Your body needs fuel to make breastmilk, so eat your fill of a variety of foods. Breastfeeding isn't an excuse to eat and drink everything you want, but it's not a reason to avoid favorite foods either. When choosing foods, use the nutrition chart below as a guide.
REMEMBER: alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs also affect your breastmilk and your baby.
Bread, cereal, rice, and pasta (eat 6-7 servings a day) | Vegetables (eat 3-5 servings a day) | Fruit (eat 2-4 servings a day) |
Milk, yogurt, and cheese (eat 2-3 servings a day) | Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts (eat 5-7 servings a day) | Fats, oils, and sweets (use sparingly) |
What's Good for You
- Drink 8 ounces of liquid, such as water or diluted juice, every time you feed the baby. Your body needs this fluid to make milk.
- Be sure to eat breads, leafy vegetables, and fruits, as well as milk products, meats, and fish.
- Snack on fruit or low-fat dairy products if you're hungry between meals.
- If your health care provider recommends it, keep taking prenatal vitamins.
What's Not
- Some foods are best eaten in limited quantities. Those high in saturated fats, such as butter and bacon, fall into this category.
- Be aware that what enters your body passes into your breastmilk. Limit caffeine-which is not just in coffee but is also in cola, tea, and chocolate.
- Don't take medications of any type, unless your doctor says it's okay. This includes aspirin.
