Breastfeeding Tips: Healthy Nutrition & Habits

If you’ve recently chosen to breastfeed your newborn, it’s important you 1) understand how your lifestyle can affect the quality of breastmilk you give, and 2) your body’s health needs to produce milk. Making healthy choices while you breastfeed will help both you and your baby.

You may be thinking: What should I avoid? Do I need to eat more? What should I implement into my routine? Here are our recommendations...

Get familiar with a breast pump.

Make sure you talk to your Blue Primary Care Provider for appropriate guidance and care during your postpartum and breastfeeding journey. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi provides a double electric or manual breast pump for eligible covered Members as part of their benefit plan. Learn more about the breast pump benefit.

Focus on healthy foods.

Be sure to add protein-rich foods (lean meats, eggs, dairy, beans and seafood low in mercury), fruits and vegetables and whole-grains into your diet. Remember to choose foods with less added sugars, saturated fats and sodium. Your baby will benefit from you eating a variety of foods because your breast milk will change flavors according to the foods you eat. This can help your child accept solid foods when they grow older.

Consume additional calories.

You may want to consider increasing the calories. Your body will burn up to 700 calories per day while you breastfeed. The number of calories to consume may be different depending on your weight and if you are also giving your child formula. Either way, to help you have enough energy to produce the right amount of milk, choose healthy foods. Your doctor may be able to suggest multivitamins or supplements to ensure you and your baby maintain enough nutrients.

Stay hydrated.

Always drink more water and less sugary drinks. You are constantly producing milk and using energy. Staying hydrated will be beneficial to you both. Avoid large amounts of caffeine, as this could contribute to a fussy, irritable baby.

Be cautious.

Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking while breastfeeding. There’s no amount of alcohol that’s considered safe for a baby. In addition, be wary about eating too much fish. The mercury in fish can pose a risk to a baby’s nervous system. Remember, certain foods and habits like smoking can stay in your system, and therefore, be in your baby’s breast milk. Note: Nicotine stays in your bloodstream for 10 hours.

Breastfeeding is one of the most important things you can do your baby. Best wishes to you and your baby for good health!

#AugustisNationalBreastfeedingMonth

Sources:

U.S Department of Health and Human Services
Mayo Clinic
BCBSMS
Le Leche League