Quiz Test Your Knowledge: What to Eat and Drink When Breastfeeding Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Share on Pinterest Share via Email Print this Page
Breastfeeding Your Baby When you’re a new mom, everyone may seem to have advice on what to eat and drink — and what to avoid — when breastfeeding. See how much you know about breastfeeding by taking this quiz. True or false: Certain foods such as oatmeal, barley, brewer’s yeast and pumpkin can increase your milk production. true false The correct answer is false Though all nutritious foods are good for nursing mothers, so-called “breastfeeding foods” are unlikely to cause significant changes in milk supply. If you’re a nursing mother and you regularly eat spicy or garlicky food, your breastfeeding baby will likely: get gas and be fussy not notice any difference in your breast milk become accustomed to flavors in the foods your family eats The correct answer is become accustomed to flavors in the foods your family eats For most nursing mothers, what they eat will not give their baby gas. However, your food choices, such as garlic or spicy foods, may cause your breast milk to taste different to your baby, which he or she may notice. But the flavor change won’t hurt the baby. Breastfeeding mothers are likely to: lose weight automatically feel hungrier than usual feel less hungry than before the baby was born The correct answer is feel hungrier than usual A big misconception about breastfeeding is that it allows for effortless weight loss, but an increase in appetite and eating can often offset the calories you burn through breastfeeding. Nursing mothers should wait at least two months before trying to lose weight, and should aim for a gradual weight loss of no more than 4 or 5 pounds per month. Learn more. Drinking coffee when you’re breastfeeding is: OK if you keep total caffeine below 200 milligrams per day OK if you keep total caffeine below 500 milligrams per day not safe in any amount The correct answer is OK if you keep total caffeine below 200 milligrams per day That’s about the amount in two cups of coffee. Be wary of soda, chocolate, tea and medications that can add extra caffeine to your daily total. Nursing mothers who drink alcohol should: avoid all alcohol until their child is no longer breastfeeding not be concerned, since alcohol doesn’t affect breast milk wait two hours after one alcoholic beverage before breastfeeding The correct answer is wait two hours after one alcoholic beverage before breastfeeding Alcohol is transferred to your baby through breast milk, so to be safe, you should wait until your levels decrease, which is two hours for every 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor. Previous Next 5 Breastfeeding Diet Myths