8 most common breastfeeding questions
From drinking caffeine to when you can get pregnant again, we’ve got answers to your top questions.
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Among the questions new parents may have, many involve breastfeeding. You may wonder if you’ll have to change your diet to enhance the quality of your breast milk, whether breastfeeding is a reliable form of birth control, and if you can have a glass of wine while nursing.
You may also wonder whether breastfeeding is the best option for you and your family. While the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life to promote infant health and development, supplementing or even using formula exclusively are also options that can help keep your baby well-nourished.
Teresa Merritt, RN, a lactation consultant and childbirth educator in Chattanooga, Tennessee, offers answers to some of the most common breastfeeding questions.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Breastfeeding. Alcohol. Page last reviewed: February 9 + 10
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Breastfeeding. Alcohol. Page last reviewed: February 9, 2021.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Breastfeeding. Maternal Diet. Page last reviewed: September 2, 2021.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Breastfeeding. Breast Surgery. Page last reviewed: February 1, 2021.
- James JE. Maternal caffeine consumption and pregnancy outcomes: a narrative review with implications for advice to mothers and mothers-to-be. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine 2021;26:114-115.
- Dror DK, Allen LH. Overview of Nutrients in Human Milk. Adv Nutr. 2018;9(suppl_1):278S-294S.
- Bravi F, Wiens F, Decarli A, et al. Impact of Maternal Nutrition on Breast-Milk Composition: A Systematic Review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Sep;104(3):646-62.
- National Library of Medicine. Metoclopramide. Last Revision: December 20, 2021.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. How Much Water Do You Need? Last reviewed March 2020.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Nursing Your Baby? What You Eat and Drink Matters. Last reviewed March 2022.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A Partner's Guide to Pregnancy. Last reviewed: November 2020.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Breastfeeding Your Baby. Last updated: May 2021.
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