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Cranberries during breastfeeding can provide a nursing mother with a whole group of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. But breastfeeding mothers usually doubt whether cranberries can be consumed if the baby is breastfed. It is believed that those substances that the mother consumes with food pass through the milk to the child. It is considered absolutely true.
Not all the chemical composition of the foods eaten by a woman will get to the child, but the baby will also receive some of these substances. In the first months of breastfeeding, milk is the only source of all vitamins and minerals.
Is it possible to cranberries while breastfeeding
The doubts caused by the use of cranberries during breastfeeding are based on the content of a very large amount of ascorbic acid in the product. This substance can cause an allergic reaction in children. But, in addition to ascorbic acid, the berry contains a whole complex of vitamins, minerals and amino acids necessary for the body. Especially if a significant part of all these substances “pulls out” milk.
Lost nutrients need to be replenished. If the baby does not have diathesis after the mother consumes oranges, strawberries, dogwood and other foods high in ascorbic acid, cranberries during breastfeeding are not only possible, but necessary. But it is best to use it as a different type of drink:
- morse;
- decoction;
- infusion.
In addition to nutrients, when breastfeeding, the amount of fluid received is also important.
Vitamin composition
The main attention in berries is paid to the content of organic acids, pectins, sugars and vitamins. The sour taste of the berries is given by citric acid, which occupies the main share of the total amount of other acidic compounds. Berries also contain other acids:
- ursolic;
- benzoic;
- chlorogenic;
- cinchona;
- oleic;
- apple;
- α-ketoglutaric;
- γ-hydroxy-α-ketobutyric;
- amber;
- oxalic;
In addition to acids, cranberries contain half of the B vitamins and vitamin K.
Vitamin K is responsible in the body for blood clotting, calcium absorption, the interaction of calcium with cholecalciferol (D₃). Participates in the synthesis of some proteins. Its deficiency causes profuse bleeding with minor injuries. In terms of the amount of vitamin K, cranberries are not inferior to strawberries and cabbage.
The berry of B vitamins contains:
- B₁;
- B₂;
- В₃, aka RR;
- B₅;
- B₆.
This group is responsible for a whole range of vital body systems:
- central nervous system;
- gastrointestinal tract;
- cardiovascular system;
- reproductive system.
With a lack of B₂, the work of the whole organism is disrupted, since it is also responsible for the work of the endocrine glands.
Of the macronutrients in berries contain:
- potassium in a significant amount;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- magnesium.
Potassium affects the work of the heart, strengthening the heart muscle.
Trace elements:
- iron;
- manganese;
- zinc;
- copper;
- chromium;
- molybdenum.
The content of iron, which prevents the development of anemia, is quite high in berries.
The sugars in cranberries are fructose, glucose and sucrose. From pectin polysaccharides.
Effect of cranberries on lactation
When breastfeeding, the baby should receive enough milk so that he does not need additional nutrition. You can increase milk flow by drinking more fluids than during the non-lactation period. Milk contains the most water. Theoretically, an increase in milk flow will occur even if you drink pure water alone. But milk in this case will be “liquid”, without enough nutrients. It is much better to increase milk flow with the help of vitamin and mineral cocktails. Cranberry drinks work well for this purpose.
The cranberry itself in the form of a berry is not able to either increase or decrease milk flow. It can only supply the body with the necessary nutrients. But cranberry juice or a decoction will provide a woman during breastfeeding not only with nutrients, but also with a sufficient amount of liquid. In addition, fruit drinks are delicious and you can drink it even when you don’t feel like drinking. Such use of additional liquid in the form of berry drinks will significantly increase milk flow and at the same time will not make the milk “empty”.
How to make morse
Morse is juice diluted with water. In the case of cranberries, the preparation of the drink is similar to the preparation of the infusion and differs only in the concentration of the final product. To prepare a fruit drink, you need 2 cups of berries and 1 cup of water. The berries are kneaded and poured with hot, but not boiling water. Infuse for about 15 minutes. After that, the resulting juice is filtered and the pulp is squeezed out. Add sugar or honey to taste. If the concentration is too high, the juice is additionally diluted with water.
When can I introduce cranberries into the diet
If a woman consumed cranberries during pregnancy, then this process can not be stopped during breastfeeding. An allergic reaction in an infant should be monitored, but he will give it to other similar products.
If before this berry was not in the diet, it should be introduced, like all new products, gradually. When breastfeeding, the baby receives some of the nutrients, and not all that was eaten by the mother. Therefore, it is pointless to start eating cranberries with 1-2 berries. You can limit yourself for the first time to half a glass of fruit drink.
Contraindications to the use of berries and products from them are common diseases. These diseases have nothing to do with breastfeeding or gender. If the mother has problems with the gastrointestinal tract, cranberries are contraindicated for her, regardless of whether the child is breastfed or has already grown up.
Cranberry juice or berries should not be consumed if there are the following diseases:
- heartburn;
- stomach ulcer;
- duodenal ulcer;
- gastritis;
- increased acidity;
- liver diseases.
Problems after drinking fruit drinks will not be with the child, but with his mother.
Is it possible to cranberry juice while breastfeeding
If mothers can eat berries even from the first day after childbirth, then there are no restrictions for fruit drinks. If we are talking about a baby who is breastfed, then the data on when he can be given cranberry juice vary. It depends not on objective indicators, but on which feeding system the mother adheres to.
Some believe that a child should be breastfed up to 1,5-3 years. Naturally, at this time the child does not have enough milk and he eats other food, including drinking cranberry juice. For young infants, fruit drinks are introduced into the diet in a similar way to other juices and at the same time. Start with a small amount of a drink diluted with water.
Conclusion
Cranberries are a good substitute for southern citrus when breastfeeding. Since essential oils often cause allergies when eating citrus fruits, cranberries will help fill in the lack of nutrients when breastfeeding a baby without consequences for the baby.