Northside Hospital - Special Beginnings

• The FDA warns lactating women to avoid eating the following fish due to their high mercury content: swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish. Albacore “white” tuna has more mercury than other light-colored tuna so limit “white” tuna to 6 ounces or less per week. • When eating sushi, make certain that you are familiar with the source and preparation of the raw fish. Like any raw food, sushi can carry parasites or bacteria. Remember, even if your diet isn’t perfect, eat 3 meals a day and drink plenty of water. All healthy adults are encouraged to drink 10 glasses of fluids a day. Too tired to cook? Try these tips for a well-balanced diet: • Make a double recipe and divide into small portions for quick and easy lunches. • Place a moist paper towel over leftover salad greens in a sealed container to keep them fresh for the next day. • Keep healthy foods available to eat with one hand while pumping, such as, grapes, apples, muffins, chopped carrot sticks, broccoli or cauliflower. Keep foods in plastic storage bags for easy access.

HOW CAN MY PARTNER OR SPOUSE HELP? Fathers, partners, families and friends are an important part of a mother’s support system. She is the only person who can pump, so anything others can do to make pumping easier is helpful. • Reminding her when it is time to pump. • Set up the pump and wash the pump parts. • Fill in the labels for mother’s milk storage container.

• Steam sanitize pump parts daily. • Keep the pumping log up to date. • Bring fresh pumped milk to the SCN. • Remind her to do skin-to-skin.

NUTRITION TIPS • Recent studies indicate the same principles of good nutrition apply to the breastfeeding mother as to the rest of the family. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, as well as calcium-rich and protein-rich foods. If you have healthy eating habits, there is no reason to change them while breastfeeding. There are no special foods that must be consumed while breastfeeding. • Research suggests that babies are prenatally exposed to substances in foods consumed by their mother during pregnancy. This prior exposure results in greater tolerance to and acceptance of those foods during breastfeeding and later as they are introduced into the child’s diet. In other words, your baby is likely to tolerate foods that commonly appeared in your diet during pregnancy.

30 Special Beginnings in the Special Care Nurseries