What should I eat while breastfeeding, is there anything I should avoid?
Generally anything you are happy to eat is fine, unless there is a family history of food allergy. Breastfeeding does burn up to 500 calories a day so it is important you are eating foods that are healthy and good for you, following a diet similar to that which you ate while you were pregnant full of proteins, calcium, carbohydrates should ensure you have enough to keep you healthy as well as produce enough milk for your baby.Breastfeeding also makes you very thirsty so make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids, a good tip is to have a pint glass of water with you to drink at every feed.
There is the added advantage that your milk will change flavour slightly due to what you eat which means by the time you come to wean your child onto solid food, they are already used to different tastes.
Can I take medication while breastfeeding?
Most drugs that you take will enter your breastmilk so it is best if you ask the advice of your GP or pharmacist before taking any over the counter medicine. Generally paracetamol and ibuprofen are safe pain killers.Postnatal depression is something more that 50% of mums face and you may find that your GP will tell you that you need to stop breastfeeding to take antidepressants, this is not true. Stand your ground and ask your GP to research this thoroughly. If you look on our PND forum you will find many mums who can give you advice on this.
What can my partner do to be involved?
Many new dads feel left out when a new baby enters the family because the mum needs to spend a lot of her time caring for their new baby, when a mum is breastfeeding it feels like there is even less a dad can do. This is not true at all, there are plenty of things a dad can do to bond with his new baby - infact it is a well known fact that a baby can be lulled to sleep much quicker tucked in against her dads chest listening to the deep relaxing rumble of his voice. Many dads find it lots of fun to give their baby a bath, this gives them important skin to skin contact and gives the new mum a rest.(published with permission in writing from:http://www.netmums.com)
