Question

1. How do the calorie and nutrient recommendations for breastfeeding women compare to those of women who do not breastfeed?
2. What are three things breastfeeding women should avoid?
3. Explain how infant formula is an acceptable alternative to breast milk.

Answer 1

1. How do the calorie and nutrient recommendations for breastfeeding women compare to those of women who do not breastfeed?

The calorie to the breastfeeding mother is around 450 to 500 kcal per day which should come from healthy food sources and is recommended by CDC for well nourished breastfeeding mother to meet the demands of the additional calorie demand for breastfeeding and maintaining good health. While for the non breastfeeding mother the calorie requirement is around 1,800 to 2,000 kcal per day. The nutrient recommendation for breastfeeding mother are pertaining to higher quantity consumption of nutrients and minerals such as Calcium, Carbohydrates, Proteins, Folic acid, Healthy fat, Iodine, Iron, Fibers, etc. While most of the nutrient requirement for non-breastfeeding women is the same to maintain health body but in case of breast feeding women/ mother the quantity and specificity is altered. For example nutrients such as Iron, healthy fats, Proteins, Calcium are specifically required in higher proportion s and it helps and aids in milk production as well as energy generation which is required by the body of breastfeeding mother for her child feeding purpose.

2. What are three things breastfeeding women should avoid?

The following are the three things that breastfeeding women should avoid:

i. Alcohol and substance abuse - For breastfeeding women the alcohol and other substance abuse such as drugs, cigarettes can affect the growth and developmental process of the child and can have an effect on the milk production too.

ii. Fish high in mercury - Fishes higher in Mercury can lead to transmission of heavy metal to the child and lead to brain development problems in the child and severely affect the child's growth and development

iii. Highly processed foods - The higher processed foods tend to have nutrients deficient and this deficiency can lead to milk production with low nutritional content and can affect the child's nutritional requirement and affect the child's growth leading to medical problems over the long term