The FEEDING OF the MOTHER during the breastfeeding is very important. It is important that food is adequate to provide the necessary nutrients for the production of milk is enough. When nutrients are not provided, the body absorbs food reserve elements from the body of the mother. Over time, the mother can reach a state of some protein deficiency, vitamin, or mineral needed for good health. Eventually, even the milk produced quality remains, the body can not produce the amount necessary for the demands of the baby.

Between the main elements that must be considered they are the following:

- Foods high in Calcium: Calcium is required for proper formation of bones and teeth of the baby, and to the needs of mothers. Women who breastfeed need to ingest 1200 mg of calcium daily, or about 400 mg of calcium per day than people who should not breastfeed. The main source for this nutrient is milk. Should drink about 5 glasses of milk, or their respective equivalents in derivatives such as yogurt or cheese, to cover minimum needs.

If you can not or do not want to drink much milk, you can use other mineral rich foods, especially tofu , a soybean derivative, which is even richer in calcium. The following table shows an equivalence between the calcium of cow milk, cheese, soy milk and tofu for three ounces, or about 85 g.

Besides milk and tofu, calcium can be obtained from other plant foods. For example toasted sesame seeds contain more than 800 mg of this element by the same amount mentioned above. There is also calcium-enriched bread with more than 600 mg for the same weight (85 g).

Plants that have this mineral are those vegetables that have dark green leaves, like spinach (These, however, are not recommended as calcium sources because they contain oxalates that block its absorption) or broccoli sprouts. The vegetables contain lots of calcium, as dried beans, or soybean . Other foods are rich in this mineral grains, especially oats , or dried fruits, especially almonds. (The same weight of almond has more than twice the calcium of milk.)

When the ingestion of these foods is not sufficient, we can resort to complements:

- Foods rich in vitamin C Vitamin C is needed to properly absorb iron. It also serves as one of the main antioxidants to protect the baby. The main food rich in this vitamin are peppers, one of the plants in the world that has more quantity, after the acerola (Malpighia glabra L) or dog rose (Rosa canina); citrus are also very rich (oranges , lemons , grapefruit, etc.). Dog roses have 7% of its weight in vitamin C, a very large amount compared with the 0, 0, 05% of the orange. Other plants that contain this vitamin include cauliflowers, radishes brussels sprouts , spinach, bananas, apples, melons,carrots, pineapples, pears, papayas, barley, garlic, blackberries, celery, beans , strawberries, raspberries, currants, grapes, figs , chicory , blueberries, potatoes, avocados, soy, custard apples, pomegranates, coconuts, etc.

- Foods rich in vitamin D: Vitamin D helps calcium to be absorbed more easily. Esta vitamina se presenta en cantidades despreciables en alimentos de origen vegetal. This vitamin is present in negligible amounts in foods of plant origin. Son los alimentos de origen animal los que la contienen como la leche, huevos, mantequilla, margarina, aceite de hígado de bacalao, Pescados grasos (sardinas, arenques, salmón, atún, etc.) El contenido de vitamina en estos productos no es muy alto así que hoy se tiende a añadirla en muchos de ellos. They are the animal foods that contain it such as milk, eggs, butter, margarine, cod liver oil, fatty fish (sardines, herring, salmon, tuna, etc.) Vitamin content in these products is not very high, so today the tendency is to add it in many of them. Cada litro de leche reforzada suele tener 400 UI de este componente. Each liter of milk is usually reinforced with 400 IU of this component. No suelen llevarla los quesos y los yogures, por lo que estos prácticamente no la contienen. Cheeses and yogurts do not generally carry it, so they practically do not contain it. La vitamina de los alimentos se conoce como vitamina D2 o ergocalciferol. This "food vitamin" is called Vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol. La que da a pecho no debe olvidar de tomar el sol para que esta vitamina se pueda desarrollar. Who gives the chest should not forget the sun for the vitamin may be developed. ( Ver más información en el estudio general de la vitamina D) (See more information on the general study of vitamin D)

Es conveniente que la lactante tome unos 10 mcg diarios de vitamina D en forma de complementos. It is desirable that the infant takes about 10 mcg daily of vitamin D in supplement form.

Alimentos ricos en aceites esenciales : Son necesarios para que la madre pueda proporcionar las grasas esenciales a su bebé a través de la leche. Foods rich in essential oils : They are necessary for the mother to provide essential fats to the baby through the milk. Son alimentos ricos en este tipo de aceites el pescado, especialmente el pescado azul, como el atún o la caballa, las semillas y los frutos secos . Fish oils, especially oily fish like tuna or mackerel, seeds and dried fruits are rich in them.

ALIMENTOS QUE DEBEN VIGILARSE DURANTE LA LACTANCIA FOODS THAT SHOULD BE CONTROLLED DURING BREASTFEEDING

Hay algunos alimentos o productos que deben restringirse o evitarse cuando una madre amamanta a su bebé Entre todos ellos mencionaríamos los siguientes: There are some foods or products should be restricted or avoided when a mother breast-feeding. Among them would mention the following:

- El tabaco : El tabaco resulta muy perjudicial durante el embarazo. - Tobacco: Tobacco is very harmful during pregnancy. La nicotina se disuelve en la sangre y el bebé puede recibir directamente todos los efectos negativos de esta droga. Nicotine is dissolved in the blood and the baby may receive directly all the negative effects of this drug.

- Las drogas : El resto de drogas , al igual que el tabaco resultan muy tóxicas para el bebé. - Drugs: The resto of the drugs, as tobacco, are highly toxic to the baby. También se consideran drogas todos los medicamentos que deben estar estrictamente recetados por el médico, especialmente durante el embarazo y la lactancia. All medications should also be strictly prescribed by the doctor, especially during pregnancy and lactation.

- Los estimulantes : Algunas substancias estimulantes, como el café , el té o las bebidas con cola, producen intranquilidad y nerviosismo. - Stimulants: Certain drugs, stimulants like coffee , tea or cola drinks, produce restlessness and nervousness. No resultan nada adecuadas durante la lactancia al disminuir el sosiego de la madre y el bebé y hacer que disminuya su necesidad de dormir. There are no adequate during lactation by decreasing the serenity of the mother and baby and diminishing their need for sleep. Todas ellas son diuréticos potentes que incrementan el nivel de líquidos expulsados por la orina. These are all potent diuretics which increase the level of liquid expelled by the urine. Dado que la madre necesita tener una buena reserva de agua para producir leche abundante, estos alimentos no ayudan a la madre durante este periodo de su vida. As the mother needs to have a good supply of water to produce plenty of milk, these foods do not help the mother during this period of his life.

- El alcohol : Un poco de vino o alcohol puede tener un efecto sedante alguna vez durante la lactancia, pero la ingestión habitual o excesiva de bebidas alcohólicas puede adormilar al bebé, que absorbe la droga a través de la leche de su madre. - Alcohol: A little wine or alcohol may have a sedative effect sometime during the lactation, but habitual or excessive intake of alcohol can affect the baby who absorbs the drug through his mother's milk. Esto hará que se quede dormido y no mame lo suficiente. This will make the baby to feel sleepy and he or she won' t get all the milk she or he needs. Muchos estudios han determinado que la ingestión de alcohol, incluso en cantidades moderadas disminuye la producción de la leche. Many studies have shown that the ingestion of alcohol, even in moderate amounts reduces the production of milk.

Nota : Es necesario beber mucha agua durante la lactancia para que la madre se encuentre bien hidratada y pueda producir leche suficiente. Note: It is necessary to drink lots of water during lactation for the mother to be well hydrated and can produce enough milk. Otra posibilidad es beber zumos de frutas o caldos de verduras u hortalizas que hidratan el organismo y aportan muchos nutrientes validos tanto para la madre como para el bebé. Another possibility is to drink fruit juices or vegetable broths that hydrate the body and provide many nutrients valid for both mother and baby.

¿ Cuando los bebés deben dejar de mamar y tomar alimentos diferentes a la leche? When do babies have to stop brestfeeding and take other type of food?

Es conveniente que la lactancia se prolongue hasta el 4 o 6 mes, incluso, si es posible, durante el primer año. It is desirable that breastfeeding continues until the 4 or 6 months, even, if possible, during the first year. A partir de aquí, los alimentos diferentes a la leche materna deben añadirse uno a uno para comprobar las posibles reacciones alérgicas alimentarias y para que el bebé se acostumbre a los nuevos alimentos. From here, other food than breast milk should be added one by one to check for possible allergic reactions and for the baby to get used to new foods.

More information about breastfeeding in the listing above.

Related information: Folic acid and breastfeeding