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What is the best cheese for breastfeeding mom?

The Best Cheese for Breastfeeding Moms
When it comes to nutrition during breastfeeding, cheese can be a delightful and beneficial addition to a mother’s diet. However, not all cheeses are created equal, and understanding which types are best can help ensure both mother and baby receive optimal nutrition.
Nutritional Benefits of Cheese
Cheese is an excellent source of calcium, which is crucial for breastfeeding mothers. During this period, women experience a natural depletion of calcium due to the demands of milk production. Incorporating hard cheeses, such as cheddar or gouda, can help replenish calcium and vitamin D levels, supporting bone health for both mother and child. Additionally, cheese provides protein and essential fats, which are important for energy and overall health during the demanding months of breastfeeding.
Choosing the Right Cheese
For breastfeeding moms, organic cheese is often recommended. Organic varieties tend to have a lower risk of contamination compared to conventional cheeses, making them a safer choice during this sensitive time. Furthermore, while soft cheeses can generally be consumed, caution should be exercised with certain types. Soft cheeses like feta and mozzarella are typically safe, but aged soft cheeses, such as blue cheese, should be limited due to potential risks of listeria.
Variety and Moderation
Breastfeeding mothers are encouraged to maintain a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods. This not only ensures they receive a wide range of nutrients but also helps in passing beneficial flavors to their babies through breast milk. Cheese can be enjoyed in moderation, allowing mothers to explore different flavors and textures while still being mindful of their overall dietary intake.
Foods to Avoid
While cheese can be a healthy choice, there are certain foods that breastfeeding mothers might want to avoid or limit. Some studies suggest that strong-flavored cheeses or those with high levels of certain bacteria could potentially affect the baby, although this varies from one individual to another. It’s always best for mothers to observe how their diet impacts their baby and adjust accordingly.
In conclusion, the best cheese for breastfeeding moms includes organic options and a variety of hard and soft cheeses, with a focus on moderation and safety. By making informed choices, mothers can enjoy the rich flavors of cheese while supporting their health and that of their baby.

What foods decrease milk supply?

Top 5 food / drinks to avoid if you have a low milk supply:

  • Carbonated beverages.
  • Caffeine – coffee, black tea, green tea, etc.
  • Excess Vitamin C & Vitamin B –supplements or drinks with excessive vitamin C Or B (Vitamin Water, Powerade, oranges/orange juice and citrus fruits/juice.)

What cheese can I eat while breastfeeding?

Feta Cheese
This makes eating feta cheese while breastfeeding essential if you have a low calcium intake. Feta contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is directly linked to reducing body fat and enhancing body composition (7). Feta from sheep’s milk has a greater CLA than goat’s milk.

What dairy to avoid while breastfeeding?

You will need to avoid cow’s milk, soya milk and any products that contain these such as dairy and soya cheese/yogurts/custards/deserts (see Table below).

Will cheese increase breast milk?

One egg has about 75 calories and 7 grams of high-quality protein, which may help produce breast milk. Paneer: Cheese and paneer help to increase breast milk. For Vegetarians, consumption of a minimum of 100 grams of cottage cheese or paneer is advised.

When to give eggs to baby?

Eggs can be introduced at approximately 6 months of age when your baby is ready to start solid foods. Along with other iron-rich foods like meat, tofu, legumes, and iron-fortified cereals, eggs are a great first food option. Because of their versatility, you can continue to offer eggs regularly as your baby grows.

What cheese is good for milk sensitivity?

With lactose intolerance, you can still eat cheese, but choose carefully. Hard, aged cheeses like Swiss, parmesan, and cheddars are lower in lactose. Other low-lactose cheese options include cottage cheese or feta cheese made from goat or sheep’s milk.

What cheese can babies not eat?

Babies and young children should not eat mould-ripened soft cheeses, such as brie or camembert, or ripened goats’ milk cheese and soft blue-veined cheese, such as roquefort. There’s a higher risk that these cheeses might carry a bacteria called listeria.

What foods are not good for breast milk?

Caffeine – coffee, black tea, green tea, etc. Excess Vitamin C & Vitamin B –supplements or drinks with excessive vitamin C Or B (Vitamin Water, Powerade, oranges/orange juice and citrus fruits/juice.) Peppermint or spearmint: (food, gum or candy with mint flavor) Sage: (sausage, dressing, wild rice mix, etc)

What foods make breastfed babies gassy?

Many mothers have reported foods such as kale, spinach, beans, onions, garlic, peppers or spicy foods cause infant gas, while many babies tolerate these foods just fine.

What is the best cheese to give my baby?

What Cheese can babies eat? Soft, pasteurized cheeses like cottage cheese, cream cheese, goat cheese and ricotta are safe for babies to eat. It’s important to avoid any cheese made from unpasteurized milk, as it can contain harmful bacteria.

Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

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