A Guide To Your New Family's First Weeks - Meriter Health Services

Lifestyle Issues
Nutrition for Mother
A nursing mother’s diet should be similar to the healthy
diet of any woman. There are no foods that you must
eat or avoid in order to produce excellent milk for your
baby. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads
and cereals, calcium-rich and protein-rich foods are
great choices. Try to eat foods in as natural of a state as
possible, avoiding processed foods.
It is normal for nursing mothers to consume more
calories than non-nursing women do. It is best to “eat
to hunger” and in moderation. Moms should recover
from birth and establish a good milk supply (6-8 weeks)
prior to considering weight loss. If a
nursing mom would like to lose weight, a
gradual weight loss of up to 1 pound per
week is safe and has not been shown to
affect milk supply.
Many mothers wonder if a baby’s fussy
behavior is due to something in the
diet that transfers to mom’s milk. This is not usually
the case. It is more likely that medications, nutritional
supplements, alcohol or caffeine in mother’s diet would
be the cause. It may also be due to medication your baby
takes, formula use, solids or juice. A sensitive baby may
be affected by the food her mother eats. If you feel your
diet is causing your baby to be fussy or gassy, call your
baby’s health care provider.
Alcohol
The American Academy of Pediatrics considers
alcohol consumption compatible with breastfeeding,
although side effects may occur if taken in large
amounts. An occasional drink, or up to one or fewer
drinks per day, has not been shown to be harmful. The
amount of alcohol in breast milk depends primarily on
the type and amount of alcohol consumed. Alcohol
enters the bloodstream quickly and the level of alcohol
in the blood at one moment matches the level of alcohol
in the milk at that time. As your body eliminates alcohol
from the bloodstream, it also reduces the level in your
breast milk.
If you are concerned about the amount of alcohol in
your milk, feed your baby stored milk for a feeding and
pump your breasts for comfort. Discard the pumped
Your milk is the perfect
food for you to feed
your baby
milk. Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption may
affect the amount of milk your baby takes or cause low
weight gain, developmental problems and other side
effects. Speak to your health care provider if you have
other questions.
Smoking
Smoking affects your health, your baby and the milk
that you make. Ideally, if you smoke, it is best to quit.
If you cannot or do not choose to quit, experts believe
that the benefits of breastfeeding still outweigh the risks
of smoking. These suggestions will reduce the impact of
smoking on breastfeeding:
• Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke per day.
• Smoke shortly after nursing so there will be less
nicotine in your milk by the next feeding.
(Nicotine levels are highest after smoking,
and decrease over time.)
• Smoke outside to avoid exposing your
baby to second-hand smoke.
• Talk with your doctor about ways to
quit.
• Call the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line
(1-877-270-7867) for additional support.
Medications
Consult a health care provider before taking any
medications, even though most prescription and overthe-counter
medicines are safe in moderate doses. If
you do require a medication, take the safest one available
and in the lowest dose. To decrease the amount that
gets to your baby, take the medicine just after your baby
nurses or before your baby begins sleeping. If you need
to take medicine that is not safe for your baby, continue
to express your milk while taking the medicine. Discard
this milk and feed your baby milk that you expressed
previously or use formula, if necessary.
Herbs
While breastfeeding, consult with your health care
provider prior to using any type of medication or herbal
preparation for yourself. Although the general use can
be safe, the effect on your milk supply or infant may not
be beneficial. If you have questions about herbs contact
your doctor or pharmacist.
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