Nutrition for Breastfeeding

Many health professionals and public health campaigns cite that “breast milk is the perfect food” for infants, which is sometimes interpreted to mean that breast milk composition is fixed and not influenced by external factors, such as a mother’s diet.

Yet, even with all of its well-documented benefits, a growing body of research indicates that the nutritional content of breast milk is impacted by a mother’s diet and nutrient stores. This is of particular importance for those who have inadequate nutrient intake before, during, or after pregnancy.

As one researcher explains: “Any nutrient deficiency existing in pregnancy will ultimately be carried forward via lactation. It is a biological impossibility for a lactating woman to transfer nutrients via breast milk she does not have!” – Miriam Erick, RD, CDE, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

This provides an opportunity for nutrition professionals to help mothers and their breastfed infants optimize nutrient intake and long term health.

This webinar will take a closer look at the research on the nutritional variation in breast milk, nutrients that are affected by maternal intake, and strategies to boost the nutritional value to ensure breastfed infants receive adequate intake. Specific discussion of traditional nutrient-dense foods and their use cross culturally will be highlighted.

In this webinar, you’ll learn:

• Nutritional benefits of breastfeeding
• How maternal intake and nutrient status impacts the nutritional value of breastmilk (which nutrients are affected by diet/supplements and which nutrients are not)
• Developmental risks for infants of exclusively breastfed mothers who are undernourished
• Practical strategies to support breastfeeding mothers with nutrient-dense foods and/or appropriate supplementation

Length: 90 minutes

Cost: $75