For Mom: There is not much to do to, nutritionally speaking to actually prepare yourself for breastfeeding.

If you are preparing & freezing food in advance of delivery so that you have ready-made meals when you get back from the hospital, you may wish to consider the foods that you may be avoiding during breastfeeding. Why would you be avoiding foods during breastfeeding? Here are a couple of reasons:

• If allergies will be of concern to your baby, then your pediatrician may advise you (Mom) to avoid highly allergenic foods while breastfeeding. Given that doctors have varying opinions on this topic, it is best that you speak to your practitioner to get their advice on the matter.
• Many believe (myself included) that certain foods consumed by Mom increase gas in certain breastfed babies. As a result, many choose to avoid these foods, at least while their babies are very small, until they grow bigger & stronger & are better able to tolerate it. Examples of these foods are:
  • Onions
  • Beans, including string beans!
  • Peas
  • Cauliflower
  • Broccoli
  • Peppers
  • Garlic (garlic powder can even be an issue!)
  • Corn

You may also be interested in learning about how breastfeeding works, about the different positions, breastfeeding cushions & pumping milk. Click here to learn more about breastfeeding in the infant section of montrealmom.com.