The average breast-feeding mother will be providing her average infant with 20 ounces of milk by 1 month of age and approximately 30 ounces at 6 months of age. This will contain protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, vitamins, and minerals. Yet, the average mother’s diet will have very little impact on her baby. If her own diet lacks protein or calcium, her infant generally will not suffer—he will receive all he needs as long as the mother is not having a critical shortage. Instead, the mother will deplete her own body’s stores to provide it for the infant. So, unless she wants to become nutritionally deficient, a mother should eat a well balanced diet with emphasis on protein, calcium, and iron.
The protein needs are easily met, but the calcium requirements are difficult to achieve if a woman is not particularly interested in dairy products—mainly because the calcium in green vegetables is often bound by the fibrous parts of the vegetable. However, a breast-feeding mother can compensate with a calcium supplement if need be. Iron, too, may be a problem in the woman who had a great deal of blood loss during her delivery. But all of those requirements (except, perhaps, iron) can be met by a nutritious, well-balanced diet. Vitamins too can be similarly met. If they are not, a multivitamin with adequate iron should protect both the mother and her infant.
The protein needs are easily met, but the calcium requirements are difficult to achieve if a woman is not particularly interested in dairy products—mainly because the calcium in green vegetables is often bound by the fibrous parts of the vegetable. However, a breast-feeding mother can compensate with a calcium supplement if need be. Iron, too, may be a problem in the woman who had a great deal of blood loss during her delivery. But all of those requirements (except, perhaps, iron) can be met by a nutritious, well-balanced diet. Vitamins too can be similarly met. If they are not, a multivitamin with adequate iron should protect both the mother and her infant.
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