Alcohol and Nursing Moms, Essay Example

A lactation educator is required to know the nutritional status of the breastfeeding woman in order to 1) address any nutritional deficiencies in her current diet; 2) to determine if these deficiencies may impact the breastfeeding child; and 3) to identify areas where the woman might be able to improve her diet in an effort to produce successful results in promoting positive nutrition for her child.

Three common myths regarding food and sensitivity in the breastfeeding mother and infant include 1) the belief that gassy foods will cause problems for the child; 2) that acidic foods may have an impact on a breastfeeding mother’s milk; and 3) excess sugar intake will impact breast milk. Each of these myths should not be taken very seriously; however, they should also not serve as an excuse to consume a poor diet because they do not specifically have an impact on the mother’s breast milk and overall health.

Dieting during the breastfeeding stage is not typically a problem as long as it is performed in moderation and without extreme measures, and the standard protocol is to consume an additional 200-500 calories beyond what is required for a mother’s normal weight in order to accommodate the breastfeeding infant (Smith, 2014). However, it is also necessary to develop a strategy that will accommodate a client’s dietary needs without consuming excess calories beyond these recommendations (Smith, 2014). Reducing calories may be achieved through the elimination of soda from the diet, an increased but not excessive intake of water, and healthy eating that involves the consumption of fruits and vegetables on a regular basis (Smith, 2014). A breastfeeding mother also requires regular exercise that may be in the form of short walks with the child in the stroller and carrying the child around while performing routine tasks at home (Smith, 2014). Weight Watchers and other similar plans appear to be safe for breastfeeding women as long as they are receiving the proper nutrition with a diet of this nature and are able to consume healthy foods on a regular basis (Smith, 2014). For vegetarian mothers, Vitamin B12 is particularly important in order to maintain a healthy diet and to be successful in achieving the desired nutritional goals and expectations (Smith, 2014).

For a lactating woman, alcohol is not recommended because the child’s liver cannot process any alcohol that is absorbed through breast milk (Babycenter, 2015). However, if choosing to drink, it must be consumed several hours before the next feeding (Babycenter, 2015). Cigarettes are also not recommended, but at minimum, mothers should cut down on their cigarette intake to reduce the risk for the mother and child (Lauwers & Swisher, 2010). Mothers who smoke marijuana should also eliminate or cut down on their intake as much as possible to minimize the possible reduction of breast milk supply (Lauwers & Swisher, 2010). Caffeine intake, however, is not a serious issue in most cases with typical caffeine consumption, such as one or two cups of coffee per day (Lauwers & Swisher, 2010). Chocolate should also be consumed in moderation or on a minimal basis in order to alleviate any possible risks, while also considering that theobromine which is found in chocolate, acts similarly to caffeine and may increase breast milk supply (Breastfeeding-problems.com, 2014), Nutrasweet does not have a significant impact on breast milk, even in large doses (Smith, 2014, and prescription medications should only be taken as directed by a doctor, while recreational drugs should not be taken at all (Lauwers & Swisher, 2010).

My 24-hour intake included the following: 2 cups of coffee, cheerios with skim milk for breakfast, a banana as a mid-morning snack, a turkey sandwich with mayonnaise for lunch, a skinless chicken breast for dinner, a baked potato with butter, corn, and two chocolate chip cookies. The calories for this food intake is 1,370 and includes almost 75 percent whole grains and refined grains, 97 percent veggies, 43 percent of whole fruit, 33 percent of milk and yogurt, and 109 percent of protein targets, along with 16 grams of saturated fat, for a 24-hour period.  For a woman who is three months postpartum, this diet would be unbalanced and would require additional dairy and fruits, as well as whole grains, in order to achieve a greater balance.

References

Babycenter (2015). Alcohol and nursing moms. Retrieved from http://www.babycenter.com/0_alcohol-and-nursing-moms_3547.bc

Breastfeeding-problems.com (2014). Breastfeeding and chocolate. Retrieved from http://www.breastfeeding-problems.com/breastfeeding-and-chocolate.html

Lauwers, J., & Swisher, A. (2010). Counseling the Nursing Mother: A Lactation Consultant’s                Guide. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Smith, A. (2014). Is it safe to drink diet soda while I’m breastfeeding? Retrieved from http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/qa/nutrasweet

Smith, A. (2014). Nutrition, exercise, and weight loss while breastfeeding. Retrieved from http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/articles/nutrition-exercise-and-weight-loss/3