The ABC’s of Mom and New Babe Nutrition
Welcoming a newborn baby, whether you are a seasoned veteran or a new player in the game can be extremely stressful and that’s even without being in the middle of a pandemic! It has been quite the crazy and interesting year with lots of ups and down, twists and turns, and any other curveballs you can think of thrown into the mix which has most likely stirred up a bit of stress – which is absolutely understandable! Stress can affect so many different aspects of our lives-- one of those being nutrition. Knowing what to do or feed yourself and your baby can be overwhelming but keep following along for some tips and pointers to ease some stress regarding your nutrition!
Good nutrition is important at every point in one’s life cycle, but it is especially important during the first few months to first few years of life. An important component of a baby’s nutrition is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding not only provides amazing nutrition and benefits for baby, but also for mom! Check below for some of those benefits! Just note these are just a few examples out of many!
Benefits for Mom:
- Promotes mom-baby bond
- Decreases risk of hormonal cancers
- Can decrease need for insulin in moms with diabetes
Benefits for Baby:
- Decreases chances and severity of infectious diseases
- Decreases rate of food allergies
- Decreases rate of SIDS
Some important nutrition tips for mom when breastfeeding include:
- Eating lots of variety!
- Try to have carbohydrates, proteins, and a fat with every meal
- Your energy needs are increased, so eating consistently with snacks between meals is recommended
- Stay hydrated…drink when thirsty!
- Alcohol may be consumed in moderation – but make sure to consult your healthcare provider
Not breastfeeding? That is absolutely ok! As important and beneficial as breastfeeding is for both mom and babe, there are so many reasons why breastfeeding doesn’t and can’t work for some moms, new or experienced. Not breastfeeding may or may not be something that was anticipated or expected, but the good news is that your baby can still achieve all the nutrients they need through formula. Your baby may not receive additional benefits that breastfeeding may provide, but at the end of the day, formula can still provide the nutrients needed for your baby to grow. Combination feedings – meaning both breast milk and formula – can help provide some additional benefits that are not received from formula alone. At the end of the day, there should be no shame in formula feeding your baby! Just make sure to continue checkups with your provider so both you and your baby stay on the right track and get the nutrients needed!
Whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding, you are amazing! Being a mom is not a simple or easy task, but here you are doing it! That being said, don’t forget to reach out to your Sidney Health Center providers and resources for any and all needs… it is our job to be here for you!