Eating apricots and dates can increase prolactin, which is the hormone that tells your body to produce milk. Apricots contain essential nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium. Fresh is better than canned.
The sapodilla, or chiku, is a great fruit for breastfeeding mums. It is high in calories which you will need plenty of to produce more breast milk for your little one. You burn up to 500 calories a day just by nursing! Rich in vitamins A and C, it also aids in digestion and provides antioxidants.
Apples are a rich source of many nutrients and help maintain an adequate milk supply. Apples give nursing mothers the energy they need to heal and provide the ideal development environment for their newborns. Check out the infographic below to uncover ways to include apples in your nursing diet.
Top 5 food / drinks to avoid if you have a low milk supply:
Carbonated beverages.
Caffeine - coffee, black tea, green tea, etc.
Excess Vitamin C & Vitamin B –supplements or drinks with excessive vitamin C Or B (Vitamin Water, Powerade, oranges/orange juice and citrus fruits/juice.)
Due to the abundance of iron and phosphorus, strawberries help with breast milk supply. They are also rich in vitamins B, C, and K. Aside from increasing breast milk production, they also reduce anxiety, clear up your blood, and are a wonderful antioxidant.
If you are significantly dehydrated, your body will slow down its breast milk production and your own health will be significantly impacted. Drinking the right amount of water each day is important for your own (and your little one's) health.
Eating bananas while breastfeeding is safe and can be a healthy addition to a mother's diet. Bananas are a good source of nutrients such as potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and fiber, which are all beneficial to both the mother and baby.
Yoghurt aids in the production of breast milk and is rich in protein and calcium. Yoghurt is also beneficial for the growth of healthy bacteria in a baby's intestine.
Avocados, full of healthy fats and fiber, are a great addition to your diet while breastfeeding. The fat in avocados help you and your baby absorb fat-soluble vitamins and can also be beneficial to your baby's developing brain health.
Stress is the No. 1 killer of breastmilk supply, especially in the first few weeks after delivery. Between lack of sleep and adjusting to the baby's schedule, rising levels of certain hormones such as cortisol can dramatically reduce your milk supply.
Pumping more often can help stimulate breasts to produce more milk. Moms can try pumping both breasts for 15 minutes every two hours for 48-72 hours. Then moms can return to their normal pumping routine. Pumping for longer than 30 minutes may not be beneficial.
Limit caffeine when you're breastfeeding. Caffeine is a drug that's found in things like coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, chocolate and some energy drinks and medicines. Too much caffeine in breast milk can make your baby fussy or have trouble sleeping.
For some babies, they develop diaper rashes as a result of citrus. Lastly, kiwi also has many acidic components which can cause discomfort of gastrointestinal tract (GI) in children.
Watermelon slices. If watermelon needed two words to describe it, those words would probably be "sweet hydration." From it's fructose, fiber, and yes, water, watermelon can increase breast milk production, First Cry says, and also maintain it.
Chocolate contains theobromine. Because theobromine is a stimulant, it could, in theory, cause the breastfed infant to be wakeful and fussy. If indeed the chocolate does contain caffeine, there's a double whammy.
Typical gassy foods include broccoli, cabbage, beans, cauliflower or spicy foods. Some people also think dairy makes their babies gassy for others it's caffeine, although there is no evidence for that. Each baby is different so it's possible.