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Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding friendly facilities

For more information on breastfeeding friendly facilities in Dudley visit the Dudley Information Family Service website at: http://fis.dudley.gov.uk/fsd

OUr children's centres are also baby friendly, find out more at: http://childrenscentres.dudley.gov.uk

Healthy eating while breastfeeding

You don’t need to eat anything special while you’re breastfeeding but it is a good idea for you, just like everyone else, to eat a healthy diet.

A healthy diet includes the following:

• At least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day
• Starchy foods, such as wholemeal bread, pasta, rice and potatoes
• Plenty of fibre from wholemeal bread and pasta, breakfast cereals, rice, pulses, and fruit and vegetables
• Protein, such as lean meat and chicken, fish, eggs and pulses
• Dairy foods, such as milk, cheese and yoghurt
• Drinking plenty of fluids - have a drink beside you when you settle down to breastfeeding


 Foods to avoid

Eating fish is good for your health, but don't have more than two portions of oily fish a week. Oily fish includes fresh tuna (not canned tuna, because the good fats are lost in the canning process), mackerel, sardines and trout. 

The general advice for all adults is to avoid eating more than one portion of shark, swordfish or marlin a week because of the mercury contained in these fish.

Small amounts of what you're eating and drinking can pass to your baby through your breast milk. If you think a food that you’re eating is affecting your baby and they're unsettled, talk to your GP or health visitor, or contact the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212.

 Caffeine

Drinks containing caffeine can affect your baby and may keep them awake. While your baby is young, drink caffeinated drinks occasionally rather than every day.

Try decaffeinated tea and coffee, herbal teas, 100% fruit juice or mineral water. Limit your intake of energy drinks, which may be high in caffeine.

Peanuts

If you'd like to eat peanuts or foods containing peanuts (such as peanut butter) while breastfeeding, you can choose to do so as part of a healthy balanced diet. 

There's no clear evidence that eating peanuts while breastfeeding affects your baby’s chances of developing a peanut allergy. If you have any questions or concerns, discuss them with your GP, midwife or health visitor, or another health professional.

Alcohol

Alcohol passes through to breastfed babies in very small amounts. It’s unlikely that having an occasional drink will harm you or your baby, but it might affect how easily your baby feeds. So when breastfeeding, it's probably sensible to drink very little. For example, no more than 1 or 2 units once or twice a week.

Smoking

If you smoke while breastfeeding, your baby will be exposed to nicotine through your breast milk. Don't smoke in the home or car. Ask your partner, friends and family not to smoke when they’re around your baby. If you or your partner smoke, never share the sofa or bed with your baby.