Summer, the beginning of autumn, the soft sun pleasantly shines in the face, and goosebumps from the warm gentle breeze run through the body. Despite this wonderful picture of the summer landscape, it is this time of year that is most difficult for pregnant and lactating women to endure. Right now, when it remains just a stone's throw away before dehydration, they need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. And, of course, the most beloved and long-awaited summer product is watermelon. But is it possible to eat watermelon nursing mom?
About watermelons
As a rule, on the shelves of our stores and markets ripe and juicy watermelons do not appear before the end of summer. Therefore, if “communication” with this berry happens only once a year, and then for a short time, before wondering whether you can eat watermelon nursing mother, you must first get to know him better. So, the watermelon is a berry, the benefit of which is extremely difficult to overestimate. It almost completely consists of juice, which, by the way, stimulates lactation, it contains
It is useful not only for the mother, but also for the health of the crumbs. If this substance is contained in breast milk, it will stimulate proper mental development. In addition to folic acid, watermelon contains vitamins A, PP, C, B 5, B 1, B 2 and many others.
But vitamins are not all that the watermelon is rich in, It will also enrich breast milk with phosphorus, calcium, iron and manganese, all this is simply necessary for the growing organism of the baby and the organism of the mother. Therefore, not only you can eat watermelon nursing mom, but also necessary.
Is watermelon good for breastfeeding?
As you have already found out, such a berry as a watermelon contains many vitamins and trace elements that are simply necessary for mother and baby. But if you are still interested in the question "can a mother feed a watermelon," then you need to consider not only the benefits, but also the harm that this juicy sweet berry can bring. Although this happens very rarely, but watermelon can still cause allergies in the crumbs. Therefore, if your child is prone to allergic reactions, watermelon should be abandoned or used in meager amounts. Although it is impossible to predict in advance what the child will be allergic to, and what is not, but nevertheless you need to be always on the alert, because each child’s body is unique. Like any new baby food product, watermelon should be introduced into the diet gradually, starting with the minimum amount.
Can I eat watermelon nursing mom: the nuances
In various sources, you can find the opinion that if you eat this berry during lactation, breast milk will become too thin, fresh and not nutritious. But it is not. If the baby does not show signs of allergy from this product, then the watermelon to the nursing mother brings only benefit.
The juice of this berry is not only incapable of lowering the value of milk, but on the contrary, it only increases it, thanks to all the vitamins and microelements contained in watermelon. Naturally, like any other fresh fruits, vegetables and berries, watermelon during lactation should be eaten in moderation.
Watermelon in the summer-autumn period turns into a real treat for children and adults. A huge piece with bright red flesh and flat black seeds inside looks very appetizing, so it is quite difficult to resist the temptation. And is it worth it? Who can harm such a product? Is it possible to eat watermelon when breastfeeding?
In fact, watermelon is extremely useful. Include it in the diet can be every day or alternate with other fruits, rich in vitamins and beneficial for the body trace elements. But during breastfeeding there are certain rules that must be reckoned with so as not to harm the infant.
What is useful watermelon
- Trace elements - magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus - stimulate growth and development, give elasticity and flexibility to soft tissues, normalize blood circulation.
- Iron affects the blood, increases hemoglobin, enriches the blood, therefore, watermelon with HB is useful and beneficial for the body of the baby's mother.
- The combination of trace elements that make up the product, in general, has a positive effect on digestion.
- Watermelon is rich in glucose, so it is extremely necessary for women during breastfeeding. The body of a nursing mother seeks to compensate for the losses that occur during gestation and the subsequent process of feeding the child.
- This product stimulates lactation. The reason for this - folic acid, which is part of the ripe fruit.
- Watermelon activates the excretory system, contributes to the removal of excess fluid and cleansing the body of toxins, thanks to panthenolic acid, which is part of it.
The vitamins that make up the pulp of a ripe fetus are very valuable for the health of the mother and the infant. A high content of vitamin C, as well as B vitamins, strengthens the immune system and enhances the protective functions of the body of the newborn. Therefore, the use of watermelon is a possible option for getting vitamins by a child with mother's milk.
This is not a complete list of the positive effects of watermelon on the body of a young mother during lactation.
Contraindications to the use of watermelon in the period of GW
- Nobody is insured against an allergic reaction. It can manifest itself in a baby being breastfed, after the mother has tried the watermelon. Therefore, to introduce a new product into the diet of a nursing mother should be with caution. It is recommended not to eat it during the first three months of the infant's life.
- If the milk arrives well, you can enhance this process and experience discomfort by allowing yourself too much watermelon.
- This fruit is a strong diuretic. Quiet sleep for the mother during the period of GW is very important, so do not eat watermelon at night.
- It is better to buy such a product in places you trust, and at the time when melons and gourds ripen. Otherwise, you can purchase an immature product that can harm the health of both the mother and the child. In addition, for the speedy ripening of many such fruits, chemicals are added to the soil that affect product quality.
- Watermelon should be eaten separately from all other foods, because fermentation takes place in combination with many of them, which leads to a breakdown of the digestive system.
- You should not buy any fruits that are traded next to the roadway. Any fruit is capable, like a sponge, to absorb exhaust gases and heavy metals. Avoid buying sliced watermelons.
Breastfeeding watermelon should be carefully chosen and a little there, while watching the reaction of the child over the next day. Lactation is a very important process in the life of a young mother. She feels responsible for the health of the baby. Therefore, doctors recommend caution to try any product that may adversely affect the digestive process and the general condition of the baby.
Watermelon during lactation may be beneficial if, for example, milk is poorly emitted. But it can also cause unexpected eruptions on the body of an infant.
Favorable time
In the first month of life of the mother of the breastfeeding child, you should follow a diet until the baby gets used to the environment. After three months, you can gradually try new products. If this period falls on the summer-autumn period, you should not abandon fruits and vegetables that contain vitamins. Eat watermelon can be in small portions, tracking the condition of the baby.
- As mentioned above - watermelon is a powerful diuretic, so it should be used with nursing mother with caution. It is advisable to do this in the first half of the day, in the period of wakefulness of both mother and child.
- If we talk about the age of the child, then the first three months the baby reacts to any innovation. To save your baby from stress, you should refrain from experiments in this difficult period for the infant and his mother. It is recommended to introduce foods that can cause allergies into the diet of a young mother with caution.
- Seasonality plays a special role in the purchase and consumption of watermelon for food. Starting from the end of summer - from August to the end of October, you can safely acquire the miracle berry and enjoy its sweet taste. However, in the period earlier, this should not be done, since imported fruits, in which freshness and taste are maintained artificially, can cause serious poisoning. And in a later period, there is a high probability of buying overripe or decaying fruit, which is by no means impossible.
How to choose
If during breastfeeding you want to treat yourself to a sugar treat, pay attention to right choice product.
- The older generation is used to choosing a watermelon by knocking on its peel. If the sound is deaf - the fruit is ripe and ready to eat.
- Squeeze watermelon hands. If he squeaks, it means well matured.
- The surface of the peel should shine - this suggests that the fruit is enough to lie in the sun.
- The pattern - black stripes - on the peel is clear and easily visible.
- On the side or at the base there is a rough yellow spot. It shows that the fruit took from the earth all that is necessary.
- "Tail" - the stem has dried.
- On the crust there are no serifs and cracks.
How to check the quality of the fetus at home
This is not difficult to do. Enough to pour into a glass of clean drinking water without gas. Cut a small piece of watermelon, which includes the flesh, and the crust, and the seed, and throw in a glass of water. After some time, you need to raise the glass and look at it through the light. If the water becomes turbid or turns pink, it means the fruit contains artificial additives and dyes. In no case can such a product be eaten during lactation.
If a piece floats to the surface - the watermelon is ripe and ready to eat. If not, the fetus is not ripe, its consumption can negatively affect the health of the nursing mother and baby.
The benefits and rules of choice: video
Can a young mother watermelon when breastfeeding? This is a real opportunity to saturate the body with vitamins and glucose, but at the same time - a certain risk. Therefore, before introducing it into the diet should consult a specialist. The pediatrician will tell you how to eat properly. early stage development of an infant, so as not to limit itself too much and at the same time not to use those products that are harmful to the baby.
In the list of products that are allegedly prohibited by nursing mothers, watermelon is listed as perhaps the most important “villain”. He is accused of causing stomach upset, allergies, bloating in the child. Yes, and nursing mom, heard about nitrate poisoning, is afraid to risk health and harm the baby. Is it true that watermelon is so dangerous?
Photo: Rameez Sadikot / Flickr / CC-BY-SA-2.0
The health risks are not the nitrates themselves, but their quantity. Watermelon - the record for the ability to accumulate these substances, if they are introduced into the soil with fertilizer. Excess nitrate gets into. However, high-quality watermelon when breastfeeding is useful and delicious dessert. A nursing mother can incorporate it into her diet, while taking precautions. Carefully choose the watermelon in the retail outlet you trust. "The rule of watermelon" for a nursing mother infants up to the year: "not sure - do not lean."
"Big and terrible"
Nursing mothers are afraid to eat watermelons reasonably. This striped giant has a unique ability to absorb nitrogen compounds from the soil - nitrates. Fortunately in open ground nitrate content is rarely increased, and fertilizers for plant nutrition are now expensive, and watermelons are cheap in season. That is why recently it has been heard less often about poisoning with nitrate watermelons.
By themselves, nitrates are found everywhere. Nitrogen compounds are needed by every living organism, because proteins are formed from them. However, if too many nitrates enter the body, their excess turns into nitrites, which cause poisoning.
Once in breast milk, these substances provoke the same situation in the body of a baby: it can start vomiting,. These symptoms, which have appeared in the child after the mother consumed watermelon during breastfeeding, require immediate treatment to the doctor.
Is there any benefit?
Photo: cookbookman17 / Flickr / CC-BY-2.0
Many believe that watermelon is a worthless delicacy. What is so valuable about it besides sugar and water? Few people know that sugar in a watermelon is another, not the same one that comes to us from the sugar bowl, buns and desserts. In addition to sucrose, watermelon has fructose and glucose, which make it taste uniquely sweet with a minimum calorie content - 100 g of watermelon contains only 25 calories. And the composition of these sugars is such that rarely causes fermentation and flatulence.
At the same time, watermelon pulp is rich in pectins, which normalize digestion, trace elements for good heart and blood vessels, folic acid, which helps prevent anemia and is extremely important for nervous system.
Vitamins A and C do not need advertising, there are also many of them in watermelon: only two of its pieces contain a daily dose of vitamin C. By the way, it is the participation of this vitamin that helps to process nitrates into safe compounds, even if their amount is increased, and remove them from the body. In this case, watermelon is extremely rare.
Agree, it is difficult to refuse a delicacy, one smell of which can elevate mood. But the nursing mother needs pleasant impressions more than others to share them with the baby. Is it possible to get from a watermelon both pleasure, and benefit, and confidence in its safety?
Precautionary measures
Recall that the safest time to buy watermelon in our latitudes is the last week of August-September. There are, of course, early watermelons, for example, Uzbek, which ripen in July. However, most watermelons ripen naturally much later. At this time, their price is available, shelf life has not yet been exceeded and the content of nitrates is minimal.
Buy watermelons in retail outlets whose reputation you trust. Now every seller must have a certificate of quality for their products. However, in improvised markets it is almost impossible to control whether a particular product was tested for safety. Therefore, health care is in our hands.
Photo: Bryan Ledgard / Flickr / CC-BY-2.0
How to choose a good watermelon
So, the watermelon should be of medium size, with bright contrasting stripes and a pronounced yellow spot on the side (this suggests natural maturation on the melon seed, and not accelerated under the film). Too dry tail - an indicator that the fruit was stored for a long time, and the content of nitrates in it had time to grow, and vitamins - to fall. The crust of the watermelon must be intact. Never buy sliced watermelon and do not ask to do this for testing, as pathogens causing food poisoning can get into the pulp.
Ideally, of course, it is useful to have a portable analyzer at home - an electronic device that shows the content of nitrates, and sometimes nitrites in foods, juices, water. However, for a rough assessment of the safety of watermelons and suitable test strips. If, according to rough estimates, it exceeds 100 mg per 1 kg, there is no such product for a nursing mother. Nevertheless, two kilograms of watermelon pulp for a nursing mother can already make up a daily dose of nitrates, so it is safe to eat 3-4 slices of medium size, so as not to fear for excess of the prescribed rate.
Nature has given pregnant and lactating women hypersensitivity. It is this feature of the analyzer system that is designed to protect a woman and her child from the harmful effects of the environment. If even the watermelon is good in all respects, but you intuitively don't like something in it, trust yourself, eat a piece from another party on another day.
In August, all Russians associate exclusively with the appearance on the shelves of all stores and markets of ripe and tasty berries - watermelon. Almost all people like to feast on this product, but after giving birth a woman gets a huge amount of prohibitions in terms of nutrition. After all, everything that mom will eat during lactation will pass through breast milk to the baby. Needless to say, at the end of the summer, all mummies have a question: is it possible to use watermelon when breastfeeding?
Undeniable benefits of berries
Many believe that watermelon is a completely unnecessary product: in addition to a large amount of sugar and water, it contains nothing. However, everyone is very mistaken. Watermelon - a storehouse of all kinds of vitamins and minerals, especially necessary for a woman after childbirth and while feeding a newborn.
For example, the sugar contained in this berry is not at all what we usually imagine it, it consists of sucrose, fructose and glucose, these sugars do not ferment in the intestine, and therefore do not cause gas formation. If the child often suffers from intestinal colic, then the watermelon mother is allowed to eat.
The watermelon pulp itself contains the following beneficial substances:
- pectins that help the digestive system;
- iron, to get rid of anemia, a nursing mother just needs to eat foods that are rich in this microcell;
- folic acid, which is also an excellent means to combat anemia in women after childbirth, in addition, this acid has a positive effect on the nervous system. Nursing mom can eat watermelon to calm down after a busy day and relax;
- panthenolic acid, which helps to normal sleep during the period of breastfeeding;
- vitamin A, which gives a nursing woman a healthy complexion;
- vitamin C, in the pulp of the watermelon contains a huge amount of this vitamin, and, if you use the berry regularly, you can recharge your batteries and protect yourself from various infections;
- the product also contains beta-cerotin, which is a very powerful antioxidant, in a kilogram of pulp is the fourth part daily allowance. If a mother eats a watermelon at least several times a week during breastfeeding, this will contribute to the elimination of toxins and toxins from the body;
- among other things, it contains trace elements such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, all that is necessary for any woman after childbirth.
And 27 kcal per 100 grams of the product will not allow mommy, who watches her figure, to gain weight.
What harm can a nursing mother and baby have?
A nursing woman can use this product, but it is worth remembering that they do not need to get involved. Moreover, there are cases of watermelon poisoning, gastrointestinal disorders and allergic reactions. And mother during breastfeeding of the newborn should carefully approach the issue of their diet.
Often, the berry contains a large amount of nitrates, which are stuffed with watermelons by unscrupulous manufacturers, so that as soon as possible their goods hit the counter.
Therefore, the nursing mother should eat this product not earlier than the end of August or the beginning of September, when you can be sure that the striped delicacy has ripened naturally.
It is also important to remember that an excess of nitrates enters the breast milk, and, consequently, to the baby, which can harm the body of infants. If after a woman has eaten a few pieces, she or the child felt unwell, you can judge about the poisoning. The following symptoms will indicate it:
- violation of the chair;
- temperature rise;
- nausea or vomiting.
In this case, you must immediately seek medical attention.
Despite the fact that watermelon is extremely useful for women after childbirth and during breastfeeding, it is a rather allergic product. Naturally, if mommy has even a mild allergic reaction to the berry, it is better not to use it at all during lactation. It is also necessary to closely monitor the reaction of the body of the baby to the product, in the case of diathesis, you must immediately stop eating it, even in small doses.
Still watermelon can not be eaten by women suffering from certain diseases:
- diabetes mellitus;
- gallstone disease;
- diseases of the urinary system;
- acute or chronic pancreatitis.
To avoid harm - we choose the right
Consider all the cases in which a woman during breastfeeding can have a striped delicacy:
- the berry ripens naturally only by the end of the summer period, so you should not strive to eat it before August-September;
- especially after childbirth, a woman needs to avoid various infections, buying this product, you need to make sure that there is no damage in the peel, through which an infection or dangerous microorganisms can get;
- if the berry is immature, it is better to abandon its use, so as not to provoke intestinal upset in the mother or baby;
- it is better to start using watermelon not earlier than the crumbs turn 4 months;
- watermelon should be a separate dish, do not eat it after a hearty lunch or dinner.
What about melons?
Melon appears on the shelves simultaneously with the watermelon and is also a favorite delicacy. In addition, it is much more useful than the above product, it contains 3 times more vitamins and minerals.
Melon includes trace elements such as iodine, copper, chlorine, sulfur, cobalt and zinc. However, for its great benefit, you can pay a considerable price: after all, it is recognized as the strongest allergen.
After its use, the child may experience a dangerous allergic reaction, so it is better to postpone the introduction of melons into the mother's diet for a later period.
Summing up, it can be said that it is good to use watermelon or melon during lactation, but it is worth remembering about the individual intolerance of these products by mom or baby. Also, do not forget to carefully inspect them before you buy. And so, the watermelon during breastfeeding will help the woman recharge with energy, replenish the supply of all the necessary vitamins and minerals, and also give a lot of positive emotions thanks to her bright taste.
A newborn baby is useful and gets nutrients from mother's milk. Thanks to a full-fledged diet of a nursing woman, the body of her child is provided with all the necessary vitamins, minerals and trace elements. It is best to seek the advice of a doctor, he will easily determine the nutritional standards, will help to make an approximate diet and outline the desired diet. Mother's food should be fresh, high-quality and free from harmful additives. Breastfeeding is a big responsibility to the newborn. Each new product introduced into the mom's diet may affect the condition of the baby positively or negatively, which means that it is necessary to act with great care. Of particular importance for the health of mothers and babies are vitamins and minerals, most of which are found in fresh fruits, vegetables and berries. Gentle, juicy and fragrant watermelons in the summertime become especially attractive for nursing mothers. But can not such a delicacy harm the child?
The benefits of watermelon
This beautiful fruit contains vitamins B1, B2 and C, as well as pantothenic and folic acids, carotene, potassium, magnesium and iron. These trace elements help strengthen the organs of the cardiovascular system. The fiber contained in the fruit provides prevention of atherosclerosis. Watermelon juice increases lactation in lactating women, and also contributes to weight loss. Watermelon has a stimulating effect on the digestive process and helps cleanse the body. Watermelon juice cleans the kidneys, removing sand and stones from them, and also ensures the rapid removal of toxins from the body.
Contraindications
Despite the undeniable benefits of watermelon for the human body, there are a number of contraindications that must be studied before using this fruit. Watermelon is not recommended for use by people suffering from dysfunction or disorders of the urogenital system, as well as in the presence of very large kidney stones. In addition, it should not be eaten with indigestion and inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.
Watermelon for nursing mothers
Most experts say that the first few months after the birth of a child, his mother should not eat watermelon. This fruit has a red color, which means it can be a strong allergen. A child's weak body should not be exposed to such danger. After the baby is three months old, the mother who is breastfeeding may begin to use watermelon in the absence of contraindications. You should first try a tiny piece of the fetus and observe the reaction of the child. If there are any signs of allergy, irritation, pain in the abdomen, too much liquid stool, excessive gas formation, watermelon should be stopped immediately. If the baby’s reaction is normal, the amount of watermelon can be gradually increased. It is necessary to eat the pulp, located at least three centimeters from the crust, in which the content of harmful substances - nitrates - is highest.
It should be remembered that watermelons, like any other fruits, vegetables or berries, must be ripe and of high quality. Do not eat too early fruits - the content of chemicals in them often exceeds the allowable rate. To determine if the watermelon you purchased contains an unacceptable amount of harmful substances, place a small slice of it in a glass of clean cold water. If after two hours the liquid becomes turbid, like a weak lime mortar, watermelon should not be eaten. Perfect time in order to get this juicy delicacy - the second half of August and the very beginning of September. At this time, watermelons are ripe enough and contain the maximum amount of useful substances. And, of course, a nursing mother can eat only absolutely fresh fruits: if a sliced watermelon lay in the fridge for a whole day, it is better not to eat it. In addition, you should not buy watermelons, which are sold on the road with heavy traffic, especially those lying under the open sky - there is a high probability that harmful substances are contained in such fruits.