Although women are cautioned against eating sushi and other raw seafood (such as sashimi, oysters, clams, and mussels) when pregnant, there is no need to forgo this type of seafood when breastfeeding. Sushi can be a part of a well-balanced diet.
Once the baby is born, women no longer have to avoid sushi as it is safe to eat while breastfeeding. Eating fish, whether raw or cooked, can provide several benefits to both a breastfeeding woman and the breastfed baby. In particular, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D are essential for developing infants.
“Breastfeeding moms should avoid sushi containing fish that is high in mercury like tuna, yellowtail, mackerel, or sea bass,” says Virga. Other options for lower mercury seafood can be found in the FDA list of best choices, good choices, and choices to avoid.
No special diet is required, but we recommend that you start making nutritional choices as if you're already pregnant. This means eating well-balanced meals, no sushi or other raw or undercooked meats, avoiding high-mercury fish and soft cheeses, no alcohol, and continuing to take a preconception supplement.
Yes, breastfeeding moms can eat fish, but you do need to be cautious about what kind it is and how much of it you have. Fish has all kinds of benefits for breastfeeding moms and babies. It's high in protein and contains omega-3 fats, which are important for optimal development of a baby's nervous system.
During the two-week wait, it's better to err on the side of caution. Avoid having a drink, smoking, or any other activity that could be harmful to a brand new pregnancy. It's fine to continue exercising if you already have a workout routine, but now might not be the time to take up a new, intense form of exercise.
You don't have to completely eliminate sushi from your diet to stay safe—you can still eat it. “Sushi that involves cooked fish or shellfish can be safe and fine in pregnancy,” Dr. Sekhon shares. So cooked rolls are usually A-OK.
Fortunately, there are lots of lower-mercury seafood options that are safe for breastfeeding women. ACOG actually encourages breastfeeding moms to eat 8 to 12 ounces of fish a week. That works out to be roughly two to three servings per week. The FDA and EPA's “best choices” list of low-mercury fish is extensive.
Foods like beans, broccoli, cauliflower, or some dairy products can cause fussiness, gassiness, or colicky behavior in some babies. Foods like cow's milk, soy, wheat, corn, oats, eggs, nuts and peanuts, and fish or shellfish are common allergy-causing foods.
Be smart about sushi and sashimi.
Go easy on (or avoid) all forms of tuna, including bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye and albacore. Same goes for mackerel, sea bass and yellowtail. Better sushi and sashimi options (with lower mercury contents) include salmon, eel, scallop, squid, trout, octopus, abalone and shrimp.
Just like during pregnancy, you have to suppress the urge to eat uncooked food like sushi after delivery, especially after C-section. Pork, poultry, eggs, and fish are rich in protein. And it is important to increase the protein intake after a c-section because protein is important for repairing the damaged tissues.
It's even safe for most pregnant women to eat sushi in the U.S., provided it's prepared in a clean environment. However, some fish is high in mercury, including king mackerel and swordfish. It's not safe to consume mercury in high amounts during pregnancy because it increases the risk of birth defects.
Raw fish can be a source of parasites and it can also contain bacteria called Listeria which is dangerous for pregnant women. Do not avoid sushi, just make sure there is no raw or smoked fish. Listeria, a bacteria that causes listeriosis, is a type of food poisoning that can pose a serious health risk for us.
What Advice Can You Offer? Your chance of getting sick eating Sushi in a US restaurant is 1 in 2 million. But even then, sushi may not be for you (if you are still worried about the chance of getting sick from eating sushi.)
Walk around, do some light exercises like walking or yin yoga to get your circulation moving, but nothing too vigorous that makes you really sweat or make it difficult to hold a conversation while you work out. Don't take a bath, sauna or hot tub.
The two-week wait is a time of high anxiety, worry, and frustration for women trying to conceive. 1 In case you're not familiar with the phrase, the two week wait is the time between ovulation and your expected period. This is when all your am-I-pregnant-this-time anxieties emerge!
Don't drink coffee or alcohol
Try to avoid alcohol entirely and limit your coffee intake to at least below 200 milligrams a day during the two-week period for optimal results.
You can have that celebratory champagne or glass of wine after giving birth. However, if you're breastfeeding, it's going to come down to timing. Drinking after delivering should be done in moderation and at least three to four hours before you plan to nurse your baby. Just one glass though!
A quick and healthy snack, dates can significantly reduce the amount of blood loss and haemorrhaging after giving birth. They are also packed with natural sugars that provide energy, and polyphenols, compounds that improve digestion and brain functions and provide protection against blood clots and inflammation.
Sage, parsley, peppermint, and menthol have all been noted to decrease milk supply in breastfeeding people who consume large quantities of each. For this reason, these herbs are often used for weaning. (Note that peppermint contains high levels of menthol, which is a chemical found in various types of mint.)