Nutrition

Breastmilk is perfectly designed to nourish and protect a baby. Below are just some considerations to take into account while breastfeeding.

The nutritive demands of lactation are considerably greater than those of pregnancy. However, the effect that diet has on the nutritional value of breastmilk is not significant enough to warrant its replacement with artificial feeding options or animal milk. Human milk has a fairly constant composition and is only selectively affected by the diet.1 2

Though a poor diet does not destroy the nutritional value of human milk, the composition can be improved by a healthy diet.3

One’s health during lactation should also be taken into account. It is recommended those who are lactating eat a well-balanced diet and drink enough liquids.4

For vegans and some vegetarians, ((Types of vegetarian diets:
– Lactovegetarian: This diet includes dairy products in addition to the foods listed below in the vegan diet. Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs are excluded from the diet
– Lacto-ovovegetarian: This diet includes dairy products and eggs in addition to the foods listed below in the vegan diet. Meat, poultry, and fish are excluded from the diet.
– Pescatarian: This diet includes dairy products and eggs in addition to the foods listed below in the vegan diet. Meat and poultry are excluded from the diet, but fish is permitted, focusing on the fattier omega-3 rich varieties.
– The vegan diet includes fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, seeds, and nuts. All animal sources of protein —including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and other dairy products — are excluded from the diet.)) vitamin B-12 supplementation may be needed to ensure proper levels of those vitamins. General vegan pregnancy recommendations are safe while breastfeeding also.5

An adequate amount of absorbable iron is also important in a vegan diet. Non-heme, the iron found in all plants is less well absorbed than heme, the iron in meat, poultry, and fish. Iron absorption is increased markedly by eating foods containing vitamin C along with foods containing iron.6

There are growing concerns that meat and dairy need to be consumed with discernment. Conventional farming practices can leave us with food laced with hormones and chemicals that could cause health problems in the future.7 Studies on human health indicate that organic food is healthier, but eating an organic diet can be costly.8 9 Some foods called the ‘Dirty Dozen’ may be more important than others for avoiding chemical toxins.10

Avoiding the consumption of trans fatty acids and adequate intake of essential fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6 are also important for healthy breastmilk as its fat content, both in quality and quantity. Maternal consumption of TFAs during lactation impairs the rate of fat metabolism in the mammary glands by increasing TFAs and decreasing the percentage of essential fatty acids in the milk, which are important for brain development, the nervous system, and future health. While the mechanisms involved are still unclear, the intake of dietary components rich in TFAs during pregnancy and lactation is known to cause cardiovascular diseases, tumors, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory conditions, like obesity-related insulin resistance.11

Assuring a healthy intake of the fatty acid DHA (O-3) is also important for the development of a baby’s brain.12

One last thing to consider in regards to donating milk to a premature baby is that there is evidence that there may be a decrease in lipase activity over time in lactating parents who are malnourished.13 Please see What about premature babies for more information on lipase, fat absorption, and heat-treating for preterm babies.

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  1. Mary Frances Picciano. 2003. Pregnancy and Lactation: Physiological Adjustments, Nutritional Requirements and the Role of Dietary Supplements ↩︎
  2. Susana Ares Seguraa. 2003. The importance of maternal nutrition during breastfeeding: Do breastfeeding mothers need nutritional supplements? ↩︎
  3. Lindsay H Allen. 2005. Multiple micronutrients in pregnancy and lactation: an overview ↩︎
  4. Victoria State Government Dept. of Health – Water – a vital nutrient ↩︎
  5. Reed Mangels, PhD, RD. Simply Vegan, 5th Edition 2013. Pregnancy and the Vegan Diet ↩︎
  6. Reed Mangels, PhD, RD. 2018. Iron in the Vegan Diet ↩︎
  7. Amanda Barrett. 2014. The Controversy over Added Hormones in Meat and Dairy ↩︎
  8. European Parliament. 2016. Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture ↩︎
  9. An option is getting involved in community gardens and/or buying from local farmers’ markets. Check out what resources are in your area. ↩︎
  10. Organic.org – The “Dirty Dozen ↩︎
  11. Emilio Herrera & Maria Pilar Ramos. 2008. Long-term effects of trans fatty acid intake during pregnancy and lactation: does it have deleterious consequences? ↩︎
  12. Sheila M. Innis. 2008. Human milk: maternal dietary lipids and infant development ↩︎
  13. Lawrence, Ruth. Breastfeeding, A Guide for the Medical Profession. 6th edition. 2005. p.158. Print. ↩︎