Guide To Breastfeeding

The Nursing Mother's Diet:

A good nursing diet has nothing to do with the notions of foods being hot or cold for the baby.Consume a proper nutritive diet( a high energy and high fibre diet with sufficient fluid intake)comprising 2-3 glasses of milk, plenty of fruits, vegetables, sprouts, cereals, pulses and legumes.This along with galactogogues like asparagus, fenugreek, liquorice, dried ginger, dry fruits and cocnut kernel, help in secretion of adequate quantity of milk.Bananas along with saffron and crystal sugar are also very good galactogugues.These are excellent natural sources of minerals and vitamins.Take a glass of water or any other fluid just prior to feeding the baby.It helps greatly.Avoid fried, spicy foods and stick to home-made food.The very act of suckling, the "touch", and the flood of maternal emotions are best galactogogues.Maintaining a fuid intake of 13-14 glasses a day such as fruit juices, coconut water, butter-milk and plain water is extremely important.This helps in preventing constipation.Constipation can also be overcome by increasing the intake of fibre, green leafy vegetables and soaked black raisins.

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