Tips to Make Sure Your Baby Gets the Best out of Your Breastmilk

Some call it liquid gold while others call it nature’s best, but the truth is breastmilk is what you make it. That adage, “You are what you eat” is never truer than when breastfeeding. Your breastmilk is a composition of fats and nutrients that your body has consumed and rebuilt into food for your little one.  Here’s how to make sure your diet produces the healthiest breastmilk for your nursing baby.

Find the right fats

One of the fastest-growing parts of a newborn baby is the brain. Brain development to grow cell membranes that will protect nerves is essential in those early months. This rapid growth requires a great deal of energy fueled by dietary fat. For your baby’s brain to grow and thrive, they need a healthy intake of polyunsaturated fats such as Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats. If you’re breastfeeding, the best way to ensure your breastmilk offers these types of fats is to consume them regularly. Vancouver is famous for some great options in this category with delicious foods like West Coast salmon, chia seeds, local walnuts from Chilliwack, kidney beans, artisan tofu, and some fortified foods and drinks such as yoghurt and milk from the Lower Mainland’s dairy farms. If you have concerns about your fat consumption and whether you’re choosing the right foods for your diet, consulting a breastfeeding centre in Vancouver is a wonderful way to balance your plate and your breastmilk.

Water, water everywhere

While staying hydrated seems like a simple enough task, when you’re juggling a newborn and busy life in Vancouver, it can become a daunting piece of self-care. Don’t forget that breastmilk is more than 80% water. Staying hydrated while breastfeeding not only ensures your body has an adequate supply of water to produce healthy breastmilk for your little one, but it also increases your energy level and helps your body function properly. On average, when a mother reaches full milk production, she can count on making approximately 1,035 millilitres of breast milk every 24 hours- that’s a lot of liquid gold! One simple tip to stay hydrated while breastfeeding is to drink when the baby drinks. Try to have one glass of liquid (preferably water or another healthy choice) with each nursing session. If you have questions about proper hydration while breastfeeding, reaching out to a breastfeeding centre in Vancouver is a great way to get the help you need.

Breastfeeding a baby is a 24-hour job and reaches far beyond the minutes you spend actively nursing your infant. Even though you’re no longer carrying your precious baby in your body, your diet is still intricately connected with theirs if you are nursing. Consulting lactation consultants at a breastfeeding centre in Vancouver such as the Vancouver Breastfeeding Clinic can give you the knowledge you need to fuel you and your baby through your breastfeeding journey.