Do I need to follow a special diet while breastfeeding my baby?
Dietary restrictions related to pregnancy end at birth. This means that mothers can once again eat anything they like. Only certain herbs, such as sage, parsley, and mint, are not recommended. Even more so than during pregnancy, energy needs increase during breastfeeding due to milk production. Part of this energy comes from fat reserves accumulated during pregnancy. The rest is provided by your diet, which is why it’s important to eat regular, balanced meals. You can eat anything in reasonable amounts, as long as you vary your meals. In addition, by observing your baby, you’ll notice what makes them uncomfortable. This can vary from one baby to another. Your baby may have become accustomed to your diet during pregnancy thanks to the amniotic fluid, which takes on the taste of the foods you eat. They should therefore be able to adapt to your diet and are already beginning to learn about the introduction of solid foods, which will take place a few months later.
My partner would also like to be able to feed our child, but we’ve decided to breastfeed for the benefits of breast milk. Can I pump my milk so my partner can bottle-feed our baby?
Breastfeeding is established through the bond between the baby and the mother. A balance between milk production and the baby’s needs will be found over the course of feedings. In fact, the baby is able to signal when to nurse according to their needs, and the mother’s body adapts to the stimulation caused by nursing. Adding a breast pump during the first month could be detrimental to the comfort of both the baby and the mother. There are exceptions, however, in certain specific situations where a doctor may recommend using a breast pump.
In general, the feeding schedule during the first few weeks is completely unpredictable, and the baby will regularly have periods of frequent feedings. So how can a mother provide additional stimulation if she doesn’t yet know how soon the baby will want to nurse? Furthermore, overstimulating the breasts unnecessarily can lead to an overabundant milk supply that may be difficult for the mother to manage (risk of engorgement).
The father, on the other hand, can be a great support in caring for the baby: diaper changes, burping after a feeding if needed, putting the baby to sleep, carrying the baby, bath time, and so on. He will nourish the baby in a different way—not with milk, but with attention.
He can also reassure his partner, encourage her, comfort her, and take care of her by taking over these daily tasks with the baby, as well as preparing nutritious meals for her. After the first month, however, it will be possible to pump milk from time to time to potentially replace a feeding.
I’m expecting twins—will I have enough milk to feed two babies if I decide to breastfeed them?
Your body is normally capable of adapting to the demands of two babies, especially if you breastfeed the twins simultaneously and regularly.
If your babies are born prematurely, they may be less active at the breast. In that case, you’ll need to increase stimulation by consistently using a breast pump after every feeding, day and night, until your milk supply is sufficient.
Can I continue to breastfeed my baby if I catch a cold, the flu, or even the coronavirus? Is the risk of passing the illness on to my baby higher?
Breastfeeding your baby while you have a viral infection—such as a cold, the flu, or any other illness—is highly recommended, since your body produces antibodies that will pass into your milk and protect your baby. The risk of infecting your baby is therefore not increased.
However, you should wear a mask as much as possible and wash your hands very regularly before caring for your baby and during feedings to minimize the risk of transmission as much as possible.
I have very small breasts—will I be able to breastfeed, and will I have enough milk?
Milk production has nothing to do with breast size. Everyone has the ability to produce milk. Since your milk production depends on your baby’s stimulation, your baby will adapt to your supply and may feed more frequently if your milk supply is moderate. This sometimes explains why some babies nurse every two hours, even after several months, while others begin to take longer breaks. If your baby’s weight gain is steady, rest assured.
Every mother-baby pair will have its own rhythm, which it’s important not to disrupt with strict guidelines. What works for one pair won’t necessarily work for another.