Breastfeeding is a very important period in the life of mother and baby. This is a time of the highest intimacy and connection, since together with breast milk, the mother passes on to the baby strong immunity, protection from viral diseases and a piece of her boundless love. However, this process is fraught with some difficulties. In particular, women are wondering: what can they eat while breastfeeding?

Honestly, this question is quite difficult, since the body of each person (both mother and baby) is individual - some allow themselves chocolates and oranges from the first weeks, which does not affect the child in any way, while others sit on buckwheat for up to six months.

Let's try to understand the basic principles of nutrition during breastfeeding.

Nutrition for a nursing mother in the first month

The first month is truly the most difficult in the life of young parents. Sleepless nights, seemingly causeless crying, lack of a clear daily routine - you just want to eat your stress with a piece of cream cake or a chocolate muffin with nuts. Unfortunately, you will have to give up these and many other products.

Below is a list of foods allowed for a nursing mother in the first month.

• Porridge (you can: buckwheat, spelt, pearl barley; you can’t: rice, wheat, corn).
• Steamed green vegetables.
• Apples (baked).
• Light soups without frying.
• Lean meat (turkey, rabbit).
• Whole wheat bread.
• Dairy products.
• Melted butter.

It is better to abstain from consuming other foods for now or eat them in minimal quantities.

In the first month, it is better to drink neutral drinks: water, weak tea. If your child does not have allergies, you can try drinking dried fruit compote.

Recipes for the first month

Zucchini with greens

Take young zucchini and cut them into cubes. Salt and add a little pepper. Steam the zucchini or stew it in a cauldron. You can add some potatoes to the zucchini. At the end of cooking, add fresh herbs (dill, parsley).

Barley porridge

This is another hearty and healthy dinner option that is unlikely to cause allergies in your baby.

Boil the pearl barley, drain the water. Lightly fry half an onion in melted butter, add pearl barley to the onion, simmer lightly and sprinkle the dish with finely chopped dill.

What can a nursing mother do in the 3rd month after giving birth?

At 2-3 months you can begin to expand the menu of a nursing mother. New foods should be introduced gradually, carefully observing the baby's reaction.

• You can try eating some healthy sweets. Natural marshmallows, marshmallows, and marmalade are suitable. Dried fruits will also be useful: dates (by the way, they increase lactation), dried apricots, prunes, dried apples. But you shouldn’t get carried away and eat a lot of sweets.
• Add eggs to your diet, but you cannot eat chicken eggs (they are a strong allergen), but you can eat quail eggs.
• Carefully try introducing nuts into your diet. You don’t need a lot, it’s better to start with 1-2 grains. Nuts are a fairly fatty food, so be prepared that the fat content of your milk will increase after eating them.
• Eat a piece of boiled beets and watch your child's reaction. If there are no allergic manifestations, you can add beet salad with sour cream to the menu.
• Occasionally allow yourself a piece of hard cheese with whole grain bread.
• There is no need to rush into introducing fish into the diet - seafood has an unpredictable effect on the child’s body. But if you are determined to have a “fish” day, start with white fish: cod, pike, halibut.

Vegetables in the diet of a nursing mother

Separately, it should be said about vegetables, because not all types are allowed for feeding a nursing woman. Vegetables should be chosen in white, green or light yellow shades, for example:

1. celery;
2. zucchini;
3. zucchini;
4. squash;
5. cauliflower;
6. broccoli;
7. light pumpkin

You should be careful with carrots, orange pumpkin, onions, and eggplants. They can be eaten in small quantities, checking to see if the child has an allergy. But it’s better to avoid white cabbage, garlic, tomatoes, and cucumbers. You should also not eat legumes: peas, corn, beans.

Fruits in the diet of a nursing mother

As for fruits, during breastfeeding (in the first three months) only baked apples, pears, and sometimes bananas are allowed. Citrus fruits must be excluded for at least six months. It is also better not to eat fruits of bright colors in the first six months after childbirth. Strawberries, raspberries and other allergens should not be eaten for up to a year.

But not everything is as sad as it seems at first glance. Some varieties of fruits can be tried, but in very limited quantities.

• Peaches are a source of magnesium and other beneficial substances. You can eat them in small quantities.
• Apricot – it is best to introduce it after three months. Apricot strengthens the immune system and saturates the body with useful substances. You can eat it both fresh and baked.
• Plum is an excellent helper for those mothers and babies who are prone to constipation.
• Berries – Honeysuckle and blueberries are considered hypoallergenic. You can eat them, but you shouldn’t abuse them.

After three months of feeding, diluted juices and light fruit drinks can be introduced into the diet of a nursing mother. You should drink them little by little, checking the baby’s reaction.

Recipes for the third month

Chicken and zucchini cutlets

You will need:

• zucchini – 200 grams;
• minced chicken – 500 grams;
• onion – ½ piece;
• breadcrumbs;
• salt;
• melted butter.

Mix minced chicken with finely grated zucchini. Add some breadcrumbs (for thickness) and salt to the mixture. Form cutlets from the resulting dough and fry them in melted butter or steam them in a slow cooker. The cutlets cook very quickly - 7-10 minutes on each side.

Light vegetable soup

You will need:

• pumpkin - a small piece;
• potatoes – 2 pieces;
• onion – 1 onion;
• carrots – ½ piece;
• greens - spinach, nettle, dill, parsley;
• broth (or water) – 2 liters.

Place finely chopped potatoes in broth or water and put on fire. At this time, peel and cut the pumpkin, and lightly sauté the carrots and onions in a frying pan. When the potatoes are boiled until half cooked, add pumpkin to the soup, and after another five minutes add onions and carrots. Cook the soup until all the vegetables are ready. Salt the dish, add chopped herbs.

List of prohibited products

Below is a list of unwanted (prohibited!) foods in descending order of their unhealthiness for a nursing mother.

1. First place, of course, is given to the most harmful products: alcohol, cigarettes, fast food. Even ordinary people cannot eat these foods, let alone a woman who is breastfeeding her baby. It is better to exclude this category of products not with the birth of the child, but much earlier, at the stage of pregnancy planning, or, in extreme cases, in the first trimester of pregnancy.
2. Citrus fruit. Alas, oranges, tangerines, lemons and grapefruits (as well as pineapples and kiwis) will have to say no temporarily. They are the strongest allergens. A nursing mother will have to get vitamin C from other products, for example from rosehip decoction.
3. In third place are sweets.. This category includes all industrial confectionery products - cakes, pastries, sweets. It is also better to eliminate (or reduce as much as possible) the consumption of white sugar. It can be replaced with reed.
4. Fourth place goes to whole milk. Usually, when talking about allergens in this product, we are talking about cow's milk. Goat is considered hypoallergenic, but this does not give reason to “lean” on it and drink a liter a day. Remember, there should be moderation in everything! By the way, the notorious tea with milk to increase lactation is not so useful.
5. Fatty, salty, fried. It is difficult to imagine a Russian person who would not love juicy fried cutlets, cucumbers and mushrooms pickled in the fall, and smoked fish. Unfortunately, such products are prohibited for a nursing mother.

If the child is allergic

Allergies in infants are not uncommon these days. Itching, red rashes, spots on the face and body - these are its unpleasant symptoms. Of course, how severe the baby’s allergies will be depends on what his mother eats.

So, the child was found to have an allergy. Do not immediately panic and transfer your baby to artificial feeding. This will only make things worse, because such children are often allergic to formula milk. In addition, breast milk is richer in composition than any formula, even the most expensive.

1. The first thing that is recommended to do is to exclude all possible allergens from your diet: dairy products, fish, sweets. If mom is afraid of a lack of calcium in her body, let her eat green vegetables and herbs, such as spinach and lettuce.
2. The second important step in the nutrition of the mother of an allergic child is to exclude from the diet all foods containing chemical additives. Thickeners, preservatives, dye stabilizers - the list of such additives that are not at all useful is long.
3. Allergies occur not only to foods, but also to external irritants. Try changing the washing powder you use for baby clothes, or your baby’s cosmetics (diaper cream, shampoo, baby soap). Allergies are also possible to certain types of plants, animals, dust, etc.
4. Gluten allergy is one of the reasons why your baby is “sprinkled.” To remedy the situation, it is enough not to eat gluten-containing grains. By the way, there are quite a lot of them, so it’s easier to say what is allowed for consumption: corn, buckwheat, rice.
5. Be sure to record your baby's reaction to a new product in your diet in a special diary. In this way, breastfeeding is similar to the introduction of complementary foods.
6. It is better to drink only water and weak tea. But it’s better not to drink fruit drinks and compotes.

Conclusion

To summarize, we can say that in the first month a young mother has access to only a limited range of products, among which are:

• gluten-free cereals;
• green vegetables;
• apples;
• dairy products;

Later, the list of allowed foods should be expanded, gradually (by six months) bringing it to the usual level, that is, by including all those foods that your non-nursing relatives eat in everyday life.

The main thing that any nursing mother should remember is that the diet should be varied! You and your baby should get all the necessary vitamins and minerals from food. Don't starve yourself! Eat nutritiously, tasty and healthy, without forgetting the important features of some products.

With the birth of a child, a woman’s life changes. All other problems fade into the background. The main goal is to take care of the baby. For a child to grow strong and healthy, he needs good nutrition. Breastfeeding allows the baby to receive a vital complex of vitamins and nutrients. However, to prevent the baby from having additional problems such as colic or allergic reactions when breastfeeding, the mother must follow a breastfeeding diet.

Why do you need a diet?

Is a diet really necessary when breastfeeding?

In order for the child to receive enough nutrients, the mother needs to eat foods rich in vital vitamins and minerals.

Note! The mother's nutrition should be based on the principles of a healthy diet.

You shouldn't go to extremes. Knowing that she is taking food not only for herself, but also for the child, many women begin to eat 2 times more. This has a detrimental effect on a woman’s health due to excessive stress. Or, in an effort to regain their usual shape after the birth of a baby, women go on a strict diet. This also adversely affects the quality of breast milk.

Do not think that the diet of a nursing mother implies strict restrictions in everything. The main thing is to adhere to a proper and balanced diet.

To ensure that the baby receives all the necessary nutrients in sufficient quantities, and the mother’s body recovers quickly after childbirth, it is recommended to follow the basic advice of breastfeeding experts:

• Try to follow a daily routine and eat at the same time.
• Try to exclude processed foods, canned foods, smoked and spicy foods from your diet.
• The mother's basic diet should include the following nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, fats.
• It is very useful to eat greens. It stimulates the gastrointestinal tract well.
• If, while breastfeeding, a mother experiences slight malaise, dizziness, or nausea, she needs to drink a glass of warm compote or tea with cookies or unsweetened pastries.

Allergy danger

Many young mothers are concerned about the question: is it possible to consume foods that cause allergies while breastfeeding?

It is not recommended to eat foods that can cause allergies in the mother or child in the first months of his life. When the baby reaches the age of 4-5 months, you can gradually begin to introduce additional foods into the mother's diet.

Note! They should be taken in small portions in the morning. After administration, the child’s condition should be monitored for several days.

If an allergic reaction does not appear, you can continue to eat such products.

If you notice that with the introduction of a new product into the diet, your baby’s stool has changed and a rash has appeared, postpone its use for several months.

Products that can cause an allergic reaction:

• Citrus
• Coffee and cocoa
• Chocolate and chocolate candies
• Nuts
• Dairy products from cow's milk
• Seafood

You can start eating them after the baby is six months old. At this age, the main allergens practically do not penetrate into mother's milk and are safe for the child.

It is worth remembering that if a child is prone to allergic reactions, it is necessary to maintain natural breastfeeding for as long as possible, and postpone the start of complementary feeding to a later date. Optimally – after 1 year.

Basic restrictions

There are a huge number of products in the world that can cause irreparable harm to the health of not only the mother, but also the child. A nursing mother should be careful when eating.

So, you should completely exclude the following products:

• Products that cause an allergic reaction
• Soups with meat and fish broths
• Pickled products
• Sour food
• Sweet dishes
• Salty food
• Garlic
• Carbonated drinks

Apples, watermelon, melon, and coffee can be consumed in limited quantities, provided that the child does not have an allergic reaction to these products.

To form a healthy child’s body, a nursing mother is strictly prohibited from consuming:

• Alcohol
• Narcotic substances

Remember that smoking also has a detrimental effect on the body of both mother and child.

The main food should be rich in nutrients and contain the required amount of beneficial vitamins and minerals. What should a mother eat while breastfeeding?

• Eat foods rich in protein. For example, fish, turkey, veal, rabbit. It is acceptable to eat lean pork.

• Calcium is very beneficial for children. It is found in the following products: cottage cheese, natural kefir, drinking yogurt, low-fat sour cream.
• Foods rich in fats. The body receives them from olive, vegetable and butter oils.
• Fruits. They should be used with caution. You can start with apples and gradually add other fruits to your diet. Make sure that they contain a minimum amount of acids.
• Vegetables. Limit yourself to greens. Other types of vegetables are best consumed boiled or as a stew.

• Flour products. It is highly recommended not to eat fresh white bread. It’s better to buy dark bread, preferably bran. It should not be consumed fresh. Ideally, bread for a nursing mother’s diet should be yesterday’s bread. Homemade shortbread cookies and bread are also allowed for consumption.
• Sweet dishes. Give preference to natural products. They should contain a minimum amount of sugar. Jam, marshmallows, marshmallows without chocolate, and marmalade are allowed for consumption. Remember that sweet foods should be consumed in limited quantities.

Proper drinking

When talking about the diet of a nursing mother, one cannot fail to touch upon such an important aspect as the organization of drinking.

Note! For the normal process of lactation, the mother needs to consume an increased amount of fluid per day.

So, to the usual 2 liters of liquid per day for a nursing mother, it is necessary to add up to 1 liter of liquid per day. It doesn't have to be water. You can take the following types of drinks:

• Unsweetened compote
• Milk
• Natural juice

You should start drinking increased amounts of fluid gradually. At the same time, monitor your child’s condition.

Mother's diet and medications

The female body, weakened by childbirth, is susceptible to various diseases. In many cases, for their effective treatment, the doctor prescribes antibiotics. How will medications affect the lactation process?

Consult with a specialist whether the prescribed medication can be taken while breastfeeding. If this is not possible, check whether it is possible to take analogs of the drug that are safe for lactation.

Note! To reduce the baby’s body’s reaction to medications, it is necessary to additionally consume probiotics.

When taking medications, monitor your baby's reaction. If various reactions occur in the form of a rash or fever, constipation or vomiting, it is recommended to limit breastfeeding.

The annoying kilograms gained during pregnancy cause natural anxiety in women after childbirth. Many of them believe that switching to a diet in the first days has a bad effect on the health of the newborn. The existing stereotype is easy to refute if you understand the situation correctly. The baby absorbs all the beneficial substances from breast milk. If the diet is properly balanced and contains the components necessary for the baby, then it cannot harm the baby.

It is also wrong to think that after giving birth, while breastfeeding, mothers gain kilograms and cannot lose weight. It has been scientifically proven that mothers who breastfeed have a soft, feminine figure. By giving your baby breastfeeding up to a year or longer, you help your figure become more beautiful and slimmer. The transformation does not happen instantly, but while your body is mastering and taking on beautiful forms, you are strengthening the psycho-emotional connection with the baby. If you dream of losing weight in a short time during breastfeeding, then watch your diet.

Breastfeeding your baby will help you gradually lose weight and gain feminine curves.

What foods are suitable for nutrition?

Nutritious and high-calorie nutrition are two different concepts. Eat 5 brownies and you'll get a lot of calories, but they won't keep your body healthy. A complete diet is balanced so that it contains all types of healthy foods: vegetables, meat, cereals, dairy products, fruits. What meat or grain you will include in your menu - decide for yourself. Types of food and their value:

• Fats are necessary for the nervous system. A deficiency leads to rapid fatigue and unreasonable irritability. The main thing is to choose the right fats. Animal products will put extra centimeters on your waist. Vegetable oils as a salad dressing will be beneficial.
• Sugar replenishes the amount of glucose in the blood taken to produce breast milk. A decrease in glucose causes deterioration in brain function and leads to apathy. We take sugar not from cakes and ice cream, but from sweet fruits (peaches, pears, grapes, apples) (more details in the article:).
• Preservatives are not allowed. Being fond of sausages, smoked meats, and canned food, it is difficult to lose weight while breastfeeding (we recommend reading:). Think about the fact that the substances they contain can harm your baby. Replace with boiled meat or low-fat fish.
• Monotonous, monotonous nutrition is an enemy for the figure of nursing mothers. This is the opinion of Rimma Moisenko, a nutritionist and herbalist. The doctor is convinced that torturing yourself with heavy diets while experiencing psychological stress means harming the entire body. The doctor recommends adding protein to your diet and eating red meat two to three times a week. Take non-starchy vegetables. Quantity for a weekly menu – 1.5 kg. Vegetable dishes improve intestinal motility and are low in calories. Products containing B vitamins (pasta, dark bread, cereals) are important. Snack on nuts or fruit twice a day.
• It is better to eat fractionally, preparing small portions for yourself and taking them 5-6 times a day. Adapt to your baby's diet and you will easily cope with the task. Eat, like your baby, every 3 hours.

Diet is not the answer. Food should be varied and nutritious

What and how can you drink?

Pregnant women are advised to limit the amount of fluid due to the unnecessary strain on the kidneys. To lose weight after childbirth, you need to bring your drinking regime to a physiological level. The amount of fluid a person should consume is calculated based on 30 ml per kilogram of weight. When breastfeeding, 1 liter is added to the resulting amount, which is used to produce breast milk.

Fluid is important for maintaining normal metabolism. However, not every liquid is useful for a nursing mother to lose weight. Drinking water comes first.

Drinking water is passed through a filter. Pure water affects the stabilization of the intestines, frees the body of toxins, increases the metabolic rate and leads to weight loss. Herbal teas and berry fruit drinks will give the nursing mother’s body vitamins, quench her thirst well, and are pleasant to the taste. Firmly say “no” to sugary carbonated drinks. All of them are high in calories, easily transformed into fats, which are in a hurry to be deposited on the sides and thighs.

Getting enough fluids can be an important part of your postpartum weight loss diet. When you feed milk, you need to replace fluid losses in full. The drinking regime should be strictly observed, because normal lactation depends on the amount of fluid. Remember that every glass of liquid you drink goes towards maintaining your body’s water balance and supporting lactation during breastfeeding.

Menu for fasting days

When your child reaches 4-6 months of age, add fasting days to your diet. Set yourself up for 1-2 fasting days a week. Such “light” days will help nursing mothers speed up the process of losing extra pounds. By giving the body a shake-up in the form of short-term meager nutrition that does not replenish energy expenditure, you will force it to compensate for this loss by burning fat deposits. Unloading when feeding with milk consists of protein and carbohydrate foods, with alternating intake. Approximate diet for fasting days:

Rice	Soak 250 grams of rice cereal in water. Leave it overnight. In the morning, you need to rinse the rice so that the last water is clean. Boil for 15 minutes. We don't add salt. We divide the entire volume into 6 equal parts. This is food for the whole day. We eat the last portion no later than 20:00. You need to drink water. Approximately 2-2.5 liters of drinking water (still). Weight loss is 1-1.5 kg.
Kefir	Divide 1.5 liters of kefir into 6 servings. You should not drink kefir, but eat it slowly with a small spoon. Add 2.5 liters of water to the menu for the whole day.
Kefir-cucumber	For the day we stock up on 600 ml of kefir and 500-600 grams of cucumbers. Divide both products into 4 equal portions. We eat 8 times, changing cucumbers and kefir. We drink 2-2.5 liters of water during the day.
Vegetable	We take vegetables (cucumbers, fresh cabbage, tomatoes, leaf or Beijing lettuce, greens) (we recommend reading:). Approximately 1 kg. We make various salads from them. Divide or cook in small portions so that there is enough for 6 meals. We drink 2-2.5 liters of water.
Apple	You will need 1.5 kilograms of apples. We divide their quantity into 6 equal parts. Don't forget to add 2.5 liters of water you drink per day to your menu.

Vegetable day - very tasty and healthy

Breakdown by protein:

Curd. Option 1	You need to take 600 grams of cottage cheese (light fat content), divide into 6 parts. We save six meals. Add 3 cups of tea without sugar to the cottage cheese. Drinking water in the same volume, 2-2.5 liters per day.
Curd. Option 2	Take 60 grams of low-fat sour cream, 500-600 grams of low-fat cottage cheese, add 1-2 cups of rosehip decoction to them. Traditionally, we divide all products into 6 equal portions. We drink 2-2.5 liters of water.
Meat. Option 1	Boil 300 grams of meat without adding salt, take 2 fresh cucumbers, divide all the resulting products into 6 equal parts, eat throughout the day. Drink: 2 glasses of tea with milk (unsweetened) and 1-2 glasses of rosehip decoction. We drink, as usual, 2-2.5 liters of water per day.
Meat. Option 2	Boil 450 grams of meat for the whole day, divide it into 6 servings to eat in a day. We drink, as usual, 2-2.5 liters of water.
Fish	450 grams of fish (telapia, pike perch, pike, perch) need to be boiled and divided into 6 parts, enough for 6 meals a day. Add 1-2 glasses of rosehip decoction to the menu (we recommend reading:). We drink 2-2.5 liters of water per day.

Supplement moderation in nutrition with feasible physical exercise to help you lose weight faster. Start it 4-6 weeks after birth, if the latter went well.

By increasing your activity, take more walks with your baby and change your walking mode. Alternate fast walking with walking uphill. Walk the pre-planned distance. Avoid sitting on a bench. A double effect on the body, a balanced menu and physical activity, will give a positive result faster, and your figure will again acquire a pleasant shape.

Proper nutrition during breastfeeding is the key to successful lactation, rapid recovery of a woman after childbirth, and normal development and growth of the newborn. This does not mean that mom should go on a strict diet.

You only need to adhere to a strict regime for the first three to four weeks after the baby is born. Then new products are gradually introduced into the diet of the nursing mother, but at the same time you should carefully monitor the well-being and reaction of the baby and follow the recommendations.

Every mother knows that the food she eats passes into breast milk. And then the food components, along with the milk, enter the baby’s body. During the first few months, the baby’s digestion is just getting used to the new conditions. Often new food leads to severe colic, flatulence, allergies and other troubles.

Proper nutrition for a nursing mother will help avoid the problem. Please note that diet also affects breast milk production. So, some foods and drinks enhance lactation. And others, on the contrary, reduce the amount of milk. You can find a list of products to improve lactation at the link /.

Principles of nutrition during breastfeeding

• The diet of a nursing mother should contain a full range of vitamins and beneficial elements. Be sure to eat fish and meat, dairy and fermented milk products, fruits and vegetables. You can't go on a strict diet to lose weight! Such a diet will lead to health problems for the woman and the newborn;
• Meal frequency is five times a day. The menu for a nursing mother includes three main meals and two snacks. It is important to avoid overeating or undereating;
• Don't abuse it! This principle is partly related to the previous one. Overeating causes bloating and severe colic in the baby, stomach upset in the mother, and disrupts bowel movements. Even a safe product in excess leads to a negative reaction. A reasonable approach is the fundamental rule that shapes a woman’s nutrition when breastfeeding;
• When preparing dishes, give preference to stewing, baking or steaming. Fresh fruits can be eaten with caution even after two to three months after the birth of the child. Heat treatment promotes easy digestion of food, while it retains its beneficial properties;
• In the first month, follow a strict diet, exclude from the nursing mother’s menu foods that contain allergens and foods that can cause digestive disorders in the newborn;
• From the second month, new foods are introduced into the diet of a nursing mother. For the first time, try a small piece of food and monitor the child’s well-being for two days. If there are no negative consequences, the food can be eaten without fear. If the baby has an allergy or digestive problems, reduce the dose or delay administration for a month;
• Don't try several new products at the same time! It is important to know what food a newborn reacts to;
• Limit the consumption of fried, too salty, spicy and fatty foods, flour and sweets. Choose fermented milk and dairy products without additives and with low fat content;
• The menu for a nursing mother should not include processed foods, preservatives or other chemicals! Such food will lead to digestive disorders and intoxication;
• When breastfeeding, forget about alcohol. Alcoholic drinks poison the body of the baby and mother, inhibit the development of the baby and provoke diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and nerve cells;
• If there is a lack of vitamins, take special complexes for nursing mothers that are compatible with lactation and safe for babies. Read which vitamin complexes are suitable for breastfeeding mothers;
• Drink more. Warm, abundant drinking cleanses the body, helps with viruses and enhances lactation. The minimum daily volume of liquid is two liters, taking into account that half of the volume is drinking water. A nursing mother's diet should include soups and broths, natural juices and compotes.

Food table for nursing mothers

Can	It is forbidden
Apples, bananas and pears; with caution - persimmon, pomegranate	Citrus and exotic fruits (except bananas)
Zucchini and pumpkin, potatoes and carrots, cauliflower and broccoli; with caution - tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, beets	White cabbage and radishes, radishes and horseradish, bell peppers, onions and garlic (for 4-6 months)
Porridge with water, after 4-5 months - with milk, semolina and multigrain porridge - after 6 months	Mushrooms and sauerkraut, pickles and marinades
Fermented milk and dairy products without additives and low fat content, cow's milk can only be drunk for 4-5 months	Yogurts with additives, high-fat fermented milk products
Lean fish and meat	Lard, smoked, fatty and salted fish and meat
Pasta without egg additives	Ham, sausages, smoked sausage
Chicken eggs - two pieces per week, quail eggs - no more than eight	Mayonnaise, ketchup, sauces
Unrefined vegetable and butter	Semi-finished and canned food, fast food
Dark chocolate, marshmallows and marshmallows, homemade cakes with minimal sugar, biscuits and oatmeal cookies	Flour products with chemical additives and dyes, milk and aerated chocolate
Greenery	Hot herbs and spices
Weak green and black tea, herbal tea and decoctions, chicory	Coffee and strong tea (possible after six months)
Compotes and fruit drinks, natural juices diluted with water	Carbonated drinks and alcohol

Food and drinks

The table provides a short list of products for a nursing mother. Pediatricians and nutritionists give detailed explanations of what, when and in what quantity to consume while breastfeeding. Let's take a closer look at what Can to eat for a nursing mother:

• Lean meat (chicken and turkey, beef and rabbit) boiled or stewed;
• Low-fat fish (pike perch, pollock and cod, hake and flounder) boiled or stewed;
• Dairy and fermented milk products with low fat content (sour cream and cottage cheese, yogurt without additives, fermented baked milk and yogurt). But use whole cow's milk with caution when breastfeeding;
• Cheeses of brine, soft and hard varieties that have undergone a short ripening process. Cheese is best consumed in a salad, casserole or with a sandwich, and not as a separate dish;
• Stewed or steamed vegetables, less often – raw. The safest and healthiest are zucchini, cauliflower and broccoli. You can also include potatoes, carrots and pumpkin in the menu of a nursing mother. You can eat cucumbers, eggplants, beets and tomatoes with caution. By the way, it is better to eat yellow tomatoes;
• Eat fruits that are peeled and peeled. A nursing mother's diet may include green apples, bananas and pears. By the way, apples are the safest fruit that you can eat in the first weeks after childbirth. Use persimmons and pomegranates with caution. Fruits should not be eaten on an empty stomach. The optimal time for taking is two hours after the main meal;
• At first, you should eat porridge with water. Nutrition during breastfeeding consists of buckwheat and oatmeal, corn and rice porridge. Semolina and multigrain porridge can be included in the diet for 5-6 months. Then start cooking milk porridge;

• Pasta can be consumed without egg additives in small quantities and only when boiled;
• Eggs during breastfeeding sometimes cause allergies in infants. Therefore, follow the norm - eat no more than two eggs per week. In this case, eggs are introduced into the diet of a nursing mother from the yolk. If your child has allergies, replace chicken eggs with quail eggs;
• Vegetable oils (sunflower, olive, sesame, etc.) are beneficial for mothers and infants. You can cook with oil or add it to a finished dish. But remember not to overuse!;
• Sweets and flour. Not every woman can go without sweets for a long time. If the baby does not have allergies, the nursing mother can sometimes eat dark chocolate or cookies in small quantities. Among the types of cookies, choose biscuits and oatmeal. In addition, you can eat homemade baked goods without additives and large amounts of sugar. A suitable treat would be apple pie, white marshmallows and meringues, marshmallows. What other sweets you can eat while breastfeeding, read the link;
• Dried fruits are an excellent substitute for sweets. They are easier to digest and do not harm digestion, do not cause allergies and retain the beneficial properties of fresh fruits. At the same time, they have a sweet taste;
• Greens are an excellent addition to dishes on the menu for a nursing mother. Use dill and parsley. These plants will not only add flavor and decorate the dish, but will increase lactation!

As for bread, it is not recommended to eat white and black bread while breastfeeding. You can eat unleavened pita bread, bread and flour products with bran. Now let's look at the products that cannot be consumed when breastfeeding:

• Mushrooms are a difficult food to digest, which impairs digestion, disrupts stool and provokes poisoning;
• Marinades, sauerkraut and pickles cause intoxication in the baby due to the vinegar content and excess salt;
• White cabbage is also difficult for the body to digest and causes bloating in the baby and mother;
• Radish, radish, horseradish are “aggressive” foods that negatively affect the digestion of an infant;
• Semi-finished products, products with artificial preservatives and dyes;
• Fatty and smoked meat, lard, eat pork with caution;
• Fatty fish;

• Hot spices. You can eat onions and garlic while breastfeeding, but in limited quantities. It is recommended to introduce these vegetables into the diet of a nursing mother no earlier than 4-5 months. The norm during lactation is one clove of garlic twice a week. By the way, contrary to the opinion of many mothers, garlic, when consumed in small quantities, does not change the taste of breast milk. And parsley will help eliminate the unpleasant smell.
• Sausages and ham, smoked sausage;
• Exotic fruits, with the exception of bananas. They often cause allergies in children. In addition, chemicals are often added to imported products;
• Sweet chocolate, cakes and sweets with dyes, creams and chemical additives;
• Sauces and mayonnaise, fast food and other junk food.

We have already talked about how important it is to drink plenty of fluids while breastfeeding. Let's look at what you can drink nursing mother:

• Natural juices from apples, pears, carrots. At first, dilute the juice with water 1 to 1. Then gradually reduce the portion of water;
• Compotes of fresh and dried fruits and berries. Apples and pears, prunes and dried apricots, plums and cherries are suitable for a nursing mother. This drink stimulates the intestines and strengthens the immune system. How to prepare compote, read;
• Weak black and green tea. Chamomile tea also has a positive effect on the body;
• Weak coffee is introduced into the diet of a nursing mother after 5-6 months. This is a strong pathogen and allergen that negatively affects the nerve cells and digestion of the newborn. In the first six months of lactation, coffee is replaced with chicory, which is safe for babies;
• Decoctions of fennel, cumin and anise quench thirst and stimulate the production of breast milk. In addition, you can buy special herbal tea for nursing. Read how to choose tea for lactation.

Carbonated and alcoholic drinks should not be included in the diet of a nursing mother! They cause severe intoxication of the newborn's body and harm the woman.

Pediatricians create menus by month and even week for nursing mothers. Knowing the list of permitted products, you can independently choose the diet that suits you best. Here is a sample menu by month that can be adjusted.

For the first week, you need to limit your diet as much as possible and consume only vegetable broth and apple or zucchini puree. On the tenth day, the following can be added to a nursing mother’s diet:

• Galette cookies (“Jubilee” and “Maria”);
• Dried fruits;
• Stewed vegetables (zucchini, carrots, pumpkin, carrots);
• Pasta;
• Fermented milk products: hard cheeses, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese and kefir;
• Boiled fish;
• Bread with bran.

Thus, for the first month, a nursing mother should eat as follows:

1. Dietary boiled poultry, turkey, rabbit or beef;
2. Vegetarian soup;
3. A small amount of butter meat;
4. Applesauce or baked apples and bananas;
5. Olive and sunflower oil;
6. Porridge with water (except semolina);
7. Still drinking water, compote, decoctions and green tea.

The second or third month, in addition to the usual diet, includes raw fruits and vegetables, low-fat borscht. After the third month, gradually introduce potatoes, meat broths, eggs and other permitted foods. After six months, you can diversify your diet as much as possible and start eating semolina porridge, soups, coffee and strong tea.

You can return to your usual menu 1-1.5 years after the baby is born. However, remember that proper nutrition is necessary not only for the full development and growth of the child, but also for you. This is the key to a beautiful and slender figure, good health and well-being.

When and why do you need a hypoallergenic diet?

A hypoallergenic diet includes foods that do not contain allergens and do not cause a negative reaction in the baby. This diet is suitable for the first month after childbirth, when the newborn’s body is still weak and does not always accept new foods.

In addition, such a diet is necessary for intestinal diseases in a newborn child, including pathology of digestion or absorption, and developmental abnormalities. The baby may have an individual intolerance to certain food components.

You also need to follow a diet if you have hereditary allergies, when there are repeated cases of food allergies, allergies to wool, insect bites and other types in the family. Such a diet will reduce the possible risks of an allergic reaction in the baby.

Recipes for nursing mothers

The menu of a nursing mother may include not only cereals and purees, but also a delicious variety of nutritious dishes. We present several healthy and easy recipes that will complement your diet while breastfeeding.

Borsch

Borscht during lactation should be mild and not fried. To prepare, steam the vegetables or add them fresh. For the broth, use veal or beef without streaks.

Do not use tomato paste or tomato juice for cooking. Use fresh, peeled tomatoes. But adding zucchini to the soup will soften the effect of the “heavy” beets. Instead of white cabbage, use cauliflower. If you are using traditional cabbage, steam the product.

Before cooking, soak a piece of meat in cold water for two hours. This will eliminate harmful substances. And then cook in fresh water for 1.5-2 hours. To prepare vegetables, take beets and cabbage, potatoes and carrots. You can also use zucchini, as mentioned earlier.

Cut the beets into strips, potatoes and zucchini into cubes. Chop the cabbage and grate the carrots. When the meat is cooked, add the vegetables and cook the soup over low heat. Five minutes before readiness, add salt. You can add herbs and sour cream to the finished dish.

Cottage cheese casserole

A healthy and simple dish that is included in the diet of every nursing mother. Apples, raisins or dried apricots will help diversify the casserole. To prepare, take:

• Cottage cheese – 500 grams;
• Chicken egg – 1 pc.;
• Flour or semolina - 3 tbsp. spoons;
• Sour cream – 2-3 tbsp. spoons;
• Sugar – 2-3 tbsp. spoons.

The casserole is prepared in the oven, microwave or slow cooker, depending on capabilities and preferences. Consider a classic recipe for cottage cheese casserole in the oven. Mix semolina or flour with cottage cheese, and beat the egg with sugar. The egg and sugar are poured into a plate with cottage cheese and flour. Stir the mixture until smooth. You can add fruits, dried fruits or berries.

Grease a baking dish with vegetable oil, lay out the mixture and soak with sour cream. Cook the casserole for 40 minutes at 180 degrees. By the way, cottage cheese can also be prepared at home! This will not take much time and effort, but you will be confident in the composition and shelf life of the product. Read how to make cottage cheese at home.

Rice casserole

A lot of dishes are prepared from rice. These are salads and cereals, pilaf and risotto, soups and casseroles. To prepare the rice casserole, take:

• Rice – 350 grams;
• Chicken fillet – 400 grams;
• Grated cheese – 150 grams;
• Sour cream – 150 grams;
• Chicken eggs – 2 pcs.;
• Tomatoes – 1-2 pcs.;
• Vegetable oil – 4 tbsp. spoons;
• Salt and herbs to taste.

Rinse the rice thoroughly, cut the fillet into pieces. Salt and mix the ingredients, add a glass of water and simmer under a closed lid until the rice is ready. When the rice has cooled, add sour cream and beaten eggs. Stir the mixture, add peeled and chopped tomatoes. Sprinkle grated cheese and herbs on top. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 200 degrees.

Baked apples

An optimal and safe dish during lactation. To prepare, take two or three green apples, peel them, remove the top and core with seeds. This way you will get an apple “cup”. Pour one teaspoon of sugar inside this “cup” and cover with the top. Cook the apples in the microwave for five to six minutes.

You will find even more ways to prepare soups, main courses, desserts and baked goods in the article “”.

The diet of a woman who has chosen breastfeeding for herself and her child requires special attention. After all, the foods that a nursing mother can eat affect the condition of her baby. With milk, the baby’s body receives all the elements and vitamins necessary for growth and development. An incorrectly designed menu can lead to stomach upsets, allergic reactions and many other unpleasant consequences.

Guide to healthy eating

Food influences the entire lactation process. Some foods increase the amount of milk produced, while others can reduce it. At the same time, they affect the taste of breast milk in such a way that the baby may refuse to breastfeed altogether. A high-quality menu ensures the production of the required volume of milk and the full development of the child.

To select the right products you need:

• Choose your food wisely, do not overeat, because... excess nutrition entails gastric discomfort not only in the nursing mother, but also in the child;
• choose hypoallergenic products in the first 4 weeks after birth to protect the newborn from allergies;
• start experimenting with variety in the menu no earlier than the second month, new food is consumed in small portions and the reaction of the child’s body is assessed within 2-3 days;
• drink a lot of liquid, preferably warm, this will stimulate the formation of milk and at the same time cleanse the female body;
• treat products containing animal protein with caution (eggs, milk);
• take into account the saturation of the food consumed with essential nutrients and minerals; their deficiency slows down the growth and development of the infant;
• Avoid fried and spicy foods; it is better if they are steamed, stewed or baked in the oven;
• limit yourself to flour and butter delicacies, as well as various sweets;
• completely remove alcohol and soda from your drink list;
• do not consume canned products;
• Avoid mushrooms and homemade pickles; salt and acetic acid can cause poisoning, and mushroom dishes are difficult to digest;
• Do not improve the taste of food by adding seasonings and spices, and also avoid mayonnaise and various sauces.

What products are allowed and in what quantities?

The following table tells you what a nursing mother can eat and what not:

Can	In what quantity	It is forbidden
Beef and rabbit meat, turkey and chicken, minced poultry or beef	no more than 300 g	Pork and smoked meats, fatty meat containing veins and lard, sausage, ham, semi-finished products and canned meat
Lean fish (such as pollock or cod)	no more than 300 g	Fatty or salted herring or mackerel, canned fish and crab sticks
Fermented milk products, low-fat cottage cheese	no more than half a liter of kefir, fermented baked milk, etc., 150 grams of cottage cheese, 30 grams of hard cheese and sour cream	Salted and processed cheeses, curd cheeses or drinks with fruit fillings
Egg	chicken – 1 pc., quail – 4 pcs.	Any eggs if you have allergic reactions
Fruits (pear, banana, apple)	no more than 300 g	Bright red or orange exotic fruits
Vegetables (cucumber, potatoes, zucchini, cauliflower, parsley and dill, carefully carrots, beets and tomatoes)	no more than 600 g	Radish, horseradish, white cabbage, sweet pepper, radish, basil with sage
Sweet and rich foods (a little dark chocolate and ice cream without fillers, oatmeal cookies and biscuits, not very sweet homemade pastries)		Baking and glazed ice cream flavored with various coloring fillers or other chemical compounds, wheat bread, jams and preserves
Dishes from cereals (rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, corn) and pasta	no more than 150 g	Semolina porridge and pasta containing egg
Sauces, vegetable oil from sunflower, olive or flax, butter	15 g vegetable oil 30 g butter	Ketchups, sauces, mayonnaise
Freshly squeezed apple or carrot juice, still drink, weak black or green tea	more than 2 l	Alcoholic or carbonated drinks, strong tea, coffee, citrus or tomato juices

Fermented milk products and milk

Whole milk

Taking cow's milk does not affect the quality of breast milk, but the protein it contains is an allergen and can harm the baby.

Doctors do not advise drinking milk until five months, but if the child does not have a tendency to allergies, it is allowed to start drinking it earlier.

The list of permitted products includes baked milk, because... has better digestibility and does not affect the quality of lactation. Goat's milk is suitable during breastfeeding, but not everyone can drink it due to its specific taste. First, all cereals are boiled in water; porridge in milk can be cooked starting from the fourth month.

Cottage cheese

Eating cottage cheese is a must when breastfeeding. Without it, the formation of the bone skeleton will be difficult. It is also an excellent stimulant for brain activity and mental processes. It is important that the cottage cheese contains no impurities or additives, and it is even better if it is homemade.

Kefir

Some nursing mothers doubt that they can continue breastfeeding after taking kefir, because it contains a small amount of alcohol. But its quantity is negligible and insignificant, which absolutely does not threaten any unpleasant consequences for the baby. However, pediatricians suggest including it in the diet no earlier than the child is six months old. Kefir has a positive effect on the intestinal microflora, improves the condition of hair and nails, but you should not include it in the menu more than three times a week.

Cheese

The list of products for breastfeeding contains cheeses. When the baby turns 2 months old, hard varieties are introduced into the permitted foods during breastfeeding, and then feta cheese or other soft and pickled varieties are added to them. As for processed cheeses, it is advisable to avoid them.

Sour cream

Sour cream for nursing mothers is indicated with a low fat content; it is added to cottage cheese, salad or soup. Dairy products such as fermented baked milk or yogurt also do no harm during guards. Products purchased by nursing mothers must be fresh, so it is necessary to additionally check their production date when purchasing.

Which fruits to choose?

The list of foods allowed during lactation includes some fruits. It is impossible to imagine a balanced diet without including these tasty and healthy fruits. In order to choose a fruit that will not cause harm in the form of allergies, stool disorders or other troubles, you should:

1. choose fruits whose color is not bright, the only exceptions being those fruits that are easily removed from the red or orange peel;
2. do not overuse citrus fruits;
3. Before consumption, clarify the degree of influence of the desired fruit on the state of the intestinal microflora.

Apples

In the first month after giving birth, you can eat apples. First, you need to remove the skin from green fruits. These fruits are very beneficial for blood composition and hemoglobin levels. When consumed regularly, apples reduce the risk of constipation.

Pears

Pears are also permitted foods. They promote hematopoiesis, stabilize the heart and digestion. Even though pears are sweeter than apples, they have less sugar content. You must remember that you cannot eat pears on an empty stomach, and you must peel them before eating.

Bananas

Bananas are an acceptable food for breastfeeding. If eaten between meals, they are a great snack, and mashed bananas are good for breakfast. Bananas relieve insomnia, improve mood and stimulate the immune system.

Peaches

3 months after giving birth, you can try peach and nectarine. You should eat them carefully when breastfeeding due to the presence of an allergen in them. In general, peaches protect against stress and depression, relieve swelling, and improve mood.

Plums

It is better to pre-cook plums and drink plum compote; it increases the amount of milk produced, strengthens the skeletal system and normalizes blood circulation.

Fresh fruits and berries grown during their ripening season, rather than greenhouse hybrids, are well suited for feeding a nursing mother.

So white and yellow cherries can be eaten in the period May-August, nectarines and peaches - mid-July-September, figs - from June to the end of September, ripen in October-December persimmon, and useful pomegranates will be in stores from September to December.

Until the child is 3 months old, it is better if the fruit is eaten dried or baked. This will reduce the content of allergens in them.

Which vegetables to choose?

Tomatoes

All vegetables that are red in color should be treated with caution; in addition to beneficial elements, they contain pectin, which can cause severe skin rashes. But it’s absolutely impossible to do without them.

If we talk about tomatoes, then, in general, they have a positive effect on the body. They increase stress resistance and fight the formation of cancer cells, and have immunostimulating properties. To make sure that they are completely harmless, you must first experiment with fruits of yellow shades and eat them without the skin.

Broccoli, cabbage

Everyone knows about the benefits of broccoli and cauliflower. Their use cannot harm an infant; on the contrary, vitamin C will help improve mood and strengthen the baby’s immune system, fighting viral infections and stress. The same cannot be said about white cabbage. It is difficult to digest and threatens the child with digestive disorders.

Zucchini

Allowed for feeding nursing mothers from the first days after birth. They contain a large amount of vitamins and nutrients, they help cleanse the body and cope with excess weight, lower blood pressure and normalize the activity of the nervous system.

cucumbers

It must be used very carefully to avoid unpleasant manifestations from the pancreas. During lactation, preference should be given only to fresh young cucumbers with the highest content of vitamin C. This vegetable helps eliminate excess fluids and cleanse the kidneys, improves the condition of the heart muscle and increases resistance to stressful situations.

Nursing mothers are prohibited from using cucumbers in pickles and marinades with cucumbers. They retain fluid and lead to poisoning. But in pickle, after heat treatment, pickled cucumbers lose this property, therefore, during the war, after six months, it is completely permissible to use it.

Carrot

Carrots, which improve visual functions and skin, should be introduced into food with care during breastfeeding, because may cause allergic reactions.

Eggplant

The list of foods that should be eaten with caution during the period includes eggplants. They are not prohibited, but are allowed to be eaten after 3 months of a baby’s life in moderate quantities. Eggplants improve metabolic processes in the body, stimulate the kidneys, liver, and digestive system. Eating eggplant will help your baby cope with constipation.

Beet

Another natural remedy for constipation is beets. The main thing is not to overdo it. It should be present in the diet in small quantities to improve digestion, development and strengthening of the skeleton.

Vegetables that can be eaten by a nursing mother must be properly prepared, steamed, boiled, baked or stewed. To consume the fruits fresh, they must be washed well.

What drinks are preferable?

The list of foods and drinks allowed during breastfeeding increases by month. During the first four weeks of a child's life, it is not advisable to drink anything other than plain water and green tea.

Pure still water must be drunk throughout the entire period when the baby is attached to the mother's breast. Green tea has a tonic effect, which is important for coffee lovers, which is included in the list of prohibited foods for a nursing mother. In addition, this drink promotes milk production.

During the second month, black tea, freshly squeezed apple and carrot juice are excluded from the “prohibited products” register. It is important that the strength of the tea is not strong, and water is added to the juices, diluted by half. Gradually the volume of water is reduced. Juice from tomatoes, oranges, grapefruits and exotic fruits remains prohibited.

Berry compotes perfectly quench thirst and replenish vitamin reserves. Fresh fruits are also suitable for making compotes: apples, pears, plums, dried apricots, prunes and raisins. It is better not to use all possible brightly colored berries for making a drink. Currants, strawberries or wild strawberries can cause allergies in a child.

Dairy products can be consumed with great caution; it is better not to introduce them into the diet earlier than 6 months after birth. There is also a ban on coffee for six months. It has an exciting effect on the baby's nervous system and increases anxiety. For those who feel uncomfortable without coffee, a drink made from chicory is suitable.

It is strictly forbidden to drink alcoholic and carbonated drinks while breastfeeding. They certainly harm the woman’s body, and cause irreparable damage to the baby’s health.

What to eat to enhance lactation?

The amount of milk produced depends on the measures taken by the mother to maintain and increase lactation. To do this, you need to regularly put the baby to the breast, choose the right position for feeding, monitor the condition of the breasts and nipples, wear special bras, and give breastfeeding to the baby at his request, especially at night.

An increased drinking regime is very important for lactation; warm drinks are especially good at stimulating the production of breast milk. A number of foods that are allowed during breastfeeding can also contribute to this process.

You can improve lactation with:

• lean meat, chicken, turkey and rabbit are suitable;
• broths and soups cooked with the same lean meat;
• some cereals (rolled buckwheat);
• a small amount of nuts (walnuts);
• herbal teas specially designed for lactation;
• infusions of cumin and fennel;
• feta cheese;
• cottage cheese;
• bread with the addition of bran and caraway seeds;
• carrots;
• ginger and tea with it;
• gooseberries, white and red currants.

Products allowed for breastfeeding women should not be very hot or cold. This can be harmful; it is better to take all foods slightly cooled or slightly warmed up.