While the baby was in the stomach, all the necessary substances came to him thanks to the umbilical cord. But having been born, the first months the baby eats only breast milk, which must be tasty and saturate the small body with all the necessary elements. Therefore, the nutrition of the mother is the nutrition of the baby. Hence the question arises - what should not be nursing mother?
Digestion adaptation
Already 10 hours after birth, active processes begin in the intestine - beneficial microorganisms are populated there to help good digestion. But still the first months are very difficult, primarily because the flora of the gastrointestinal tract is formed. It is this process that gives the baby a lot of pain, anxiety. Discomfort is especially intensified towards evening. The baby then alerts the parents with a cry that he is very ill. Usually abdominal pain resolves by three months.
But while the children's stomach is so tender that it is not able to absorb the complex components. That is why a nursing woman needs to monitor her own diet, mainly using diet foods. Breast milk contains substances that aid good digestion through enzymes and the bifidus factor, which support the beneficial intestinal microflora. Because breastfeeding is so indispensable. It protects the child from dysbiosis, pathologies of the digestive system, allergies and other diseases.
Does mom need to change the diet
The first time after childbirth, the menu should not differ in a wide variety and wide choice. These are mainly light dishes, such as non-frying vegetable soup, kefir, gluten-free cereals and baked apples. This restriction is caused by concerns:
- The possibility of an infant experiencing an allergic reaction to any component.
- Difficulty digesting complex ingredients.
Raw vegetables and fruits - this is what you can not eat the nursing mother in the first postpartum month because of the colic that then occurs in the baby. Of particular danger are those vegetables or fruits that were grown in greenhouse conditions, since they probably have a large amount of nitrates. It will be necessary to introduce them into the diet gradually, in small portions, observing the behavior of the baby. Since a child may have an individual intolerance to a particular product.
A woman in this period has a difficult time - she and the baby need useful substances, therefore they are required in an increased volume. And you can get them only thanks to a balanced diet. But at the same time, there are restrictions on the menu, and what will benefit during this period, and what harm is what worries a nursing woman. But not so confusing.
What determines the production of breast milk?
Lactation does not depend on the nutrition of a woman. Breast milk appears due to the work of the hormonal system, namely prolactin and oxytocin, and milk is produced from elements taken from blood plasma. Because of this, nutrition affects lactation, only slightly changing the content of any substances.
This means that even with very limited nutrition, the child will receive the proper amount of milk along with nutrients. So nature took care: to give to the growing organism from mother everything that is required for development and health. Because breast milk has everything necessary and beneficial for the health of the baby.
But still you need to think about nutrition and, first of all, to know what you should not eat to a nursing mother.
Harmful drinks
Nutritionists, pediatricians may sometimes disagree about a specific product that is not possible during the lactation period, but in one they are in agreement - alcoholic beverages, even weak ones, are strictly prohibited.
A derivative component of alcohol-containing drinks - ethanol - spreads very quickly, destroying the body. It also enters the mammary glands, and in very high concentration. And once in the child’s body, first of all, it negatively affects the liver, which is not yet sufficiently developed and is not ready for such loads. If a nursing mother systematically drinks alcohol even in small doses, this addiction leads to the following consequences for her baby:
- both physical and mental development is delayed;
- nervous disorders occur that can lead to dementia;
- the vessels of the heart and brain are affected;
- intoxication of the whole organism begins, since alcohol is very slowly eliminated.
It is noticed that drinking even beer leads to a decrease in the amount of breast milk.
Can I drink carbonated drinks during lactation?
Drinking carbonated drinks, as well as alcoholic drinks, is not recommended. The ban on them is quite justified, since most contain a large amount of caffeine, and it acts too excitingly not fragile children's nervous system. It contains carbon monoxide, which can irritate the esophagus. And a high sugar content for a woman is fraught with the threat of gaining extra pounds.
Strong tea or coffee has an exciting effect on the baby, and a drink such as cocoa will be a big load on the heart muscle. Juices are not recommended at this time, it is better to replace them with compotes.
Products that will not benefit your baby
Sausages and sausages - this is what you can not eat a nursing mother, especially in the first months after the birth of the baby. In such meat products, too often put various flavorings and colorings to improve the taste, as well as hazardous preservatives. In addition, these products are fatty and spicy. All these ingredients give a very big load not only on the children's stomach, but also on the pancreas.
For the same reason, any chips should be excluded from the diet. They necessarily contain aromatic additives and artificial ingredients that can poison the children's body for a long time. There is also a lot of fat in this product.
Dangerous sauces
Home-made sauces do not pose a threat, as they are made from natural ingredients. But shopping in the period of lactation should be tried to completely eliminate.
For example, in ketchup, which looks very appetizing on the store counter, in fact, modified starch and preservatives, vinegar and pepper, which are harmful to the children's stomach, are hidden.
Mayonnaise is also not recommended for nursing mothers. It is digested very slowly, it contains mainly a lot of preservatives and harmful additives. It is considered a very high-calorie product.
The effect of nuts on breast milk production
Every mother wants the baby to eat hearty and tasty, but in the first months, except for breast milk, she can not give him anything tasty and healthy. Therefore, she tries to eat such products that will benefit the crumbs. For example, women try to include nuts in the diet, as it is believed that they give milk fat and at the same time increase lactation. But this is the wrong opinion.
From nuts, fat content cannot increase, only the composition of fats in breast milk can change, and this will lead to the fact that milk changes its consistency - it becomes viscous, and it will be more difficult for a child to get food. Therefore, it is better to consider that you can not eat nuts for a nursing mother so that the baby does not experience difficulties during the next satiation.
Mushrooms - is it possible or not?
Mushrooms during lactation are also on the list, which should not be eaten by nursing mothers. This product belongs to the category of heavy food and still contains a very large amount of vinegar if the mushrooms are pickled or salted. Vinegar has a detrimental effect on the mucous membrane of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract.
By the way, nursing mothers are not recommended even home-made mushroom canning. Since, during collection, the botulism pathogen could get onto the mushroom from the soil. In the absence of oxygen in the bank, it feels very comfortable, therefore it develops rapidly, and, which is especially dangerous, forms the strongest toxin. The consequences of such poisoning are:
- severe headache and dizziness;
- visual impairment;
- obstructed movement;
- dry mouth.
Children under 5 years of age are not recommended to eat mushrooms, even if they are in the dishes as a filling, since the children's body does not yet have enough enzymes necessary for their digestion.
What else should be excluded from the diet?
To the list of what foods a nursing mother cannot, you need to add various seafood, which primarily includes mussels, shrimps, crab sticks and squid. And all due to the fact that they can be quite strong allergens.
There are a number of products that contribute to increased gas formation. Among them are:
- grapes;
- black varieties of bread;
- cabbage;
- cucumbers.
But if the mother does not observe such a reaction after the foods eaten, then in the child only in rare cases, bloating can occur. But there may be such a thing - the baby becomes lethargic and capricious, he may even open up vomiting. It is dangerous if the food is not digested, but remains in the intestines. For the same reason, it is necessary to exclude from the diet dishes with legumes - beans and peas, lentils, since it is possible to provoke the appearance of strong colic in a baby.
Diarrhea can also occur if the mother could not resist and ate fresh apples or pears. They have a high fiber content, and this substance speeds up the intestines.
Restriction of fruits and vegetables
Doctors do not advise during breastfeeding to eat primarily fruits and vegetables that are red or yellow in color. This color indicates that there is a red pigment, and it is a dangerous source of allergic reactions.
Concern should be given to fruits brought from distant lands. Doctors explain why nursing mothers should not eat overseas gifts: they can cause an allergic reaction due to the fact that the body does not perceive some components. Especially dangerous in this regard are citrus fruits.
It is not recommended to eat garlic, onions or spicy plants during lactation, that is, all products that have a pronounced taste - spicy, bitter or too rich aromatic, as they can significantly change the taste of milk, and for the child it will be very stressful. And chili peppers can even burn the larynx through milk. It is not surprising if the baby refuses food.
Sweet bans
Chocolate is one of the most beloved sweets, but during breastfeeding, doctors advise to be patient, and if there is an irresistible desire to taste a small piece, then it is better if it is pure dark chocolate, and not milk, white or with fillers.
Appetizing and delicious buns or cakes, muffins and cookies cause fermentation in the baby’s stomach. This means that this type of confectionery will be banned for some time.
Candy sweets contain many colors and flavors that can adversely affect the digestive system of the baby. For the same reason, it is not recommended to eat marmalade and jelly-like sweets for a nursing mother.
Allergy Prevention
From recommendations that a nursing mother should not eat, one can identify foods with a high protein content, as there is a fear that the baby’s intestines may respond with pain. Therefore, doctors advise to include dairy products in the menu - kefir, fermented baked milk or cheese. They also have protein, but slightly altered, but it is perceived more sparingly by the body.
Porridge that contains gluten - this is what you can not eat the first months of lactating mother in order to avoid allergies in the child. Almost all cereals contain this protein. The exception is porridge from buckwheat, rice and corn.
Products that can adversely affect your health and lead to allergies include:
- sausage products;
- honey;
- smoked meats;
- wheat flour products;
- soy;
- fish
- products that are contained in vacuum packaging;
- chicken eggs.
Protecting the baby from constipation, you need to remember that you can not eat a nursing mother in the first period after the birth of the baby. These are products that cause food allergies, since as a result of this pathological process, inflammatory reactions occur in the intestinal walls. In addition, the symptoms of food allergies are quite difficult to get rid of.
Doctors say that if a woman is not allergic to any product, then the baby should not have it either, and therefore the list that can not be given to a nursing mother in the first month and in the following ones can be gradually increased. The main thing is to observe how the child reacted to the new dish.
Conclusion
Although some foreign pediatricians believe that there is no point in a diet for nursing mothers, you should not ignore it. The fact that the baby's body responds to changes in the composition of mother's milk is difficult to dispute. Therefore, at first it is better to try to limit yourself from harmful and allergenic food.
Usually, by the age of 6 months, a mother can afford an extended menu, since the child’s body is quite adapted to new components. Therefore, the question of what you can not eat a nursing mother after childbirth is gradually resolved by itself. A mother's properly composed diet will help the baby gradually learn various foods.