What’s the Difference Between a Good Diet for Pregnancy and for Breastfeeding?

You’ve spent the last nine-ten months watching your diet for pregnancy and making sure that you are getting adequate nutrition from whole food sources. You have opted to skip out on the processed foods, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.

You may be a little tired of having to bow out of sushi night or to toast a glass of apple juice at that wedding instead of champagne, but the good news is that you have developed sound habits over the course of your pregnancy. These habits will make it that much easier to transition into a healthy diet and lifestyle which will lend itself to feeding your baby the best that nature can provide: breast milk.

Healthy Eating During Pregnancy Isn’t Unlike Healthy Eating During Breastfeeding

Perhaps the only difference between your pre-preggers diet and your post-preggers diet will be the strictness of your meal plans. You will be able to eat fresh wild fish more freely, and you can feel free to have one glass of wine if you plan on pumping as well to feed your little guy or gal.

However, it is just as important to get all of the nutrients you were vying for during your term. Load up on protein, complex carbohydrates, and fresh fruits & vegetables.

Even though what you are eating will be metabolized to some degree before it is made into breast milk, it is your responsibility as your baby’s only food source to give him the most healthy breast milk you possibly can. These first few months are paramount to his brain development and neurological growth, what you are providing him will be the fast track to a healthy child.

The Skinny on Breast Milk: How Healthy Is It?

There are several components in breast milk that protect your new baby from many common infections and diseases. Depending on what time of year your baby is born, your breast milk may have the power to ward off the flu during flu season, or protect him from the colds that seem to running rampant in your neighborhood.

Also, the way that breast milk is formulated makes it easier to digest than store-bought formulas. This allows your new baby to easily digest and pass his or her food without much trouble. Breast milk is also packed with easily absorbed calcium, which your baby will need a lot of as his or her bones continue to grow and set.