Take care of your diet for your baby’s sake
Postpartum mothers require far more energy than during pregnancy. The reason is that they are producing breast milk and they require nutrition for that. Moreover, the mother is also taking care of the baby and getting far less sleep. That is why it is important to take care of the mother’s diet during this time.
Most of the mothers neglect their own diet during this time but make sure that you take good care of your diet not just for you but for the baby’s sake.
You have to give yourself at least six months to lose weight after pregnancy. Do not start excessive dieting right after childbirth as this will affect not only your health but also the health of the baby who you are breastfeeding.
Chance to increase the mother’s bone mass
Generally, women lose bone mass during pregnancy but they have a huge tendency to gain a lot of bone mass right after their period is restored. It is almost as if someone is building stronger bones inside their bodies.
Make sure you supply nutrients needed by your body to build stronger bones after pregnancy. Calcium and vitamin D are building blocks for bones. Dairy products, eggs, and mushrooms are rich sources of vitamin D.
Bad effects of smoking and drinking
Too much drinking even after pregnancy will have bad effects including fetal alcohol syndrome, mental handicaps, as well as developmental disorders. You might want to try alcohol soon after giving birth but you should try to stay away from it for a bit longer. The reason is that almost 2% of alcohol will somehow find its way into breastmilk. Excessive smoking and drinking will even affect milk secretion. There can be a great effect of alcohol on the baby as compared to adults.
It has been found that mothers who smoke generally produce less milk. Moreover, it has also been found that nicotine has direct negative effects on babies including diarrhoea, vomiting, and restlessness. It is an opportunity for the whole family to give up smoking.
The effects of caffeine
It has been found that when pregnant mothers have beverages having caffeine, the caffeine content is eventually excreted in the breast milk.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should stay away from caffeine because breastmilk that has caffeine can eventually cause sleeping disorders in babies.
- Source: Berlin, C., et al.: Disposition of dietary caffeine in milk, saliva, and plasma of lactating women, Pediatrics, p. 73, p. 59-63, 1984.
- Source: Supplements & Health Support Food DataBase Ver. 1, National Institute of Health Sciences, p. 144, 2007.
