Is omega-3 fatty acids Okay to Use While Breastfeeding? – Be The First To Read What The Experts Are Saying!

Is omega-3 fatty acids Okay to Use While Breastfeeding? – Be The First To Read What The Experts Are Saying!

A common question that nursing mothers and pregnant women come across is — Is omega-3 okay to use while breast-feeding? Are there any side effects and danger of Omega 3 intake? Find out the expert answers in this article.

Numerous studies reveal that omega-3 fats play a vital role in fetus development. They have also shown significant improvements in memory, cognitive function and learning in children after omega-3 supplementation.

But are there any side effects and danger of omega-3?

We can have a look at the properties of omega-3 fatty acids. They can help you decide whether – Is omega-3 okay to use while breast-feeding or not.

Firstly, Omega 3 fatty acids are natural blood thinners. This property helps to improve the blood flow through the arteries.

However, for those people who are already taking blood thinner medications such as aspirin, an inclusion of fish oil supplements and greater amount of Omega 3′s might lead to excessive thinning of the blood. These are one of the side effects and danger of omega-3 supplementation.

You can consult your Doctor and he might reduce some of the blood thinner medications, as omega-3 supplementation already does the function of thinning of blood, as well as provide many other health benefits.

Regarding the question of using omega-3′s while breast-feeding, there are no clear guidelines by the medical community except for taking prenatal vitamins along with the consumption of a healthy diet.

Moreover, modern day health practitioners recommend taking omega-3 fatty acids for nursing mothers and pregnant women due to their vital role in the development of the fetus.

One thing that you should make sure in this regard is to use only molecular distilled fish oil supplements. Molecular distillation is the process which removes all contaminants such as Mercury, lead, PCBs, etc. from the fish oil and makes it safe for consumption.

The breast milk is very high in omega-3 fats, especially DHA which points to the fact that omega-3 fatty acids are of great importance for the development of the baby.

You can also see inclusion of DHA and EPA in the formulations of infant formulas. This shows how important it is for the mother to get the daily requirements of omega-3 fatty acids, otherwise the breast milk shall also be deficient in omega-3 fats.

In fact, 60% of the human brain mass is made up of fats — half of which are DHA Omega 3′s!

So, is omega-3 okay to use while breastfeeding? — The answer is yes. A proper omega-3 supplementation helps in the proper development of the fetus, baby and children, which helps them to reach their true potential in life.

Tags: Acids, Breastfeeding, Experts, Fatty, First, Okay, omega3, Read, Saying

How Do Diet, Medications, and Alcohol Affect Breastfeeding?

Food
If you are eating a balanced diet, you shouldn’t have to deny yourself the foods you like. However, if you notice that your baby reacts badly after you have eaten something it may be best to leave that food out of your diet for a few days then try again to see if you get the same reaction. Because peanut allergies are a big problem in later life, some are suggesting that you avoid heavy consumption of peanuts/peanut butter while breastfeeding.

Preventing rapid weight loss
Breastfeeding burns up a lot of energy, and can actually help a woman “get her body back” quicker. However, some women will need to eat extra snacks to prevent rapid weight loss. Most experts agree that a woman should up her daily caloric intake approximately 600 calories while breastfeeding to insure that she is getting all of the necessary nutrients.

Note to Vegetarian mothers
A vegetarian diet can meet the nutritional needs of a breastfeeding mother as long as it includes a variety of foods and adequate calories, including:

• Legumes
• Eggs, milk, cheese and yoghurt
• Wholegrain breads and cereals
• Fresh fruit and vegetables.

Drinks (Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic)
Milk is a wonderful source of calcium, vitamins, and minerals. If you have a hard time digesting milk, don’t worry. It doesn’t take milk to make milk; but, you need to be sure that you are getting plenty of water, fruit juices and other liquids as well as a good source of calcium.

Occasional alcohol intake while breastfeeding can be acceptable. Typically, alcohol intake should be not exceed 8 ounces of wine, 2 ounces of spirits, or 2 regular-sized beers in a 24-hour period.

Caffeine
Though dietary caffeine appears in breast milk, nursing mothers can safely consume small amounts of caffeine without passing on a significant amount to the baby. Higher caffeine amounts could potentially cause problems such as poor sleeping, nervousness, irritability, and poor feeding, so limiting your caffeine intake makes sense.

Caffeine tends to build up in babies’ systems because their bodies cannot get rid of it very easily. Try using decaffeinated coffee and tea, and avoid colas and other carbonated drinks that have added caffeine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that nursing women limit consumption to the caffeine equivalent of 1 to 3 cups of coffee per day.
Smoking

The mother who smokes
Smoking, especially while breastfeeding, is dangerous. Nicotine is present in breast milk and will easily be transferred to baby. For your health, as well as the health of your baby, quit smoking.

Second hand smoke
All babies need a smoke-free environment no matter how they are fed. Secondhand smoke is dangerous to all children, but especially to newborns. Among other things, it increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Insist that smokers in your household smoke outside or far away from your baby.

Drugs/Medication
Take no chances. Discuss all medications with your health care professional. While most medications are safe to take during breastfeeding, there are a few that can be dangerous for the baby. It helps, however, to take the medication just after you nurse rather than just before. Most over-the-counter medications are compatible with breastfeeding, but play it safe by consulting a trusted health care professional.

Read more here about medicines during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding No-No’s
There are very few reasons a health care professional would advise against breastfeeding, but there are some situations when bottle feeding must be seriously considered.

Breast implants or breast reduction surgery: Women who have these surgeries should be counseled at the time of the surgery that these procedures may interfere with their ability to produce milk or deliver the milk to the nipple. Women who have had these procedures should certainly try to breastfeed.

If you are infected with HIV or have active tuberculosis that is not being treated; have herpes with active lesions on your breasts; take illegal drugs; are addicted to prescription narcotics or have an untreated breast abscess, you must receive treatment and special counseling.

Mothers with primary herpes with active lesions (not on their breast) should discuss with their health care provider whether or not they should breastfeed.

Women with Hepatitis C should understand that it is theoretically possible to pass the infection to their infant while breastfeeding, although this has not been documented and maternal Hepatitis C infection is not considered to be a contraindication to breastfeeding.

However, women with Hepatitis B infection can breastfeed if their newborn has received the appropriate vaccine within 12 hours of birth.

Scheduled for surgery? Most moms will be counseled to store breast milk prior to surgery, pump and discard breast milk for a few days, then resume breastfeeding.

Tags: Alcohol, Breastfeeding, Diet, Medications