Diet and nutrition during the puerperium

| Generally, it is not necessary to follow a special diet during breastfeeding, but it is important to take into account certain recommendations. Do you want to know them?

In most cases it is not necessary to follow a special diet during breastfeeding, but it is important to eat a balanced diet and drink enough fluids. You should also not be on a restrictive diet to lose the kilos that were gained during pregnancy, since an additional 500 calories a day are necessary. It is important to plan well meals and easy to prepare so that with the fatigue of the first postpartum months, you do not forget to take care of this aspect.

Drink fluids

It is very important to drink plenty of fluids, whether it be water, milk, fruit juice, broths, etc. It is common for women to feel very thirsty after childbirth, and especially during breastfeeding. You can drink any liquid except alcoholic beverages and it is advisable to restrict beverages that contain caffeine.

Diet

It is advisable to eat varied, and depending on how hungry you are. It is very common for the first months postpartum to have an increased appetite. Proteins should be increased in the feeding of the lactating woman, obtained from meat, fish, eggs, milk, etc. Carbohydrates in the diet, which are obtained from cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes and legumes, should be increased.

The consumption of whole grains is recommended to improve intestinal transit. On the contrary, fats should not vary their contribution. Fruits and vegetables will help in increasing the need for vitamins during lactation, which is why it is required that they are also very present in the diet. Dairy products will cover the increase in calcium needs, so an increase in its consumption is recommended.

Alcoholic beverages should be very limited since there is no barrier for the passage of alcohol in the blood into the milk. Exciting drinks that contain caffeine are not contraindicated in breastfeeding, but they are limited, so their consumption should be moderated.

Vegetarian mothers need Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron and Vitamin B12 supplements during breastfeeding so that your milk does not lack these very important nutrients for the baby.

If the diet is varied, a vitamin supplement is not necessary, but the doctor is the one who will decide the most appropriate in each case. No food should be restricted.

If you want to lose weight while breastfeeding, it should not be done by restricting your diet but by doing moderate physical exercise and in that case you should increase your fluid intake even more.