In addition, Hanna says it's also important to get enough protein and fat in your diet. Aim for at least three to five servings (1 ounce each) of fat a day. These could be vegetable oils, butter, or even mayonnaise.
This, she says, will help your body to make a good supply of the super-fatty and satisfying "hind" milk that is expressed during the later half of each feeding, Hanna says.
"In the end we are talking about eating a balanced diet, with complex carbohydrates, protein, and fats, and with as little sugar and sugary snacks as possible," says Hanna.
Among the most important nutrients you need while breastfeeding is calcium -- a minimum of 1,000 mg daily is a must. While dairy foods are a great source, you don't have to drink milk to make milk. To meet your calcium needs, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests five daily servings of anycalcium-rich food, including low-fat yogurt and cheese, as well as nondairy foods such as salmon, broccoli, sesame seeds, tofu, and kale.
Do You Need Nutritional Supplements While Breastfeeding?
As long as you are eating a healthy, nutritious diet, neither you nor your baby are likely to fall short of any vitamins or minerals. If you also continue to take your prenatal vitamins after birth -- which many obstetricians now recommend -- then you and your baby are in even better shape.
The one supplement your baby mightneed is vitamin D, necessary to absorb calcium into the bones, says Carol Huotari, IBCLC, manager for the Center for Breastfeeding information at La Leche League International in Schaumburg, Ill. Vitamin D is in breast milk, but in low amounts.
What can you do? The sun naturally converts certain body chemicals tovitamin D, so Huotari suggests taking baby outside for about a half hour each day. "If your baby gets about 20 minutes of sun exposure on their cheeks once a day, then they are probably getting enough vitamin D," she says.
But be careful about exposing your baby to too much sun, which can cause sunburn and raise baby's risk of skin cancer in later life. If you're uncertain about what to do, talk to your pediatrician about this issue, and ask about the proper dose and type of vitamin D supplements for your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises daily drops of vitamin D for all breastfed babies.
In addition, if you are a strict vegetarian, your breast milk might be missing adequate stores of vitamin B-12. Ask your pediatrician if your baby needs supplements of this nutrient as well.
Finally, while the water supply in most U.S. cities and towns is boosted with fluoride -- a chemical that can help teeth and nails grow strong -- the levels can be low in certain rural areas. As your local water company how many parts per million of fluoride is in your drinking water. If the level is below 3 ppm, ask your pediatrician if your baby should take fluoride supplements after 6 months of age. Under 6 months old, your baby should not take fluoride supplements, even if levels are low in your water supply.
As you probably already know, alcohol and pregnancy are a dangerous mix. Surprisingly, however, the evidence is far less clear when it comes to alcohol's effects during breastfeeding.
With studies on both sides of the fence -- some showing it may increase the risk of problems, others failing to prove it -- it's not surprising that experts are divided on the subject.
As a result, breastfeeding moms should err on the side of caution. Limit alcohol to one or two drinks occasionally, says Huotari. "Until we know more, it's better to drink less," she says. Her advice is also endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
If you do decide to have a drink now and again, have it right after you finish nursing, at least two hours before it's time to nurse again. Two hours is the least amount of time it takes to eliminate alcohol from the body.
If you do try nursing while alcohol is active in your system, don't be surprised if you have difficulty "letting down" (getting the milk to flow easily). One now-classic study published in 1992 reported that alcohol inhibits the production of oxytocin, a hormone that encourages the flow of breast milk.
Nursing with alcohol in your body might also cause your newborn to shy away from feeding. Huotari sites studies showing the scent of alcohol can be detected in breast milk and might turn baby away from your body.
When it comes to caffeine and breastfeeding, many doctors advise caution. The American Academy of Pediatrics points out that a caffeine overload can cause the same symptoms in your baby as it does in you -- nervousness, edginess, irritability, and insomnia, as well as poor feeding habits.
Indeed, because babies can't process caffeine as quickly as moms, an overload can occur much faster in their systems than you think.
To reduce risks, pediatricians recommend you drink fewer caffeinated beverages while nursing. Limit coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate. If you notice your baby appears nervous or edgy after feeding, consider cutting all caffeine from your diet.
Smoking and Breastfeeding: What You Should Know
Although you may have quit smoking while pregnant, you could be eager to start again after baby is born. Experts say this is not a good idea for a number of reasons.
First, whether you are breastfeeding or not, studies show smoking around a newborn dramatically increases their risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
What's more, depending on how much you smoke, nicotine and other harmful chemicals in cigarettes can head straight for your milk supply, leaving your baby with a variety of ills.
"Essentially, anything that gets into your body, gets into your breast milk. So whatever chemicals are in a cigarette are going to end up in your baby's body," says Hanna.
Indeed, if you smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day, La Leche League experts say your baby may have nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.
At the same time you may have problems with milk "let down" and reduced milk production, making it harder for baby to feed.
If you're thinking of using a nicotine patch to tame your cravings, the news is good: According to the textbook Medications and Mother's Milk by Thomas W. Hale, PhD, RPh, the average daily dose of nicotine in a patch is only about 17 mg, less than half of what you would get in 20 cigarettes.