The diet of a nursing woman is accompanied by many restrictions. This is very difficult, so mothers often try to complete breastfeeding early. It is especially difficult to live without sweets. Breastfeeding mothers are interested in what sweets they can eat while breastfeeding in the first month. Today we will answer this question and figure out what sweets you can eat, when to do it correctly, and what you can’t eat. We will also introduce you to recipes for treats that are healthy for nursing mothers.
It is very important to know what sweets you can eat in the first months of breastfeeding. After all, not only the baby’s well-being, but also the mother’s mood depends on this.
Why do you want to constantly eat sweets and starchy foods during breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is a complex and energy-consuming process for a woman’s body. Hundreds of calories are spent every day producing breast milk. Since the body is structured as a single system, it constantly requires carbohydrates to replenish its reserves of strength and energy.
There are complex (slow) and fast carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates can be obtained, for example, from cereals. Fast carbohydrates are sweets and flour. They break down faster, releasing energy. Since the body of a nursing woman constantly requires it, the mother feels the need to constantly replenish her energy supply immediately. It is these reasons that determine the constant craving for sweets and starchy foods. In addition, these products cause the synthesis of serotonin, the hormone of joy, which improves the production of breast milk.
Rules for choosing flour
The main ingredient in the dough is flour, the choice of which should also be thorough, taking into account all the recommendations. Today you can find a huge number of different types of flour, differing in composition and grinding method.
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The most useful and safest for a young mother and child is premium wheat flour. It is great for pies, however, there are also cautions in choosing it. High-grade wheat flour is safe for the health of the baby, but completely useless for a young mother. First, the product is made from the starchy substance of the grains. This explains the complete absence of proteins and vitamins in the composition. Wheat flour and flour products prepared with its use are “solid” carbohydrates. This negatively affects a woman’s figure and lactation. Secondly, special bleaches are used to make such wheat flour, one of which is benzoyl peroxide. This substance is prohibited for use by pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 12 years of age. When breastfeeding, the substance enters the baby's body with mother's milk, which can affect the most incredible ways.
This is important: You should not choose premium flour for baking; 1st grade is enough - this flour is coarser and whole grain, therefore it contains much more vitamins and minerals.
If a nursing mother eats a lot of sweets, how does this affect the baby?
The diet of a nursing mother directly affects the baby. If a mother eats something harmful, in rare cases it does not provoke negative symptoms in the child. The same goes for sweets. In small quantities, good quality natural sweets will only bring benefits. But if you eat too many of them, a woman’s body will become oversaturated with carbohydrates. This can cause excessive stress on the baby’s gastrointestinal tract, which leads to colic, stool disorders, increased gas formation, etc.
In addition, such products contain a lot of sugar and other substances that in large quantities can provoke an allergic reaction in a child. It can manifest itself in the form of rashes, itching, spots and other typical symptoms.
Can a child get fat?
If a nursing mother loves sweets, this is primarily harmful for her, especially for her figure. A large amount of carbohydrates leads to rapid weight gain. These calories are not transferred to the child, so it is illogical for the mother to eat a lot of sweets so that the baby gains weight. Carbohydrates do not increase the fat content and nutritional value of mother's milk so much that it affects the baby's weight. They are not distributed between mother and baby. Consequences for the child can only manifest themselves in the form of tummy problems or allergies.
When and why should you not eat sweets while breastfeeding?
Not everyone is allowed to eat sweets while breastfeeding. It is not recommended to introduce it into the diet in the first months of breastfeeding, as it can cause allergies or tummy problems in the baby. During this period, it is better to replace sweets with more gentle products. Eating sweets is not recommended for mothers of children suffering from allergies or diathesis.
Can sweets cause colic?
Sweets contain a lot of carbohydrates. Consuming them in large quantities negatively affects not only the gastrointestinal tract of the mother, but also the baby. After all, digesting them is difficult for the body and can cause bloating, stool problems, colic, etc. Moreover, it is forbidden to eat sweets if you have colic. They can make the problem worse.
Why are sweets harmful to nursing mothers?
Sweets can harm not only the child, but also the mother. It is very high in calories, therefore, if consumed frequently, it leads to weight gain in a nursing woman. In addition, sweets have the following contraindications for consumption and harmful properties:
- obesity;
- diabetes;
- deterioration of teeth;
- metabolic disorder, etc.
How long does it take for sweets to be removed from breast milk?
Breast milk contains all the ingredients from the food that the mother has eaten. Sometimes a woman cannot restrain herself and eats foods to which the child is allergic or has another negative reaction. After this, you should not feed the baby. Therefore, the question arises, how much should you not feed after eating, for example, chocolate while breastfeeding?
The active substances from the mother’s food begin to enter the milk 20–30 minutes after consumption, and this continues for about a day if the sweets are natural. Chemical additives can take longer to digest, so they should not be eaten during breastfeeding.
What sweets should you not eat?
Despite the benefits of sweets for breastfeeding, not all treats are allowed for nursing mothers. Products with flavors, dyes and similar additives are prohibited. First of all, the list of forbidden foods includes sweet carbonated drinks, for example, the most common sweet water. They contain the largest amount of chemicals and sugar. But such products also include most store-bought candies, cakes, cookies, etc.
It is not recommended to eat cakes and pastries that contain rich cream, for example, eclairs with cream. This filling can cause colic, flatulence and constipation in the baby, as it is very difficult to digest.
It is not recommended to eat chocolate, especially with additives. The natural product contains cocoa, which is a strong allergen. Chocolate also contains a lot of sugar, which increases the risk of developing an allergic reaction. The presence of fillings, nuts, and dried fruits in the composition can also trigger allergies, so it is not recommended to consume chocolate with additives; it is better to choose regular chocolate.
What to replace sweets with?
If you decide to give up sweets during breastfeeding, but your body requires something similar, you can look for an alternative. Dried fruits are considered the best replacement for breastfeeding. A nursing mother should remember that not all dried fruits are allowed for breastfeeding from birth. In the first months it is best to eat dried apples, pears or prunes, and after 3 months it is allowed to introduce other dried fruits into the diet.
It is recommended to replace milk chocolate with black. You should not choose dark chocolate; it contains a high level of cocoa, which can cause excitability in the baby. Pastille, marshmallows and marmalade will be useful. These products are prepared from natural puree and juice, which will bring many benefits. Consider the fact that even these products can cause allergies. Pay attention to jelly made from homemade juice or compote. Powdered store-bought ones will not be beneficial, as they contain flavorings and dyes.
Be careful - sugar
Natural sugars, consisting of glucose and fructose, are an essential element in human nutrition. They ensure the functioning of many body systems and are responsible for the occurrence of biochemical processes. Healthy sugars are found in natural sweets, fruits and vegetables.
But the sugar that people usually eat is an artificially produced product. The main raw materials for sugar production are beets and cane. Through multi-stage purification and chemical transformations, refined sugar is obtained from these products.
There are a number of negative consequences from consuming sugar and foods high in sugar:
- Sugar is an active immunosuppressant (lowers immunity).
- Reduces concentration, increases irritability, and contributes to children's whims.
- Acidifies the blood. A shift in the acid-base balance towards acidity provides the ground for the development of pathogenic flora.
- Provokes fermentation processes in the intestines. This leads to the proliferation of fungal flora.
- Interferes with calcium absorption.
- Provokes caries.
- Promotes the occurrence of varicose veins.
- A sharp jump in energy after consuming refined sugar is replaced by a loss of strength.
- Changes the structure of collagen and leads to the early appearance of wrinkles.
- May cause metabolic disorders and diabetes.
- Provokes eczema in infants.
A breastfeeding mother should avoid or at least minimize the consumption of refined sugar and foods high in sugar. Prohibited: sweet carbonated drinks (Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta), packaged juices, sweets, factory-made cookies.
What sweets are good for a nursing mother?
You should not deny yourself the pleasure of eating dessert, even if you are breastfeeding your baby. However, you should choose sweets that will not harm you and your child.
The list of acceptable luxuries that nourish the body with glucose is not so small: these are sweet fruits, dried fruits, honey and bee products, coconut sugar, syrups popular among supporters of a healthy lifestyle (agave, Jerusalem artichoke, etc.).
TOP 12 sweets that nursing mothers can eat
Lactating women are constantly wondering what delicious things they can eat, because everything is prohibited. The most useful sweets for breastfeeding include the following:
- Pastila, homemade is best.
- Marshmallow: white, without dyes or flavors. Read more in the article “Marshmallows during breastfeeding.”
- Ice cream: organic white, no condensed milk, nuts, frosting, etc.
- Marmalade: natural, from organic juice, best homemade.
- Natural halva. The presence of large amounts of sugar is not recommended. It should be remembered that the seeds and nuts from which it is made can cause severe allergies.
- Condensed milk. Real condensed milk stimulates lactation and enriches the body with calcium, which is very beneficial for bones, teeth and nails.
- Homemade sweets. Creamy jellies or butterscotch (taffy) are best.
- Dried fruits. First of all, pay attention to dried apples, pears, prunes, and dried apricots.
- Meringue. The dessert consists of sugar and egg whites, so it is easy to prepare. Read more in the article “Merringue for breastfeeding.”
- Jam or marmalade is a delicious fruit treat that can be added to many confectioneries or baked goods. The safest representatives are apple, peach, and blueberry jam.
- Nuts or fruits in sugar. Fresh is best. Cranberries are considered the healthiest.
- Cookie. The safest are biscuits, long-lasting or children's cookies. They are allowed practically from the maternity hospital. Read more in the article “What kind of cookies can a nursing mother have.”
What sweets can a nursing mother eat if her child has diathesis?
Diathesis is a hereditary predisposition of the body, usually in childhood, to the occurrence of pathological reactions on the skin. It can be a consequence not only of allergies, as a large number of women believe, but also of acid metabolism disorders, respiratory infections, convulsions, etc. In most cases, eating sweets does not affect the occurrence of the reaction. But if it is determined that the cause of the problem is still an allergy, a nursing woman is prohibited from eating sweets until the allergen is identified.
Doctor Komarovsky's opinion
Dr. Komarovsky is an adherent of the theory that a nursing woman should not give up any products with a natural composition. Products containing chemical additives and alcohol are prohibited. The mother's diet should not be significantly limited, since breastfeeding is not a disease. A woman’s nutrition at this time should be complete. It is also not forbidden to eat sweets. It is important to gradually introduce them into the diet and monitor the child’s reaction. If he has symptoms of allergies or tummy problems, then he needs to limit the presence of a specific product, but not all sweets.
Dough recipes
Since the dough is dangerous because it contains yeast and dairy products, you should give an example of a recipe for successful self-baking. So, homemade baked goods for nursing mothers can be prepared from a product made according to the following recipe:
- Heat 1 glass of low-fat kefir and add 2 teaspoons of sugar, a pinch of salt, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
- Mix everything thoroughly and stir in the flour in small portions - no more than 2.5 cups will be required.
- Knead the elastic dough and roll it into a layer of 1 cm.
- Use baking soda in the amount of 2/3 teaspoon. The amount used is divided into 3 equal parts and gradually added to the workpiece.
- Sprinkle the previously rolled out dough with 1/3 of the baking soda you used. Gently tamp the workpiece and fold it into 3 layers.
- Roll the workpiece into a layer again and repeat sprinkling with soda. Do this only 3 times until the soda runs out.
- Then roll out the dough into a layer, fold it again, and leave it to cook for 40 minutes in a warm place.
The finished dough can be used for baking pies or pies, various buns and other sweets, if breastfeeding-approved products are used. The dough should not be rolled out for a long time or pressed down too much, otherwise the baked goods will not be fluffy.
This is interesting: The presented recipe without eggs can be used by people with allergies to animal protein. The recipe is also readily used by adherents of proper nutrition.
Puff pastry
From the above, the question arises whether puff pastry can be made for a nursing mother after childbirth, since the general principles for choosing a product for baking are already clear. Experts, and even mothers who breastfeed, say that it is better to avoid puff pastry. This refusal is explained by the presence of butter or margarine in the composition, which cannot be eliminated when preparing puff pastry. It is also noted that there are a large number of recipes with the addition of alcoholic beverages - vodka or beer. Alcohol gives exactly that puff, although it is used in small quantities. There is a recipe for making puff pastry for pizza that a mother who is breastfeeding can try. If the baby does not react to the baked goods consumed, the portion can be gradually increased.
To prepare puff pastry you need to do the following:
- Melt 40 g of margarine in a water bath.
- Add melted margarine and a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water.
- Add 0.5 kg of flour in small portions.
- Knead the dough and leave it in a warm place to rise.
A similar recipe is often used for baking pies. Due to the presence of margarine in the dough, baked goods must be consumed in small portions. It is better to feed your child before eating baked goods to avoid troubles as much as possible.
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Reviews from those who ate sweets while breastfeeding
Marya, 25 years old
I constantly ate sweets during breastfeeding. I tried not to eat cakes or fatty pies, but I always ate regular dry cookies, dark chocolate and similar foods. The baby had no reaction. If there was, I wouldn't eat it.
Rita, 32 years old
I tried not to eat sweets. I ate a little dried fruit, candied fruit, and dark chocolate if I couldn’t bear it. I was very afraid that the baby would have allergies. Fortunately, everything went well.
Yana, 29 years old
I'm one of those unfortunate mothers who couldn't do anything. At most I could eat dried fruits from apples or prunes. The baby had a reaction on his cheeks to everything else sweet. That’s why I stopped breastfeeding at 6.5 months. Well, I couldn’t sit on oatmeal, buckwheat and beef anymore.
Most Common Sweet Treats
1. Cookies. The main ingredients for its preparation are flour, sugar and eggs. In addition, flavors, jam, and dyes are added. Such a product will contribute to the development of constipation and other digestive disorders in the baby, and the appearance of a rash.
The way out of this is to make homemade cookies without any additives. Ideally, oatmeal or neigh cookies. They are what nutritionists recommend for nursing mothers. They rarely cause negative reactions. Of course, such cookies will not replace chocolate cake, but to enhance the taste, you can add homemade dried fruits, fresh apples, and pumpkin to the product.
2. Halva. This product is useful and harmful at the same time. Considering that it is made from nuts and seeds, it helps improve lactation and the nutritional value of milk. However, it is precisely this composition that at the same time makes halva a significant allergen. If mother wants this delicacy, then she can eat a small piece for tea, but provided that the baby does not have any allergic manifestations.
If the baby does not experience any negative manifestations (no rash or bowel irregularities have appeared), then next time you can allow yourself to slightly increase the portion. If a child is allergic to its components, then it is prohibited. Halva may cause bowel problems in a child without allergies. The product is quite difficult to digest. If milk is not digested well enough, it can cause diarrhea, increased gas, and abdominal cramps in your baby.
3. Chocolate. It is better to exclude it completely during the entire period of breastfeeding. It is one of the most significant allergens. It is chocolate that most often causes babies to develop a body rash, which is accompanied by itching and poor health.
In addition, this delicacy always contains a lot of preservatives, flavors and other additives that the baby does not need.
But if the mother still does not refuse such sweetness, then, like halva, you should try eating chocolate little by little, gradually increasing the volume and monitoring the child’s condition. Of course, you can only consume high-quality chocolate with a minimum amount of additives - black, bitter, without various inclusions, and not chocolate candies and milk or white chocolate.
Sweet recipes for nursing mothers
There is nothing healthier than natural homemade products, so sweets made from them are the safest for nursing mothers. Preparation does not take much time, and you can be sure of the quality of such delicacies.
Recipe for baked goods allowed in the first month
Baking in the first month is not recommended for a nursing mother. It is best to prepare biscuits from baked goods during this period.
Compound:
Galette cookies are the best option for baking allowed in the first month after the birth of the baby.
- Quail eggs - 2 pcs. (or 1/2 chicken, but it is an allergen).
- Milk - 1 tbsp. l.
- Sugar - 1 tbsp. l.
- Flour - 80 g.
- Vegetable oil - 1 tbsp. l.
- Soda - ¼ tsp.
- Salt - a pinch.
Preparation:
- Beat sugar and egg.
- Add butter and milk.
- Mix dry ingredients and add to wet mixture.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment and grease with oil.
- Form cookies and bake at 220 degrees for 5-10 minutes.
Recipe for PP dessert made from cottage cheese in a slow cooker for a nursing mother with photo
If you have a slow cooker, you can cook sweets in it. An excellent dessert option could be cottage cheese casserole.
Compound:
PP casserole of cottage cheese with candied fruits in a slow cooker is perfect as a dessert for a nursing mother.
- Cottage cheese - 0.5 kg.
- Eggs - 3 pieces.
- Sugar - 100 g.
- Baking powder - 2 tsp.
- Semolina - 100 g.
- Vanillin - to taste.
- Candied fruits and dried fruits - to taste.
Preparation:
- Beat eggs with sugar.
- Add semolina, cottage cheese, baking powder, vanillin.
- Let stand for 15 minutes.
- Pour boiling water over dried fruits to soften.
- Add candied fruits and dried fruits to the cottage cheese.
- Set the multicooker to baking mode for 50 minutes.
Homemade cottage cheese cake
Since cottage cheese is an excellent baking base for nursing mothers, you can make not only a casserole, but also a cupcake from it.
Compound:
Homemade cottage cheese cake for a nursing mother.
- Cottage cheese - 200 g.
- Butter - 2 tbsp. l.
- Sour cream - 2 tbsp. l.
- Flour - 1 cup.
- Eggs - 2 pcs.
- Sugar - 1 cup (or less, to taste).
- Soda - 0.5 tsp.
- Salt - a pinch.
Preparation:
- Beat eggs with sugar.
- Add the remaining ingredients and knead the dough.
- Bake in an oven preheated to 200 degrees for 30–40 minutes.
There is also a recipe for curd cheesecake on my culinary blog. If your diet includes chicken eggs, cottage cheese, and sour cream, then you can prepare this wonderful, tasty and beautiful dessert at home. For a step-by-step recipe with photos, see the article “How to make a classic cheesecake with cottage cheese at home?”
What sweets should breastfeeding women not eat?
There is no specific list of what exactly is contraindicated to eat during lactation, but there are foods that contain a minimal amount of useful substances or do not contain them at all, so you should not eat them. This:
- chocolate - any variety, due to the fact that it contains a large amount of cocoa. In the first month after the baby is born, you definitely shouldn’t consume chocolate; if you try to introduce this product into the diet of a nursing mother, then no earlier than 4 months later. At the same time, it is worth observing the baby and his reaction to a fairly allergenic product, and only after its absence can you increase the portion;
- sweet carbonated drinks - besides the high sugar content and harmful preservatives, such drinks are unlikely to contain anything useful, so you should avoid drinking them until the end of feeding;
- cakes with fatty butter cream - if you are going to celebrate the first successes of a baby with a cake, then it is better to choose mousse or yogurt products than to eat fatty cream with the addition of berries or other allergens.
Marshmallows and marshmallows are the safest sweets for breastfeeding, and it is better if they are without dyes and preservatives.
