What’s safe in breastfeeding?

YOUR baby. She’ll have your smile, his eyes and, ideally, your breast milk. But what should you do to make sure the milk you produce is the best it can be? Well, here’s the good news: If you’ve been conscientious about everything you consumed while pregnant, now you can relax a little.  

It’s still important to eat a balanced diet of wholesome food, whether you’re nursing or not, but if your diet isn’t perfect, your milk will be – with a few key exceptions, says Dr Ruth A. Lawrence, paediatrician and obstetrician, and author of the leading medical text on breastfeeding. “All during pregnancy, people tell mothers what to eat for the baby,” says Dr Lawrence. “But after a woman delivers, eating well is something she does for herself, to replace her own stores.”