Article by Julian Hee
Medical experts suggest that all infants should be breastfed until they reach six months old. Breast-milk is the single most important source of baby nutrition, it provides nutrients that are easy to digest and in the right quantities. It is also packed full with antibodies that are fundamental in developing an infant’s immune system.
It has been discovered that babies that are exclusively breastfed are less at risk from medical complaints such as stomach upset and respiratory infections, this is simply not the case with those children that are predominantly bottle fed. Obesity, vomiting, and constipation can also be reduced when breast milk is offered, and it is even believed that conditions such as allergies and diabetes can be kept to a minimum.
Breast milk is known to contain various substances that help in the essential development of an infant’s brain, gut lining, retinas, and central nervous system. Digestive enzymes which are vital in breaking down nutrients are also found in the milk.
When breastfeeding, a mother should choose her diet extremely carefully. Breastfeeding is believed to use up around five hundred calories each day, though some of this is sourced from the fat which was laid down during the pregnancy. It is normal for a woman that is feeding a child from the breast to feel a greater amount of hunger than previously, and these signals need to be responded to to ensure good health.
The increased appetite should be satisfied with foods that have a high nutritional value as opposed to only sugary and fatty products. There will be a need to boost intake of calcium, protein, and vitamins A and C. Though the normal recommendation of a balanced diet should be followed, a new parent often does not have the time to spend cooking up three nutritious meals a day, but nevertheless this should be an activity that is encouraged.
It is believed that the only nutrient needed by babies and which can be missing from breast milk is vitamin D. For this reason, dieticians that focus on helping new mothers often suggest that a vitamin D supplement should be taken of at least 10mg per day.
Fluid intake is also important, every breastfeeding woman should consume a lot of clean fresh water. Caffeine can be transferred from mother to child through the breast, therefore it is suggested that tea and coffee should be limited until the child is old enough to stop being breastfed.
About the Author
Julian Hee is a fitness enthusiast and has started bodybuilding guide, which is dedicated to bodybuilding supplements: best protein powder, creatine monohydrate, meal replacement bar, glutamine, etc.