What foods should I eat? What foods should I avoid? Will my diet affect the baby? 

Often, new mothers are confronted with many questions as they begin to breastfeed their babies. Breastfeeding for beginners can be challenging, confusing, and tiring, all at the same time. The Postpartum period, often called the fourth trimester, is a time of significant physical and emotional changes for the new mother. The body must support the demands of breastfeeding at a time that calls for special care, nourishment, and support to recover from childbirth.

A healthy diet is crucial for recovery, healing, and breastfeeding at this stage. Janika Ayurveda, the best pregnancy care provider, explores the importance of dietary changes during lactation. With the best Ayurvedic doctors in Kochi and Bangalore, Janika Ayurveda, the best postpartum care provider in Kochi, encourages new mothers to follow a nutritious and rich postpartum diet that supports the mother’s well-being and the baby’s nourishment requirements.

Breastfeeding and its benefits:

Nurturing the newborn is a fundamental part of the reproductive process and offers many benefits to the mother and the child.

Let’s explore the key benefits:

1. Nutritional and Immunity Benefits: Also called ‘Liquid Gold’, breastmilk is a perfect balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. The first milk made by the breasts called Colostrum is rich in antibodies and provides immune support to the baby.
2. Easy Digestion: Breast milk is gentle on the baby’s digestive system and is easily digestible. Breastfeeding can help prevent digestive problems in infantst, like constipation and colic.
3. Bonding and Emotional Connection: Skin-to-skin contact, eye contact, and physical proximity between the mother and the baby during nursing promote emotional attachment and a sense of security.
4. Convenience: Besides all its uses for nourishment and bonding, breastfeeding is convenient. It eliminates the need for formula preparation and bottle sterilization. This is more convenient, especially during the night.
5. Long-term Health Benefits: For the baby, breastfeeding reduces the risk of diseases like diabetes, obesity, and certain infections. Mothers who breastfeed their babies have a lesser risk of postpartum depression, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis. To know more, talk to best lactation specialists in Kochi. 

It is important to note here that breastfeeding may not be possible for all new mothers. This could be due to their personal, health, and even logistical challenges. In such cases, formula feeding is the only valid alternative.

Also read: The goodness of breastfeeding for the postpartum mother and the baby.

What Dietary changes are required during lactation?

Breastfeeding consumes a lot of the mother’s energy and nutrients. Eating well, staying hydrated, and following a good lactation-focused diet can help meet the extra nutrition demands.

1. Warm and nourishing foods: Janika Ayurveda, the best Ayurvedic postpartum care provider in Kochi, advices new mothers to consume warm and nourishing foods that are easy to digest. Rice, Daliya (Broken Wheat), lentils, and ghee are recommended. The foods provide essential nutrients without overtaxing the digestive system of the mother.
2. Soups: The new mother can enjoy meat or chicken soup from day eight post-delivery if she is allowed by her medical practitioner to get back to her normal diet.
3. Spices and Herbs: The food for the new mother can incorporate spices and herbs like Fenugreek, fennel, cumin, black pepper, dry ginger and ajwain. They promote lactation.
4. Laddoos: Laddoos can be prepared for the lactating mother using ingredients like Fenugreek, dry ginger, dry coconut, jaggery and dry fruits. This not only aids in milk production but promotes postpartum health, too.
5. Nutritional powerhouse: Drumstick is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron and calcium. Garlic has antifungal properties. Use drumstick leaves and garlic in your diet to nourish the health of the postpartum mother.
6. Calcium and iron: Calcium is lost from the body during breastfeeding. Therefore, the mother needs to follow a calcium-rich diet by including Milk, cheese and yoghurt. Consult our lactation specialists in Kochi to get your personalized diet during lactation.

To know more, talk to best lactation specialists in Bangalore. 

Consulting the best lactation specialists in Kochi and Bangalore:

The doctors and lactation specialists at Janika Ayurveda are equipped to address the individual needs of new mothers and provide support for any lactation-related challenges. Along with bringing changes in the diet to accommodate lactation needs, it is also important that the mother is happy and emotionally adequate.

Lactation specialists at Janika Ayurveda can help new breastfeeding mothers navigate this journey with optimal health and well-being. Janika Ayurveda understands that every mother’s journey is unique and can provide personalized guidance and solutions to meet specific needs. Make informed choices today by getting in touch.
For more on Lactation counseling, click here.