Breastfeeding: Will candy increase your milk's sugar content?
Will extra candy for mom translate to higher calorie milk for babe? I sometimes hit the vending machine at work (and I don't choose the whole wheat crackers…). My baby is 7 months -- and on the plump side.
Question:Debbi Donovan
Debbi Donovan is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, as well as a retired La Leche League Leader. For more than a decade, Debbi... Read more
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All nursing moms appear to have the same proportions of protein, fat and carbohydrates in their milk. Lactose, or milk sugar, is the main carbohydrate in milk. But there's little evidence to show that it is affected by your diet, even if you are mainlining M&Ms.
Even when a mother's diet is far from ideal, her milk will still be the best choice for her baby. Certain vitamins are affected by maternal diet such as Vitamin B6, B12, and C, though the amounts of these vitamins will plateau when they reach a certain level. The calorie count of breast milk ranges from about 18 to 25 calories an ounce.
Lots of chubby breastfed babies turn into slim toddlers and so much research points to the benefits of breastfeeding in reducing the likelihood of obesity, particularly until adolescence. Sure M&Ms are tasty, but they won’t give you much energy -- just a quick sugar fix. Instead, pack up quick and easy snacks to tote to work: baby carrot and hummus, nuts and raisins, bagel chips with peanut butter, and unbuttered popcorn.
Answer:
