How is mother's health and diet related with breastfeeding?
Since the nutritional requirements of the baby must be satisfied solely by the breast milk in exclusive breastfeeding it is important for the mother to maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially with regards to her diet. This usually involves a high calorie, high nutrition diet which follows on from that in pregnancy. Some breastfeeding advisers suggest mothers avoid certain gas producing food, such as beans, if the baby starts to develop colic or gas.
Breastfeeding mothers must use caution if they regularly consume nicotine through tobacco smoking. In addition to reducing the milk supply, heavy use of cigarettes (more than 20 per day) has been shown to cause vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, and restlessness in infants. In general, though, nicotine in breast milk is not easily absorbed into the infant's intestinal tract and is quickly metabolized. Research is ongoing to determine whether the benefits of breastfeeding out-weigh the potential harm of nicotine in breast milk. The effects of a smoky environment are thought to have links to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Breastfeeding mothers who smoke are counselled not to do so during or immediately before feeding their child.
Heavy alcohol consumption is known to be harmful to the infant, but there is no consensus on how much alcohol may be safely consumed. It is generally agreed that small amounts of alcohol may be occasionally consumed by a breastfeeding mother. Levels of alcohol in breast milk peak 30 to 90 minutes after one drink of moderate alcoholic content. Considering the known dangers of alcohol exposure to the developing fetus, many medical professionals believe it is prefereable to err on the side of caution with alcohol exposure to a baby and have breastfeeding women restrict their alcoholic intake.
Excessive caffeine consumption by the mother can cause irritability, sleeplessness, nervousness and increased feeding in the breastfed infant. Moderate use (one to two cups per day) usually produces no effect. Breastfeeding mothers are advised to avoid or restrict caffeine intake. |
