Does a Breastfeeding mother need to increase her calorie intake?
A. A breastfeeding mum should eat to satisfy her hunger and not necessarily increase or limit her calorie intake. It would be recommended that a mother eat a diet high in nutrient content and eat from all the food groups. It has been shown that if the mother takes a good quality fish oil supplement while breastfeeding it can positively affect the fatty acid content of her breastmilk. This is important as fatty acids are necessary for brain development. (1) Q. Do I need to increase my fluid intake because I am breastfeeding? A. In non-lactating people thirst is generally believed to be a sign that the person is already dehydrated. This is not believed to be the case in breastfeeding mothers. A mother should drink to thirst and does not need to significantly increase her total fluid intake (2) Water would be the preferred choice. Q. Will the baby get enough Vitamins from my breastmilk, especially Vitamin D? A. The vitamin content of breastmilk is only minimally affected by the mother’s d
