Problems with breastfeeding

Composition of dairy product

The fermented milk product contains many valuable substances (vitamin B2, B1, PP, C, E, A, calcium, magnesium and other useful elements).

Harm and benefits of fermented baked milk

The benefits and harms of the product are determined by its chemical composition, which contains a large number of useful microelements. Fermented milk products have a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora, improve digestion, and prevent the occurrence of dysbacteriosis and colic in babies. In addition, this healthy fermented milk product promotes:

1. Formation and strengthening of bones and tooth enamel.
2. Improving the structure of the dermis, nail plates, hair.
3. Relief of digestive disorders (elimination of constipation, diarrhea).
4. Increasing the protective qualities of the body.
5. Therapy and prevention of diseases of the gallbladder and liver.
6. Appetite stimulation, quick satiety.
7. Improving memory, concentration, and brain activity.
8. Stabilization of the cardiovascular system.
9. Healing of wounds.
10. Reducing cholesterol levels.
11. Beneficial effects on the quality of breast milk.

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Despite the impressive number of beneficial properties, fermented baked milk can harm the health of the baby, young mother:

1. Consumption of stale products is fraught with the development of poisoning.
2. Using fermented baked milk in excessive quantities can lead to unwanted weight gain.

In addition, this drink should not be drunk if:

• allergic manifestations to cow protein;
• hyperacid gastritis, ulcerative lesions of the digestive tract;
• obesity;
• flatulence.

During natural feeding, it is necessary to adhere to the recommended dosages to avoid negative effects on the body.

The benefits of fermented dairy products for mother and baby

Since a typical portion of, for example, kefir or cottage cheese is often more than 100 g, a fairly large amount of substances necessary for her and the baby enters the nursing mother’s body. Incoming vitamins, macro- and microelements enrich breast milk and determine its beneficial properties. In addition, when fermented milk products are added, they are enriched with very valuable substances - probiotics.

Probiotics in the diet of a nursing mother

All fermented milk products contain probiotics - microorganisms that take root in the human intestines and help beneficial microflora fight pathogenic bacteria. They also synthesize vitamins and some substances necessary for the body. Probiotics are divided into two types: some directly ferment milk themselves and are already found in fermented milk products, others can be added by the manufacturer for greater benefit. Bifidobacteria are often the last to appear. As a result of this enrichment, you can find the prefix “bio” in the name, for example, biokefir.

Another positive quality of fermented products for mother and child is that they are digested much easier than milk. After all, milk proteins, when they enter the stomach, coagulate and form a dense, difficult-to-digest clot. This does not happen with fermented milk products in the human body.

Nutrients obtained by the mother from fermented milk products have a positive effect on the composition of milk

Table: benefits of probiotics during breastfeeding

During and after the use of antibiotics while breastfeeding, it is advisable for the mother to specifically add fermented milk products to her diet. Probiotics will help restore beneficial microflora in the intestines that have been damaged by medication. But this should be done only if the woman and baby do not have individual intolerance to these products.

Video: Live healthy! Kefir and yogurt - bacteria to the rescue

Including fermented baked milk in the diet

The diet of a nursing woman should contain fermented milk products, which are necessary for the lactation period. The valuable microelements that make up fermented baked milk help restore the female body after the birth of a baby and have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of the baby. This drink is easily absorbed by the body without putting a strong burden on the gastrointestinal tract.

The introduction of the product to the mother’s menu should begin from the second month of the baby’s life. First you need to drink a small amount of fermented baked milk, then drink it for two days. Observe possible changes in the child’s behavior and/or well-being. If the baby tolerated the introduction of an unfamiliar drink well, then the nursing woman can continue to drink fermented milk, increasing the serving volume to ½ l/day.

If negative manifestations occur on the part of the skin or digestive system, the products in question should be excluded from the diet of the young mother. You can repeat the administration of fermented baked milk after 2 – 3 months. During this time, the children's digestive tract will finally form and adapt to new food.

Ryazhenka during breastfeeding

There were many doubts about this or that product, and each time I had to look for the “complete list” again. Everything is systematized here.

I have repeatedly touched on the topic of breastfeeding in my articles (“Breastfeeding - I want more!” and “Breastfeeding: statistics”). However, one of the most important, but at the same time controversial issues is the nutrition of a nursing mother. If during pregnancy a woman usually follows all her desires and eats whatever she wants, then after giving birth she finds herself in a dead end: what is possible and what is not?

I myself remember this “madhouse” two years ago: the doctors of the children’s department said one thing, then the attendant of the maternity ward immediately came and saw the bananas and became angrily indignant - What kind of rubbish are you eating? It turns out that mashed potatoes and salad brought from home by your husband are absolutely contraindicated when breastfeeding and you feel like a victim of some unfunny game - there is food, but you can’t eat it!

Thematic books and websites are even more confusing: “...The nutrition of a nursing mother should be high in calories, varied, and contain large amounts of proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins. The diet must include meat, fish, dairy products, vegetables and fruits...” but in the paragraph below we read the following: “Veal, chicken, fish, as well as red vegetables and fruits have an increased allergenic potential. Cow's milk, brown bread, legumes, cabbage and grapes lead to the formation of gas...” Such contradictory advice cannot be called anything other than mockery. So what to do?

Over a relatively long period of breastfeeding - 1 year 4 months. (including for about 9 months – on a strict diet), I, to be honest, still haven’t fully figured out what foods caused my child’s gassy colic? I don’t really want to step on the same rake again (and maybe more than once), so I decided to delve a little deeper into this topic and dot at least 90% of the i’s. So, more than a dozen popular sites (provided by search engines upon the corresponding request), several books, as well as the opinions of 15 acquaintances and more than a hundred unfamiliar mothers (the source is the same Odnoklassniki) have been processed. Hooray! The picture with the diet during breastfeeding has become more or less clearer.

With regard to the basic rules of nutrition for a nursing mother , all thematic sites and books are unanimous: 1. Food should be more nutritious. 2. You should eat 5-6 times a day, in small portions, preferably before feeding the baby. 3. The diet of a nursing mother should be varied. 4. You should take enough fluid (1.5-2 liters per day). 5. Gradual introduction into the diet of foods that can cause increased gas formation or allergies in a child. 6. The average duration of a “strict” diet is usually 2-3 months. A very important point: in the first 3 days after birth - the period of lactation - it is advisable to limit the amount of liquid you drink to 1 liter per day. Remember how, upon returning from the maternity hospital, you felt heaviness in your chest due to a large flow of milk.

rojana.ru , which has recently become super popular . The main idea - “The diet of a nursing mother should not differ in ANY way from her diet before the birth of the child” - is supported by an example from nature: they say, not a single animal changes its diet while breastfeeding its baby. For skeptics like me, more scientific arguments are given: “...Milk is synthesized from blood and lymph components, and not from the contents of the stomach, so there is no direct connection between what the mother eats and the composition of the milk.” However, you don’t need to be a doctor to understand that in the human body all organs and systems are interconnected, and if milk is formed from the blood, then nutrients enter the blood from the intestines. And the “news” that the cause of infant colic is not gas, but... migraines is completely discouraging!

But the explanation of allergies on the Rozhana website, in my opinion, is more reasonable: in most cases, a baby’s allergy is a consequence of an allergy of the mother or father, both food and allergies to odors, dust, wool, etc. In the case of allergies to all Websites advise one thing: exclude the allergen product from the diet for a period of 1 month, and then try it again. It is very important to introduce the child to all allergens through breast milk - this is the way to prevent the child from developing allergies in the future.

All this is understandable, but I remember that identifying the allergenic product was not so easy. What exactly did the child spill onto - buckwheat or the butter with which the porridge was seasoned? And if you use butter, should you avoid this particular company or butter in general? Or maybe there was an allergic reaction to the beets eaten last night?.. And not every mother is able to keep in her head everything that she ate (as well as a bunch of other questions). Some sites advise keeping a “food diary” so that, at a minimum, you don’t forget what and when you ate. And here the article “Menu for a Baby” comes to the rescue, where I provided a fairly complete list of possible dishes. Correct and print the table and if something happens, identifying the allergen will be much easier!

By the way, during the research I came across messages from several mothers about their baby’s allergies to... “Aquadetrim”, which is so actively prescribed to all babies. Despite the continuous “aquadetrimo-mania”, I did not give vitamin D3 to my child (the district nurse - thanks to her - casually mentioned its harmful effects on the kidneys), whenever possible I exposed it to the sun and no rickets happened to us. Therefore, I urge all mothers who are looking for a “bad” product that has caused an allergy in their baby, to also pay attention to the medications taken by the baby.

And now - directly about food products that should or should not be present in the diet of a nursing mother. Let's start with products that are advised to exclude ALL sources for the entire period of breastfeeding (for non-breastfeeding, these products are also nothing good): Smoked dishes (meat, fish, sausage) Highly salty or fatty foods. Due to the presence of a large amount of fat, the consumption of sausages and mackerel is not recommended. By the way, none of the respondents ate these products during breastfeeding. Herbs and spices (mustard, pepper, vinegar). Almost all of the mothers surveyed, describing their diet during breastfeeding, indicate the absence of “... everything fried, fatty, spicy, smoked and salty” in their diet. Chemical food additives (preservatives, dyes, flavoring additives). The following three directly follow from this point: Canned food, pickles, marinades. Mayonnaise. Despite the theoretical prohibition, it is consumed by many nursing mothers, albeit in the 2nd half of breastfeeding. Ketchup. Half of the mothers who consumed this product during breastfeeding noted that their child was allergic to ketchup and tomato paste. I think that if you eat canned food and sauces, it should only be homemade and in small quantities. Alcohol. It’s sad but true: at least 10% of nursing mothers allow themselves to drink wine or beer during breastfeeding. Carbonated drinks, incl. mineral water. At least at this point the desire (or rather, reluctance) of nursing mothers coincides with the prohibition. Ice cream, chewing gum, chips, salty crackers. I added these products on my own behalf. Watch programs like “Mark of Quality” and you will understand why.

The list of products that most authors advise limiting in the diet of a nursing mother has been significantly reduced after it has been “checked” with the practical experience of breastfeeding mothers and now looks like this: Whole milk. May cause individual intolerance; Different sources recommend limiting the amount to 0.2-0.3 liters per day. Most sources advise excluding fried foods However, as the survey shows, fried meat, fish, potatoes, consumed by a nursing mother in the 2nd half of breastfeeding, usually do not cause any adverse reactions on the part of the baby. Mushrooms are considered an allergen, but colic is indicated as the baby’s main reaction to this product. The majority of respondents excluded mushrooms from their diet for the entire period of breastfeeding. Vegetables: white/cauliflower cabbage (fresh), legumes (beans, peas, asparagus), cucumbers. Sometimes they cause gas in a child - both theoretically and practically. Fruits and berries: fresh apples (judging by the reviews of nursing mothers, regardless of color, they can cause gas in the baby), pears, plums, apricots, peaches, melons, watermelons, grapes (they have gas-forming and laxative properties, so in most cases they are introduced into the diet of a nursing mother after the end of a period of strict diet). During my research, I came across several sources that categorically prohibit nursing mothers from eating bananas. Indeed, quite often bananas cause gas, less often - allergies. Kvass. A third of respondents who consumed this drink during breastfeeding also indicated its gas-forming effect.

Potential allergens should be taken with extreme caution Almost all mothers did not eat eggs during the strict diet. Several respondents mentioned that their child was allergic to eggs. Seafood: Shrimp, crayfish, crabs, red caviar. Most mothers during breastfeeding did not eat this group of foods at all. However, out of hundreds of respondents, several “lucky ones” were identified who eat shrimp, red caviar and even sushi without restrictions and without consequences for the child. Citrus fruits: lemon, orange, tangerine, grapefruit. The largest number of child allergies indicated by mothers are related to citrus fruits. Tropical fruits: pomegranates (quite a large number of allergies), persimmons, mangoes, avocados, papaya. Berries: strawberries (the most common allergen among berries), raspberries, cherries, cherries. No one mentioned allergies to sea buckthorn, gooseberries and currants (most likely due to the lack of these berries in their diet). Seeds (sunflower or pumpkin). If almost all pregnant women are terribly hungry for seeds, then during breastfeeding only a few eat them, and therefore there is practically no information about the reactions of infants to this product. Chocolate. Despite the large number of mothers who have been using this product from the very beginning of breastfeeding without negative reactions from the child, no fewer cases of allergies in the child caused by chocolate have been identified. In my opinion, a period of strict diet is not the best time to experiment with chocolate. I read some useful advice on one forum: if you REALLY want chocolate, give preference to black - you will eat much less of it than milk. Cakes Quite a large number of nursing mothers cannot deny themselves this pleasure, but they prefer not to talk about the child’s reactions. Meanwhile, there is hardly a pediatrician or nutritionist who has given the go-ahead for sweets in the diet of a nursing mother. Honey, jam/jelly, sweets (marmalade, marshmallows, marshmallows). They are introduced into the diet mainly after a period of strict diet, although most respondents note how much they crave sweets after childbirth. Several cases of allergy to honey have been reported. Coffee, cocoa. All sources agree that strong coffee (as well as tea) negatively affects the child’s nervous system. According to the results of the study, nursing mothers drink both: cocoa - more, coffee (mostly weak) - less, but only after a period of a strict diet. None of the respondents mentioned allergies or gas in the baby after these drinks. As for me, coffee, as a known carcinogen, would not hurt to completely exclude it from the diet. Juices. 3 cases of gas in a child occur with apple juice and 2 cases with grape juice - the most common in the diet of a nursing mother. Citrus, pomegranate and tomato are usually introduced at the end of the GW. One case of allergy to pumpkin juice was identified. The mothers did not leave information about other juices and nectars (cherry, plum, peach, apricot, strawberry, tropical fruit). While looking through messages from nursing mothers on online forums, I came across a recipe against fatigue several times: juice of carrots, apples and beets in equal proportions. I can’t help but write about another remedy that replenishes the supply of all necessary vitamins: sprouted grains, honey, walnuts, dried apricots, prunes, mince, take 1-2 tablespoons several times a day. Whoever checks the effectiveness of the above recipes - write in the comments!

Products that – Hurray! — can be eaten by almost all nursing mothers: Bread: black, long loaf, crackers without spices, “Maria”, “Zoological”, “Gilet” cookies, unsalted crackers, oatmeal cookies. It is believed that white and black yeast bread provokes gas in a child, but not a single mother who consumed this product during a strict diet noted an adverse reaction on the part of the baby. Lean boiled meat: chicken, rabbit, beef, pork (1 case of allergy). By the way, being on the path to vegetarianism, during GW (let me remind you, more than a year) I ate meat at most 5 times. Neither I nor my child experienced any anemia, as active meat-eaters intimidate. Low-fat boiled fish: hake, pike perch, pollock, cod, etc. In most cases, herring appears in the diet later, after a strict diet, and causes virtually no adverse reactions on the part of the child. Fermented milk products: cottage cheese (can be eaten immediately, no adverse reactions have been identified), boiled milk (including in cereals), kefir (1 case of constipation), fermented baked milk, sour cream, yogurt, yogurt without fruit additives. Naturally, glazed cheese curds, curd desserts and other dairy “delicacies” from the supermarket are not suitable for feeding a nursing mother, because due to the presence of chemical additives and preservatives in them, they belong to the very first category of products - absolutely not! It is ideal to find a source of regular supply (grandmother in the suburbs) of natural dairy products. Cheeses: hard, mild varieties, for example, Adyghe, Dutch, Russian. They are usually consumed from the very beginning of breastfeeding and do not cause adverse reactions in the child. Cereals: buckwheat, millet, oatmeal, rice (1 case – constipation in a child), corn, peas (1 case – gas in a child). Pasta. Almost all mothers ate them from the very beginning. Only 1 case of a child being allergic to all flour, including pasta, was recorded. Fats: vegetable oil, butter (1 case of allergy indicated). Lard was consumed by several mothers only in the 2nd half of breastfeeding. sugar with glucose or fructose. However, in reality, almost all mothers consume sugar from the very beginning of breastfeeding and do not observe any negative consequences. Vegetables: carrots, potatoes, onions, cabbage, pumpkin, zucchini, sweet peppers. Not a single mother noted an allergy or gas in the child to these boiled vegetables. Only 2 mothers noted an allergy to raw carrots. There was one case of allergy after the mother ate beets, tomatoes and eggplants. However, most nursing mothers introduced these vegetables, as well as cucumbers, pumpkin and sauerkraut, into their diet not during the period of a strict diet, but later. Raw onions and garlic can supposedly spoil the taste of milk, but most mothers confirm that these vegetables do not in any way affect the amount of milk the baby sucks. Only 1 mother indicated the appearance of gas in the child after eating fresh onions. And on the Rozhana website there is data that a strong smell, on the contrary, increases the child’s appetite. Baked apples. They are usually introduced into the diet immediately and, as a rule, do not cause adverse reactions. Dried fruits: dried apples and pears, dried apricots, prunes, raisins, dates, figs. Only in one case was a laxative effect of dried apricots, prunes and raisins noted, as well as an allergy to prunes. Fresh herbs: dill, parsley, sorrel, spinach, lettuce, nettle. Not a single case of adverse reactions to greens on the part of a child was found. Nuts (walnuts, pine, peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, almonds). Despite the fact that walnuts are considered an allergen, only 1 mother noted an allergy to it in her child. Drinks: drinking (spring) water, weak green and black tea, dried fruit compote. All nursing mothers drank this without any consequences for the child. However, 1 case of allergy to dried fruit compote was identified. A few people included rosehip infusion in their diet, but due to the diuretic (and not at all conducive to lactation) properties of this drink, you should not get carried away with it. By the way, most sites debunk the popular belief that green tea with milk leads to increased lactation. That's it...

Thus, for myself, I clearly established the basic rule of nutrition during breastfeeding: Eat as usual, adjusting the diet in accordance with the principles of healthy eating. It’s not for nothing that almost a third (!) of the surveyed mothers proudly declare that from the first days of breastfeeding they ate everything! However, the connection between certain foods in a nursing mother’s diet and the baby’s adverse reactions cannot be denied. Therefore, switching to some kind of diet is justified only if the child develops allergies or gases and the product that caused such a reaction is correctly identified. Porridge, muesli, omelettes, potatoes, stewed vegetables, soups, cottage cheese and various dishes made from it, sandwiches with butter and cheese, apples, dried fruits and much, much more - now the diet of a nursing mother no longer seems scary and limiting to me as a couple years ago, and I happily look forward to the time when I can enjoy breastfeeding without unnecessary sacrifices

How much can you drink ryazhenka during lactation?

To begin with, you should try introducing a fermented milk product with a small sip, and then study the baby’s reaction. It is worth considering that dairy products contain cow protein, which is a strong allergen. Therefore, such products must be administered with caution. If an allergic reaction develops, a nursing woman should adhere to a hypoallergenic menu. The safest products are cottage cheese and fermented baked milk.

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If the baby is feeling well after consuming the drink in question, you can gradually increase the portion to 0.2 - 0.4 l/day. Abuse of such food promises the occurrence of stool disorders, the formation of colic, and bloating.

Before buying fermented baked milk, you need to pay attention to its composition and shelf life. This is very important, since drinking a low-quality drink will lead to serious negative consequences for the health of the baby and the mother herself. The product should not contain chemical additives, which can also harm the child’s body. You should not drink fermented milk on an empty stomach.

Ryazhenka for baby

Ryazhenka is a well-known fermented milk product with a delicate, very specific, but always recognizable taste. It seems that it has no contraindications and only benefits the body. But if we are talking about a mother’s nutrition while breastfeeding, then there are many pitfalls and trends. Let's try to get around them together.

It is known that a woman’s taste preferences change already at the stage of bearing a child. What was once an unloved dish suddenly suddenly turns into a category with a completely opposite name. When the baby is already born, changes occur in the body again, but now they manifest themselves somewhat differently. Everything that a mother who is breastfeeding her baby eats will definitely affect his health.

The diet during breastfeeding should be varied. Many people start eating everything. It seems that this way the milk will become more nutritious and the baby will grow healthy. Even before leaving the hospital, a variety of products appear on my mother’s bedside tables, not least of which are fermented milk products.

Daily value and benefits of fermented baked milk

Ryazhenka is prepared from baked milk to which sourdough is added. That's why it has such a delicate taste. In addition to being delicious, fermented baked milk is also healthy. The composition of the drink is not inferior to kefir. And by the way, if a new mother is not particularly fond of kefir, then she may well replace this product in her diet with fermented baked milk.

It allows you to replenish milk reserves in the mother’s body, and its use affects the quality of milk. It should be noted the advantages of the drink compared to other representatives of fermented milk products:

• Ryazhenka is perfectly digestible;
• 20% of the daily requirement of calcium and phosphorus is contained in 200 ml of product;
• milk fat in the drink promotes the absorption of calcium;
• wonderfully quenches hunger and thirst;
• it contains potassium, magnesium, iron, sodium and other trace elements;
• it is saturated with organic acids, vitamins, animal proteins, fats, carbohydrates;
• bifilin and biolact in the composition are useful for mothers with digestive problems.

The daily intake of fermented baked milk, which is preferably consumed by nursing mothers, is from 200 to 400 ml, which is equivalent to one or two glasses of the drink per day.

How to choose fermented baked milk?

To purchase a fresh drink, you need to pay close attention to the packaging. Shelf life - no more than 7 days. Pediatricians recommend purchasing fermented baked milk in a cardboard or glass bag. The container should not have any damage, traces of glue, or swelling. A high-quality product has a uniform structure, delicate taste, light creamy-beige color without lumps.

You should not buy fermented baked milk with added flavors, dyes, or preservatives. Such compounds negatively affect the health of the newborn. The composition should consist of whole milk, kefir grains, and substances of natural origin.

How and when can fermented milk products be introduced into the diet of a nursing mother?

Many women enjoy a glass of delicious yogurt, a portion of cottage cheese or a mug of delicate kefir. But when breastfeeding, you need to remember that everything you eat will affect the composition of your milk. If the child is completely healthy and has no relatives with allergic reactions to dairy products, the mother can introduce fermented milk drinks or cottage cheese into her diet in the first month after birth. You just need to start using it with a small portion (about 50 g), and then monitor the baby’s well-being for 2-3 days. If there are no negative symptoms during this time, for example, redness of the skin or intestinal disorders, further use of the product is allowed. But you shouldn’t drink a liter of a healthy drink at once. It is better to increase the volume gradually, bringing it to one or two glasses a day. 100–150 g of cottage cheese with a spoon of sour cream will also be enough.

If the baby has any negative consequences during the introduction of a fermented milk product, the mother should stop using it and consult a pediatrician.

It is not recommended to introduce more than one new dish into your menu at a time, because the baby’s reaction may be unpredictable. This will make it more difficult for the mother to figure out what exactly caused the allergic manifestations.

Kefir, curdled milk, acidophilus, yogurt and “Snowball” are very similar in composition; the differences are more likely related to the starter used. When breastfeeding, it is recommended to administer them first. In this case, it is better to make your own yogurt or buy natural one. Cottage cheese can also take its place in mom’s menu. But Varenets and Ryazhenka are poorer and less useful than their counterparts. They will not enrich breast milk with many of the necessary substances. When choosing a product, you also need to take into account its fat content and expiration date.

You should not rush to introduce fermented milk dishes if your baby’s closest relatives have ever had allergic reactions to them. In this case, the sample of drinks, sour cream and cottage cheese should be postponed for 2-3 months. It is better for a nursing mother to start using them with a smaller portion (about 30 g) and, of course, monitor the child’s well-being. If you are completely healthy, you can increase the portion to the recommended volumes.