What to eat when breastfeeding? A guide for parents

We know there are certain foods to be aware of during pregnancy, but what about once baby arrives?

It's important to eat a balanced diet and keep hydrated to maintain or increase your milk supply.

If you're just starting out on your breastfeeding journey, you're probably wondering what you can and can't eat. To help you out and give you some reassurance, we've pulled together this guide.

A healthy and balanced breastfeeding diet

In general, eating a varied diet and consuming enough calories should help to ensure you're meeting the recommended energy and nutrient requirements you need to produce milk for your baby and keep yourself healthy. A healthy breastfeeding diet should include: 

• Fruit and vegetables: At least five portions every day.
• Starchy carbohydrates: Bread, pasta, rice (wholemeal where possible) and potatoes.
• Protein: Beans and pulses, lean meats and fish, nuts and seeds, eggs, dairy and soya products.
• Dairy foods or fortified plant-based alternatives: These provide calcium and protein.
• Fibre: Wholegrains, fruits, vegetables, beans and pulses are all good sources of fibre and can help with bowel problems and constipation which some women experience after giving birth.
• Iron-rich foods: Breastfeeding mothers need the same amount of iron as they do during pregnancy. While the amount of iron in your breast milk won't be affected by your intake, it is important for your health to keep your iron levels up in order to avoid anaemia and associated health problems. Red meat is the preferred source of iron for breastfeeding mothers, as iron in meat is in a form very easily and readily absorbed by the body.
• Plenty of fluids: While there's no definitive amount, it's always good to drink plenty of un-caffeinated, unsweetened drinks. It is also good practice to keep a drink of water within reach while breastfeeding, as it is thirsty work.
• Vitamin D: A balanced diet should give you all that you and your baby needs. However, if you don't get much daily sunshine in the winter months, then one of the best supplements to add to your breastfeeding diet is vitamin D. Look in the pharmacy for one designed specifically for breastfeeding mums.

For vegan or vegetarian mothers who are breastfeeding, the Vegan Society has some helpful information on what to consider in your diet and which supplements you can take.

What food and drink should be avoided when breastfeeding?

There are many old wives' tales surrounding foods eaten when breastfeeding but actually, the simple answer is that you can eat anything in moderation.

• Caffeine: Caffeine is a stimulant and can make your baby restless. So keeping your caffeine intake low when breastfeeding is recommended. The recommendation for pregnancy is 200mg of caffeine per day, equal to about one mug of filter coffee or two mugs of tea.
• Alcohol: It's safer not to drink any alcohol while breastfeeding, but an occasional drink is unlikely to harm your baby – 1 or 2 units of alcohol, once or twice a week, should be fine.
• Drugs and medicines: Aspirin, codeine, phenylephrine and guaifenesin are not advised. Contact your doctor for a suitable substitute.
• Fish: Fish is a really great source of a range of nutrients, including essential fatty acids, protein and iodine. There are certain fish that have higher levels of mercury and pollutants. So there are recommendations to limit these whilst breastfeeding. 
  • Oily fish: It's recommended to limit oily fish to two portions per week (one portion is 140g) due to higher levels of certain pollutants that can build up in the body when eaten regularly and could be harmful to your baby.
  • White fish: Most white fish is fine to eat without limits, but sea bream, sea bass, halibut, turbot and rock salmon contain similar pollutants to oily fish and should be limited to two portions per week as well.
  • Shellfish: The only recommendation for shellfish is to limit the amount of brown crab meat eaten.
  • Others: Shark, swordfish and marlin should be limited to once per week due to the higher levels of mercury, although this is the same recommendation as for all adults.