regular sized drink (no fishbowl or foot-tall margaritas)
- Ok to resume nursing or pumping with baby’s next feed in 2-3 hours
Herbs
- Best to ask an Lactation Consultant first before heavily using herbs or herbal teas.
- Sage is known to decrease milk supply so use caution on how much poultry seasoning, especially around turkey type holidays.
Peppermint is suspected to be a problem too.
llegal drugs
- Contraindicated with breastfeeding
- They all cross into milk
- Can have severe health consequences to you and baby.
- Both milk and baby can test positive up to 2 weeks after marijuana/THC exposure
- There are protocols for breastfeeding when mom is in addiction treatment.
Rx Medications-
Legally, I need to mention you should ask your healthcare provider before taking any medications while breastfeeding
- The vast majority of medications are either ok for breastfeeding or have a safe alternative.
- The pediatrician or your doctor may tell you to stop breastfeeding
- Find out what reference they are using
- Dr. Hale’s Medications and Mother’s Milk is the go-to; the same resource can be accessed through www.infantrisk.com, by calling 1-806-352-2519