It is perfectly possible for a mother on even a very restricted diet to produce and breastfeed a sturdy, healthy baby. Babies are very efficient and ruthless survival machines, and they take the nutrients that they need from the mother. The mother needs to make sure that she looks after herself, and eats as much and as well as she is able, in order to maintain her own nutritional status. Take a doctor’s advice about the need for any supplements.
Make sure that you eat enough, even if you have a restricted choice of foods. Eating a little and often, especially in the early days when the baby feeds almost constantly, helps keep up your energy and blood sugar levels. If you are on a rotation diet, that should be no obstacle to breastfeeding, but you may find you have to juggle or shorten your rotation a bit, especially in the early days, to meet your hunger and feeding needs.
Make sure that you eat well in the early part of the day and at lunch
- the milk supply in the late afternoon and evening is often much more plentiful if you take plenty of protein, and large meals at breakfast and lunch. This may help you avoid the need for supplementary bottlefeeds. Drink a lot of water or other fluids; it can make a real difference to the milk supply.
If your baby develops sensitivity to your breastmilk and you have to start leaving out even more foods from an already restricted diet, make sure you take care of yourself properly. It is important to get your baby well, but it is also crucial to keep yourself well. Keep a balance between his or her needs and your own.
Contact your local branch of the National Childbirth Trust for any support or counselling you need with breastfeeding.
*227\117\8*
Leave a Comment