Breastfeeding Benefits for Mother

The ideal diet of a breastfeeding woman is comprised of healthy and nutritious foods from the five basic food groups. The main concentration (50–55%) should be made up of carbohydrate foods such as pastas, grains, and fruits.

Breastfeeding women also enjoy many benefits:

-Reduced risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.

-Natural contraceptive:Many women who breastfeed exclusively for six months experience a delay of fertility.

-Faster postpartum recovery: Breastfeeding uses up extra calories so it’s easier for moms to lose their pregnancy weight. Nursing also helps the uterus shrink back to its normal size faster.

-Relaxation: When a mother is breastfeeding her body produces oxytocin, a hormone that induces a calm, content feeling. -Protection from osteoporosis.

-Saves time and money: Breast milk is cheaper than formula and the mother doesn’t have to spend time preparing bottles.

-Better for the environment as there are no bottles to wash or cans to dispose of.

Healthy fats such as fatty fish and avocados should be 30%, and proteins should equal 15–20% . Breastfeeding women should make sure to eat foods that contain lots of calcium, such as dairy products, broccoli, and beans, and make sure they eat plenty of iron-rich foods like lean red meat, fish and poultry.

In order to compensate for the energy they expend breastfeeding their babies, breastfeeding women should add 300–500 extra nutritious calories to their diet each day and drink extra fluids. Breastfeeding mothers should also continue to take a prenatal vitamin.