October 16, 2008

Health Tip: Watch Your Diet While Breast-Feeding

(HealthDay News) -- While you're breast-feeding, your diet matters as much as it did when you were pregnant, since you are still providing nourishment to your baby.

The Nemours Foundation offers these dietary guidelines for breast-feeding moms:

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, proteins and calcium, and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
• Limit your intake of fish high in mercury.
• Look for patterns in your baby's reaction to foods you eat. If baby appears fussy or sick after you've eaten certain foods, consider cutting them from your diet.
• Avoid alcohol. If you do drink, do not give your baby breast milk for at least two to three hours after every drink consumed.
• Limit your caffeine intake while breast-feeding to no more than one cup or two cups of coffee each day.

-- Diana Kohnle

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