I’m so grateful breastfeeding my newborn has been successful! When he was born he was in the NICU for the first 36 hours of his life so I wasn’t able to breastfeed him. I was really concerned my milk wouldn’t come in, but the nurses at the hospital were so great and encouraging! They promised me my milk would come in and my baby would respond well to it … if I was vigilant in my pumping. Turns out there’s a right and a wrong way to pump when you’re trying to simulate your baby’s suck! More on that below. Just as important, when you have a baby in the NICU, is consuming the best diet for breastfeeding moms.

If you ate a healthy, well balanced diet while pregnant than this wont be much of a change for you! It’s important to have a nutritious diet while breastfeeding because you are the sole source of food for your baby, until you introduce solids, if you choose not to supplement with formula {Luckily now you can eat sushi!}. The number one reason you should eat a good diet, however, is for yourself! Even mothers who don’t eat enough can feed their babies well. How? Your body uses what you have stored up! That’s not good for your long term health, so I’d suggest eating a few more vegetables each day if you need to! Isn’t the body amazing? Your body knows exactly what your baby needs through each stage of development, even when he gets sick!

It doesn’t have to be difficult to get extra nutrients that you may need! Added bonus, it can taste like a blueberry muffin and even chocolate! Like these VitaTops Muffin Tops. These are perfect for my new life with our little newborn! I love treats so when I find something that’s delicious and supplements my overall wellness with nutrition, I have to share it with you! I found my VitaTops Deep Chocolate, and Wild Blueberry Muffin Tops at Target! You can find yours at your nearest Publix, Kroger, Stop & Shop, Shop-Rite, or Target locations. in the freezer aisle.

Best Diet for Breastfeeding Moms

*According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

• Include protein foods 2-3 times per day such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, nuts and seeds.
• Eat three servings of vegetables, including dark green and yellow vegetables per day.
• Eat two servings of fruit per day.
• Include whole grains such as whole wheat breads, pasta, cereal and oatmeal in your daily diet.
• Drink water to satisfy your thirst. Many women find they are thirsty while breastfeeding;
  • I never crave water more than when I’m pregnant and breastfeeding!
• Dietary restrictions from pregnancy do not apply to breastfeeding moms.
• Vegetarian diets can be compatible with breastfeeding. If you avoid meat, make sure you eat other sources of iron and zinc such as dried beans, dried fruit, nuts, seeds and dairy. If you avoid all animal products (vegan diet) you will need to take a B12 supplement to make sure your baby does not develop a B12 deficiency.

A lot of people assume that the suction needs to be 100%, while pumping, but that’s not how a baby sucks. They don’t suck the entire time. So if you find that you need to pump to get milk production while you’re in the hospital be sure to use one of their hospital grade pumps and use these settings.

VitaTops Muffin Tops use only clean and simple ingredients, and offer a wide range of nutritional benefits. Visit Vitatops for a store locator and high value coupon.