Seeds during breastfeeding: is it possible pumpkin, fried. Seeds for breastfeeding: benefits, features and important points

Today, seeds can be called one of the most favorite foods for most young mothers. Indeed, during long walks with a baby, mothers do not know what to do with themselves while their child is sleeping, and while away the time husking sunflower or pumpkin kernels. But not all nursing mothers think about the safety of eating seeds during breastfeeding. On the contrary, many new parents are confident that pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds have the best effect on the production and quality of breast milk, since they contain a lot of useful trace elements. Is this really so, is it possible for a nursing mother to eat pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds for nursing mothers, and what is the opinion of medical workers?

Benefit or harm - different points of view

According to the first version, which is supported by seed lovers, sunflower and pumpkin seeds are extremely useful for both mother and baby. First, they contain a lot of useful substances. Secondly, breast milk becomes more nutritious. Thirdly, seeds, or rather the process of their clicking, calm the nervous system. According to the second version, which is put forward by doctors, it is better to exclude pumpkin and sunflower seeds from your daily diet. This is explained quite simply - in the seeds there are allergens that are dangerous for the health of the baby. In addition, seeds during breastfeeding can cause colic, flatulence and stool disorders in the newborn.

Which seeds are better for breastfeeding

On the shelves of modern stores today you can find different seeds. But few of their nursing mothers think about how useful each particular species is.

Sunflower seeds contain the following set of useful trace elements:

Sunflower seeds contain 570 calories per 100 grams. product.

Pumpkin seeds:

Pumpkin seeds contain 180 calories per 100 grams. product. They do not clog the intestines and are used as a folk remedy for worms.

Sesame seeds are less popular, but they are the optimal product for HB. Sesame kernels can be called a dietary product with a large amount of calcium, indispensable for the hair, bones, nails and teeth of the baby. In addition, they contain a number of substances that improve the immune system of mother and child. Thus, the use of sesame seeds during breastfeeding will protect the baby from a number of bacteria and harmful diseases. And so that they bring only benefits, mom should eat one teaspoon of this product every day.

How and how many seeds you can eat

So that a young mother and her baby do not suffer from the use of seeds, you need to know how to eat them correctly. Firstly, mothers should not eat overcooked kernels during lactation. It is better to buy a raw product and cook it yourself. Secondly, introduce the product into your diet gradually. At first, you can limit yourself to 20 grams per day, and then increase the intake of seeds to 100 grams. This amount will allow you to meet the needs of the body in trace elements and not harm the condition of your child.

Dependence on seeds - there is a way out

No matter how ridiculous it may sound, but today there really is such a thing as dependence on seeds. Some mothers during lactation cannot deny themselves the weakness to gnaw on sunflower or pumpkin kernels at the first opportunity. And for many, a real breakdown begins if, when they go out into the street, they discover the absence of seeds in their pocket. If you are convinced that the baby does not react in any way to your use of seeds, then this dependence can be ignored, unless, of course, the health of your own teeth is important to you. But if the baby reacts to them with rashes and abdominal disorders, then you should think about it and use a number of tips below.

Try to eat roasted sunflower seeds at least two hours before feeding your baby.
Replace sunflower seeds with pumpkin seeds, which are much less harmful to your baby.
Think about the torment you bring to your baby by eating seeds in huge quantities every day. After all, your own being suffers because of your weakness. Maybe a sense of responsibility will play a role, and you can at least reduce the number of seeds.
If you decide to fight addiction, then start small, stop taking money with you on a walk, and put only a handful of seeds in your pocket.

In fact, eating seeds is not the worst thing that can happen during lactation. Therefore, mother here should understand one thing, if you know a sense of proportion, and your baby does not react to sunflower kernels, then you can sometimes allow yourself this weakness, saturating the body with useful microelements.

Seeds for breastfeeding - video:

With regard to sunflower seeds and pumpkins, there are several radically opposite opinions. Someone recommends that they be included in the diet of a nursing mother, since they are supposedly able to increase the fat content of milk. Someone insists on their complete exclusion from the diet during lactation, as they contain protein - a potential allergen.

Lactation consultants adhere to the position: if the child is not harmful, then the mother can.

Often they ask me: is it possible for breastfeeding seeds, - says Natalya Razakhatskaya, a consultant on breastfeeding. - I answer this question: why not? If you like sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds as a snack or just to "click", then click for fun. Moreover, they are very useful.

Product Features

The ability of seeds during lactation to increase the fat content of milk is nothing more than a myth. Research scientists have shown that no product at all can have a pronounced effect on the fat content of breast milk. The quality of fat can really be adjusted by saturating milk with valuable fats from sea fish, vegetable oils or the same seeds. Or trans fats, dangerous and harmful, from high-calorie confectionery, fried foods.

The benefit of the product is completely different. It contains an abundance of valuable substances, so pumpkin seeds during breastfeeding or sunflower seeds can be included in the mother's diet.

Protein. One hundred grams of sunflower seeds contain almost 40% of the daily protein requirement for a person. Vegetable protein is freely absorbed by the body and participates in metabolic processes. It is necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system, tissue regeneration. There is less protein in the pumpkin seed, only 14% of the daily diet.
Fixed oils. Seeds with HB are useful in the content of valuable fatty acids. Similar in composition include expensive varieties of red fish or, for example, fish oil. Pumpkin seeds contain oleic and linoleic acids - essential substances that our body cannot produce. But they are extremely important for proper metabolism, normal functioning of the nervous system, and lowering cholesterol levels.
Vitamins. The amount of vitamins in this product is huge. Eating one hundred grams of sunflower seeds will provide 130% of the required amount of vitamin E per day. They cover the share of vitamin B5 by 70%, and vitamin B6 by 40%. The content of vitamins in pumpkin seeds is not as high, however, they also contain valuable components: vitamins K, C and B1.
Minerals. When deciding whether seeds can be breastfed, it is important to take into account the significant amount of minerals in their composition. Sunflower seed contains 115% of the daily dose of phosphorus and 113% of the required amount of selenium. It covers 90% of the body's need for copper and almost 30% for potassium, zinc and magnesium. Pumpkin seeds are slightly less rich in minerals in their composition. They contain 30% of the daily intake of magnesium, phosphorus and iron, and a little more than twenty percent of copper and zinc.

You can get the maximum benefit from the product only by using it fresh or slightly dried. Fried seeds when feeding a newborn (pumpkin or sunflower) are absolutely useless for the body. During heat treatment, more than ninety percent of valuable substances are destroyed in them. Only empty calories remain.

Rules for the use of seeds for HB

“Common sense should prevail in everything,” Natalia Tsareva, a breastfeeding consultant, comments on the question of whether seeds can be given to a nursing mother. - Mom's menu should not be limited to water and buckwheat. She has the right to eat those foods that she likes, but with an eye on the reaction of the baby. And to find out what this reaction will be, you can only empirically. So be sure to try every product you want.”

The relevance of sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in the diet is determined by their benefits. But it is also important to consider the risks.

Calorie content. Due to the high fat content, the amount of calories in the product is high. In sunflower seeds, it is 580 kcal per 100 grams. Pumpkin seed contains about 440 kcal. Excessive consumption provokes weight gain. In a small amount, seeds form a long-lasting feeling of satiety.
Potential allergen. The content of a foreign protein in the product requires careful attention to the reaction on the part of the child. An allergy is possible, which is usually manifested by rashes on the skin.
Difficulty in digestion. Fatty pumpkin and white sunflower seeds are considered a heavy product. Therefore, when asked whether seeds can be given to a nursing mother, nutritionists respond with caution. The use of the product in large quantities can lead to constipation. However, in this case, the mother will suffer first, after which a similar reaction will develop in the baby.

“Constipation in a child from seeds, of course, can be,” says lactation consultant Natalya Razakhatskaya. - But for it to happen, you will probably have to eat at least a kilogram. And you yourself will suffer from constipation.

Considering the possible risks, follow the following rules for eating seeds.

In moderation. It is unlikely that any reaction will develop in the baby if you click on your favorite seeds while walking. In small quantities, this product is completely harmless.
Enter the new carefully. Mothers who did not consume seeds during pregnancy need to be careful. In this case, the child's body is not familiar with the product, and the risk of allergies is higher. Follow the basic principle of introducing a new component into the diet. Try to eat a small amount of seeds, literally ten grains, and wait a day. If everything is fine with the child, eat some more seeds and look again at the reaction. So gradually increase the number of seeds to the required rate.
Cooking right. Seeds bought on the market, be sure to rinse under cold water. So you will not only wash off the pollution, but also allow the enzyme complex contained in them to open up. In the dormant state, the seeds contain enzyme inhibitors that give them a bitter taste. Water destroys these substances, due to which the taste of the product is revealed, and it is better absorbed in the body. Then dry them in the oven. You can not fry the seeds, during frying, all useful substances are destroyed in them. It is also undesirable to consume with salt, since an excessive amount of salt in the diet negatively affects the functioning of many body systems.
We check the seeds from the pack. Manufacturers usually wash the product before packaging. If dirty marks remain on the hands, then the manufacturer missed this stage, and you should not buy his products.
We buy only in a peel. It is advisable to buy seeds when breastfeeding unpeeled. Only in this form do they retain unsaturated fatty acids. After removing the husk, this valuable complex quickly collapses.
Better seeds in their pure form than desserts from them. Oriental sweets are prepared using sunflower seeds, pumpkin, sesame: gozinaki, halva. You can also eat them for a nursing mother. But the combination of fatty grains with sugar makes them many times more high-calorie. Special care should be taken with such desserts.

To the question whether seeds are possible with HB, lactation consultants answer: it is possible, both in the first month and in subsequent ones. If you consume them in small quantities, fresh or slightly dried, they benefit your body. They cannot have a significant effect on the digestive system. But allergic reactions are likely, so carefully monitor the condition of the skin of the baby when you try sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

Seeds are a light snack with which it is pleasant to pass the time. In one of the articles we talked about, and today we will find out if it is possible to eat seeds during the feeding period. Young mothers sometimes want to treat themselves to this product. But are seeds and breastfeeding compatible? Let's try to figure it out.

The benefits of seeds for the body when breastfeeding

It is no secret that seeds are a storehouse of nutrients, vitamins and macronutrients that remain in the seeds even after heat treatment. There are two types of seeds that are most commonly eaten:

sunflower seeds;
pumpkin seeds.

Each type of seeds has its own characteristics, which should be noted by every nursing mother.

Sunflower seeds

Roasted seeds during breastfeeding are a natural antidepressant, which is so necessary in the postpartum period. A large amount of vitamin A has a calming effect on the nervous system of mother and baby. Sunflower seeds are also rich in vitamin D, which is passed through breast milk and is essential for healthy baby development.

Note! Sunflower seeds increase the calorie content of mother's milk, making it more saturated and nutritious.

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds are not as popular as sunflower seeds, but they are deservedly considered a useful product for the body. In nursing mothers, this natural product is actively used with a lack of milk (helps increase lactation). Pumpkin seeds are rich in vitamin K, which is deficient in 60% of people. Together with a large amount of magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, pumpkin seeds are used to prevent beriberi.

Pumpkin seeds are a folk antifungal, diuretic and antihelminthic.

Seeds for HB: pros and cons

Nursing mothers are a special contingent, the health of the infant depends on their nutrition. Therefore, it is important to know all the pros and cons of any product that is included in the diet.

The benefits of seeds during breastfeeding:

- Natural pumpkin and sunflower seeds, when consumed 30-50 g per day, play the role of an immunomodulator that protects the mother's body from harmful microorganisms, bacteria and viruses.

– Only 150 peeled sunflower seeds cover the daily needs of the mother's body in protein, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc.

- Seeds for HB with regular use support the work of the cardiovascular system, regulate the amount of "bad" cholesterol and strengthen the walls of blood vessels.

- Pumpkin seeds have a preventive effect on the genitourinary system, are useful in diseases of the bladder, in folk medicine they are used to treat kidneys.

“Eating seeds has some psychological effect. If a young mother needs to “blow off steam”, relieve stress, then a portion of roasted seeds will help to cope with mini-stress. The main thing is that eating seeds does not develop into an addiction and a desire to gnaw something in any tense situation.

What harm can seeds do when breastfeeding:

- On a poor-quality product, the shell may be contaminated. Dust and dirt, if it enters the body of a nursing mother, can harm both her (inflammation of the oral cavity) and the child (intestinal disorders).

- When the seeds are clicked, tooth enamel deteriorates, plaque and tartar form on the surface of the teeth. Breastfeeding mothers are often deficient in calcium, so excessive and regular stress on the teeth can lead to their destruction;

- Seeds are rich in vitamin B6, which, when consumed in excess of the daily norm, causes disturbances in brain activity. The consequences may be failures of coordination of movement, unreasonable fatigue, drowsiness.

How many seeds can be eaten without harm?

After the birth of a child, it is worth introducing seeds into your daily diet little by little, no more than 30 g per day. In order not to calculate the measure on the scales, you can navigate by the “zhmenka” in the palm of your hand. Half of this amount is just the allowable daily allowance. If the baby does not develop reactions to a new product in the form of a rash, stool disorders and well-being, then you can gradually increase the consumption of seeds to 80 g / day.

Important! Every nursing mother should know that seeds are not a product that can be eaten on an empty stomach. Sunflower seeds can be consumed between meals in small amounts. In order not to cause fermentation in the stomach, and not to provoke colic in the baby, you should not drink the seeds with sweet tea or sparkling water.

How to choose seeds for the benefit of a nursing mother

Roasted sunflower seeds are very tasty, fragrant, and they are the most popular when buying. But are all seeds equally good? Every nursing mother should know the answer to this question, because when breastfeeding, the benefits of the product come first.

Purchase only those seeds that are packed in factory packaging. This is a guarantee that nothing has entered the product during transportation and storage that could cause a hazard to your health.
Nursing mothers should avoid seeds with flavors and salt - low-quality raw materials are often disguised in such seeds.
Seeds purchased for home frying must be thoroughly washed under running water and calcined before use without adding oil.

Which seeds are best avoided while breastfeeding?

Nursing mothers should not buy fried seeds, peeled. Without a shell, the seeds absorb foreign odors and can become contaminated with dust. With unsealed storage (sale "by weight"), such a product, according to experts, does pose a health hazard.

On a note! Peeled seeds lose their useful properties from the moment the shell is separated from the seeds. They have a short shelf life - only 3-4 months. After this time, the seeds acquire a rancid taste and become unsuitable for human consumption.

We also recommend reading an article about. We also recommend watching a useful video about what the nutrition of a nursing mother should be.

Such a tasty delicacy as seeds is also a very useful product containing a large amount of vitamins and minerals, which is very important for women after childbirth. We will figure out whether seeds can be given to a nursing mother and how they affect the quality of milk and the well-being of the baby.

The benefits of seeds

Studies have shown that if you consume at least half a glass of sunflower seeds every day, then the body will be provided with the necessary set of trace elements and vitamins.

If you eat them all the time in small quantities, then you can:

strengthen the cardiovascular system due to vitamins A, E and amino acids,
improve the taste and quality of breast milk,
make blood vessels more elastic, lower cholesterol levels due to the presence of fatty acids,
increase muscle mass faster due to the large amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fats,
improve appetite,
stimulate the work of the intestines, liver and gallbladder, respiratory system with the help of trace elements of cobalt, sodium, fluorine, iron, copper,
improve the condition of the skin and hair due to the presence of zinc seeds, a large amount of vitamins B, E and trace elements,
accelerate the healing process of ulcers, wounds,
enhance the absorption of calcium by the body due to the large amount of natural vitamin D,
improve the psycho-emotional state due to the intensive production of the hormone of joy and happiness when eating seeds.

But if you gnaw raw pumpkin seeds while breastfeeding, then you can conduct a course of deworming your mother's body without medication, the use of which is prohibited during lactation. Contained in the green film surrounding the nucleus, cucurbitin is a powerful antihelminthic. However, it does not irritate the intestinal mucosa, does not cause intoxication, like drugs of a similar effect.

In addition to antihelminthic properties, pumpkin seeds are distinguished by a high content of zinc. It not only affects the structure of the hair and the beauty of the skin, but also promotes the production of insulin by the pancreas, and is also involved in the development of immune cells.

What are the benefits of eating raspberries for mom while breastfeeding

Possible negative consequences

Despite the fact that it is very useful to use sunflower seeds, doctors warn of their possible negative impact on the baby's body.

A large amount of oils and fatty acids can cause bloating in an infant and intestinal colic, lead to problems with stool.
By consuming sunflower seeds in large quantities, a mother can cause constipation, which is very undesirable in the postpartum period, especially if there are seams and tears.
Seeds when breastfeeding should be eaten in moderation, starting with small amounts, as they can be an allergen for the baby. Pumpkin seeds are considered less allergenic, and therefore safer when breastfeeding. After making sure that the baby has no negative reactions to the sunflower or pumpkin seeds eaten by the mother, you can gradually increase their daily dose to ½ cup.
When thinking about the question of whether seeds can be given to a nursing mother, one should remember their high calorie content. The problem of excess weight is very relevant for the mother during breastfeeding, so there is no need to abuse high-calorie foods.
During lactation, it is important to follow safety rules and avoid foods that may contain harmful microorganisms. Eating fried seeds while breastfeeding is possible only if there is confidence in observing the technological process of their preparation. Therefore, it is better to fry them yourself or purchase seeds packaged in sealed packages and processed in industrial plants, where sanitary standards are strictly monitored. In this case, the risk of infection of the body of a nursing mother with various pathogenic bacteria located on the peel of the seeds will decrease.
Dentists warn that when teeth are pressed on the edges of the seed coat when they are chewed, tooth enamel suffers very much. Therefore, doctors recommend cleaning the husk by hand, which will keep the teeth intact and healthy.

Complementary foods while breastfeeding: how to enter correctly

As you can see, most of these problems are associated with the excessive use of this product, so they can be easily avoided if there are seeds in reasonable quantities.

For a nursing mother, seeds are not only a delicacy, but also a source of a huge amount of useful amino acids, fats, vitamins and trace elements. With their moderate use, negative consequences can be avoided, both for the mother's body and for the health of the crumbs. But tasty and nutritious breast milk will enable the baby to grow faster and develop better.

Sunflower seeds are a favorite product for many people, especially women like to “nibble” them at their leisure, thereby calming their nerves. Psychologists confirm that such a property is indeed present in sunflower kernels, while this product is also considered very useful.

After childbirth, the mother should reconsider the diet, since not all the products that the woman consumes are useful for the little man, because the baby eats what the mother eats. The answer to the question of whether it is possible for a nursing mother to eat seeds or gozinaki is contradictory and, before you start eating them, you should weigh all the risks.

Benefits of seeds for breastfeeding

The nutritional and energy value of seeds is undeniable: this product is rich in carbohydrates, saturated and polyunsaturated fats, proteins, potassium, and sodium. At the same time, there is absolutely no cholesterol in the seeds - the main enemy of blood vessels.

For a nursing woman, sunflower seeds, to some extent, are a real find, since after childbirth there will be a comprehensive recovery.

Seeds are considered by psychologists and psychotherapists to be a kind of antidepressant, calming and stabilizing the emotional state. For a new mother, it is very important to restore the neuropsychic balance as soon as possible, since instability and nervousness affect the baby's condition.
Vitamin A, which is contained in sufficient quantities in seeds, enters the child's body with breast milk. The well-known sedative property of this vitamin has a beneficial effect on the baby's nervous system: it calms and stabilizes.
Sunflower kernels contain a sufficient amount of iron, calcium and a polysaturated set, which is necessary for a woman who has recently given birth. In the prenatal period, the mother gives the little man a lot of useful substances, seeds will help make up for the deficit formed after childbirth.
Vitamin D, which is found in sufficient quantities in seeds, a well-known preventive measure against rickets, has a beneficial effect on the mental and physical health of the infant.

Such a list of useful properties would make it possible to give an unambiguously positive answer to the question of whether it is possible for a nursing mother to eat seeds, if not for several important reasons that indicate the harmful effect of seeds on the baby's body.

Harm of seeds when breastfeeding

Despite the obvious benefits of eating sunflower kernels by a nursing woman, the seeds can harm both mother and baby.

Fried sunflower kernels are quite a harmful product for babies prone to allergic reactions. Considering that almost all newborn babies are able to give an allergic response to a new product, neonatologists do not recommend eating seeds for mom until the baby is three months old.
A large number of seeds eaten by a nursing mother can cause constipation in the baby and cause intestinal colic.
The shell of the seeds can contain a lot of harmful bacteria, if the mother eats unfried or poorly fried seeds, then the woman runs the risk of becoming infected herself and infecting her baby.
Seeds can also affect the taste of mother's milk, making it unpleasant: the baby can completely refuse the breast after the mother eats sunflower kernels.
Sunflower kernels, containing a large amount of fat, make mother's milk fat. In the event that the baby is already gaining weight well, a nursing mother should not introduce seeds into her diet.

In addition, sunflower kernels can harm the woman herself: cause constipation, promote weight gain, damage tooth enamel, which is already unstable after pregnancy.

After weighing all the possible risks, a young mother can still decide to eat seeds. Experts in some cases even recommend women a few sunflower kernels daily.

A nursing mother in the first three months of a child's life can have seeds (in an amount of not more than 20 pieces per day) in the following cases:

if the mother has a history of diseases of the genitourinary and cardiovascular systems, you can eat pumpkin and posterior kernels daily to prevent exacerbations and relapses of the pathology;
pediatricians recommend that mothers who have problems with lactation eat a few sunflower kernels or gozinaki daily in a small amount, which can increase milk production and make it more high-calorie;

Psychologists recommend removing the habit that is harmful to the mother and baby with the help of seeds. Psychotherapists also answer the question of whether it is possible to gnaw seeds for a nursing mother, positively if it is necessary to find an adequate alternative to smoking.

Prevention of possible risks

Pumpkin or sunflower kernels should not be eaten immediately after a meal or immediately before a meal. It is better to eat a few kernels in between meals.
If mommy has no problems with lactation, then you can eat gozinaki or seeds, but with extreme caution. If a woman notices a sharp increase in lactation against the background of such a "dessert", then she should immediately stop eating sunflower kernels in order to avoid hyperlactation.
If a little man has digestive difficulties, spasms and colic, problems with stools, then the use of gozinaki or seeds by the mother can aggravate the problem. In this case, it is better to completely abandon this food, to minimize the risk of provocative products getting into breast milk.
The problem can also be called a glut of baby food, including breast milk, fats. Kozinaki and sunflower kernels, getting into breast milk, significantly increase the percentage of its fat content and calorie content. The child needs much less of this milk, but the volume of the ventricle contains a standard portion, hence the heaviness in the baby's stomach and indigestion arise.

For some mothers, dependence on seeds was formed even during pregnancy, since eating them not only soothes, but can also relieve heartburn, which so often visits pregnant women. Having become addicted to them, after childbirth it can be very difficult to get rid of the habit.