Fruits are one of the most important food categories for a young mother, since they are rich in essential vitamins and nutrients from nature itself.
Baked apples during breastfeeding are not just a light and tasty dessert or snack, but also a dish that helps restore the functioning of the digestive system as soon as possible after childbirth, especially in women who have had a cesarean section. This means that cooked ripe fruits contain not only the taste loved by many since childhood, but also beneficial properties.
Is it possible to bake apples while breastfeeding a newborn?
It is no coincidence that we first touched upon childbirth that went through surgical intervention - such nursing mothers need a much more strict diet after childbirth, and their body is exposed to more serious stress and even risks in the postpartum period. In addition, it is also important that cesarean women in labor more often than others experience problems with the functioning of the intestinal tract.
Apples baked in the oven or microwave are a treat that women who have given birth are allowed to be one of the first to try.
Also, a baked apple is indicated after a caesarean section, when there is an urgent need to protect a young nursing mother from possible constipation and bloating.
But not only those who gave birth by Caesarean will benefit from baked fruits. Apples contain a lot of iron - a substance that the body of a woman who has recently given birth needs most.
It is proper and balanced nutrition that will help you recover faster after childbirth, improve lactation and avoid problems with the digestive system, and a rational menu will protect you from dizziness, poor health and iron deficiency anemia.
Apples baked in their own peel can be eaten by a nursing mother at least every day - doctors do not have any warnings in this regard.
On the contrary, this is a light food that is quickly and well absorbed by the body, and therefore in the early period of pregnancy such fruits are especially valuable, because they relieve part of the load from the internal organs of the woman who has given birth.
Baked apples are always allowed, even with the strictest diet. And even after suffering from intestinal poisoning, it is allowed to feast on such food. That's why you shouldn't be afraid if you're feeding your newborn with breast milk - you can, and even should, eat apples from the oven.
Possible problems when eating apples
You should still eat apples carefully when feeding an infant, because in addition to their positive effect on the body, in some situations they can show themselves on the negative side.
- Due to the rather weakened and thin tooth enamel in women after childbirth, this fruit should not be abused - the acids included in its composition have a detrimental effect on the enamel.
- Apple juice, entering the digestive system, irritates the receptors, thereby increasing appetite, which is not entirely good for women struggling with excess weight.
- If initially the mother’s digestion does not respond well to fresh apples - bloating and discomfort are felt, then most likely the same reaction will occur in the newborn when the nursing mother eats them.
- You should not eat store-bought “glossy”, bulky apples; most often, such an ideal appearance hides a thorough treatment with chemicals, which is absolutely not necessary when breastfeeding.
Dried apples are the healthiest snack for breastfeeding, also suitable for preparing compotes for both mother and baby after introducing complementary foods.
How apples can be dangerous for a young mother and which ones can be eaten during lactation
The only thing you need to remember is the type of fruit. Sometimes doctors do not recommend eating red apples for nursing mothers, especially in the early period of lactation. It is believed that red fruits and vegetables are more allergenic than, for example, fruits with a light or green color. Therefore, it is best to use yellow and green varieties for baking.
It is also important what quality of apples you buy. Before sale, many of them are covered with a special invisible film of wax or other materials that help the fruit stay fresh and not spoil even during long-term storage, and such apples also have an unnatural shine and look too smooth.
For this reason, it is better to purchase apples for a nursing mother at the market or in places where there is a guarantee of the quality of the product. However, in any case, before baking the fruit in the oven, you will have to wash it thoroughly with warm water, and if you suspect an artificial protective coating, you will also need to rub it with a washcloth and soap.
And, of course, in the first month of breastfeeding you should not look for sophisticated recipes.
It is allowed to eat fruits baked without anything, without adding sugar. Therefore, in the early postpartum period, there can be no talk about apples in caramel or with cinnamon, just like any other recipes.
The benefits of apples for breastfeeding
- Apples contain a lot of vitamins and valuable substances. An allergic reaction to these healthy fruits is extremely rare, so they are almost ideal during breastfeeding.
- If the mother does not have digestive problems due to eating apples, then the child will not have them either.
- If you have any problems with intolerance to apples, you can try eating them baked. This way the body will absorb them much better.
They contain a lot of potassium, as well as vitamins E, C, and R. Potassium strengthens the heart muscle. The phosphorus contained in the composition promotes the absorption of calcium, which is also sufficient in these fruits. Everyone knows that this is a natural source of iron, which is best absorbed by the body in this way. But this component helps maintain normal hemoglobin levels.
The pulp of these fruits contains a lot of pectin. This is plant-based fiber that promotes proper intestinal function. Eating fiber prevents constipation. For nursing mothers, the most important advantage is the hypoallergenic nature of this product.
Green apples
If you are afraid that even apples can cause allergies in your baby, try eating green ones. They contain the same composition of vitamins and nutrients that a woman needs after childbirth to restore the body and normal milk production.
They can be consumed almost from the first days after the baby is born. These fruits will help solve the problem of constipation, which often affects pregnant women in the later stages and in the postpartum period.
After a tiring birth, green apples are a great option to fill you up. But it all depends on the characteristics of the organism. Sometimes these fruits can cause discomfort and gas formation. In this case, it is better not to use them for a while. Before eating fruits, they must be washed thoroughly. It is recommended to eat no more than 2-3 pieces during the day.
Red apples
By eating red apples, young mothers are at slightly greater risk of causing an allergic reaction. Therefore, these fruits are less popular among nursing mothers. They are treated with caution. The fact is that their peel is colored red. And all products with this color are at risk of allergies. In addition, red apples contain more sugars. And these are extra carbohydrates that will not benefit the baby. They can cause colic. For these reasons, it is best to avoid red apples. During this period, the child’s body is especially sensitive. Organs are just beginning to develop and work independently. If you can't give up red apples, then simply peel the fruit before eating. You shouldn't get too carried away with them either. After all, as you know, the acid contained in fruits has a negative effect on tooth enamel. It is important to take into account that during pregnancy a woman’s body loses a lot of calcium, which continues to be used for the formation of milk. Therefore, at this time there is a great risk of harming your teeth, and they should be protected.
Baked apples
For many, this dish is one of the most favorite delicacies. They save a woman during breastfeeding, when many favorite foods, including sweets, simply cannot be eaten.
Baked apples are not only tender and tasty, but also a healthy dessert. They are easy and quick to prepare. This takes a few minutes. At the same time, the vitamins in the product are not destroyed, which is very important for the health of the nursing mother and baby. Baked apples have a beneficial effect on digestion. This is the rare exception when a tasty sweet treat is very healthy. And this is a real salvation for nursing mothers. The product is very easily digestible, all the components contained in it are beneficial.
Fiber is concentrated during baking, has a good effect on metabolism, and relieves inflammation. For the postpartum period, these are very valuable properties. An important useful property is also that they regulate blood pressure.
How to properly cook baked apples?
The core is cut out of the apple, keeping the bottom. You can add a little honey or sugar to the cavity. Sprinkle some walnuts. The apples are placed on a baking sheet and then placed in the oven for just 15 minutes. Readiness can be determined by the pleasant aroma emanating from the oven. The dish can also be cooked in the microwave for 10 minutes.
Each woman herself determines whether she should eat apples during this period. These fruits help restore vitality and have a good effect on the overall health of the child and young mother. By eating apples, we saturate the body with fiber, calcium, iron and many vitamins. Therefore, if the baby does not have an allergic reaction, it is recommended to use this product during feeding.
What are the benefits of baked apples in the oven for nursing mothers?
In addition to the fact that fruits are rich in vitamins and natural minerals, which are easily and quickly absorbed by the body, they also contain natural fruit acids. Some of them, for example, can even protect against malignant cancers, others help keep skin and hair young and healthy, and others support good health.
Apples are exactly the fruit about which legends have long been formed. This product is eaten all over the world and is considered one of the healthiest in its category. In our latitudes, baked apple puree often becomes the first food for an infant, and for a mother, such a dish is perhaps the first allowed dessert.
It is very useful to eat one baked apple a day, especially shortly before meals.
If a young nursing mother suffers from problematic digestion or suffers from constipation, then baked apples from the oven will quickly and painlessly solve this problem.
It is also important that such a snack can rightfully be considered dietary and low-calorie. If you are following a diet to lose excess weight while breastfeeding a newborn baby, then even eating ripe baked fruits every day will not affect your figure at all, but even the opposite. Naturally, we are talking about fruits that were prepared without sugar.
Red apples
Less popular and less trusted during breastfeeding are red apples. It's all about the color of the peel - any red-colored products are considered quite strong allergens (See what is contraindicated for a nursing mother). In addition, most varieties of red apples contain higher amounts of sugar than green ones. Sugar is additional carbohydrates, which actually threaten pain and colic in the baby’s tummy. You should not cause such discomfort to an infant, because at birth his body gradually adapts to the external environment, his organs learn to function correctly and develop.
But if you really want a red apple, then peel it before eating. You should not get carried away with red apples also because the acids in them have a negative effect on tooth enamel. And if you take into account the fact that the mother’s calcium decreased during pregnancy, and during breastfeeding it will also pass into the baby’s milk in large quantities, teeth should be taken care of especially carefully.
Baked apples in the microwave for a nursing mother
The recipe for apples from the microwave oven is extremely simple and can save a lot of useful time. Simply rinse the fruits thoroughly under warm running water and then dry them with paper towels.
- Cut the apples in half so that they bake faster, and this way you can immediately see when they are ready, so that the fruit does not have time to burn.
- We put the halves on a plate that can be placed in the microwave, and then we hide the dish in the oven, which we turn on at medium power for 2-3 minutes. There is no point in keeping the fruit inside longer.
Baked apples in a slow cooker while breastfeeding
If instead of an oven or microwave you have a multi-cooker in your house, then using it to make a baked apple will be even easier.
- Wash it under the tap, wipe it dry, and then place the whole thing in the multicooker bowl, setting the “Bake” mode.
- Cook the fruit in a closed multi-cooker pan for about 1-1.5 minutes, then turn it over to another barrel and hold it for the same amount.
By the way, you can immediately make excellent applesauce in a slow cooker. Just first peel the apples and cut out the middle, then grate them on a coarse grater and bake in a bowl for a couple of minutes.
This recipe can also be used to make dessert for an infant, so as not to buy ready-made store-bought puree from a jar. The only condition that must be observed is hygiene. Before cooking, wash both the bowl and the fruit well, and also make sure that the puree is well baked and has no raw lumps.
Quality, not quantity
An important point in the question of whether apples can be consumed during lactation will be their quantity.
In the first month after the birth of your baby, apples are not prohibited, but caution when consuming them will not hurt. First, it’s better to eat a spoonful of applesauce and watch the baby’s reaction. If your baby likes the taste and there is no negative reaction, gradually increase the amount of healthy fruits in your diet.
Remember that the daily intake of apples for breastfeeding is 200 g.
In short, your ideal menu during such an important period as breastfeeding should include healthy and tasty apples: this will have the best effect on both you and the baby.
Baked apples in the oven while breastfeeding
Of course, it’s difficult to do without classic oven-baked fruits on the menu of a young nursing mother. Such apples are especially fragrant and attractive in appearance, and thanks to the uniform heating temperature and the absence of microwave fluctuations, they retain more useful vitamins and substances.
The dish is prepared very simply:
- It is necessary to wash the fruits and place them on a clean baking sheet either whole or cut into halves.
- It is not recommended to cut the fruit smaller, since all the juice may evaporate from it during baking, and the apple will turn out to be dry and tasteless.
Cook the dish for a short time, looking at the appearance of the product. An apple whose skin has noticeably wrinkled is considered ready. By the way, you can enjoy not only the naked fruit - feel free to bake chicken fillet and lean parts of duck with it in the oven.
As you can see, baked apples during breastfeeding are a very healthy and tasty delicacy, which will not only help brighten up the harsh postpartum diet, but will also relieve some of the unpleasant diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that young mothers often face.
Green apples
Green apples during breastfeeding are perhaps the most hypoallergenic product, rich in vitamins B1, B2, C, P, E , and microelements (for example, phosphorus, iron), which are so necessary after childbirth.
Green apples can be eaten in the first days after childbirth.
If a woman suffers from constipation, and this often happens in the last weeks of pregnancy and the first time after childbirth, then green apples will solve this problem with a bang - indigestible fiber will help to easily empty the intestines.
A green apple will perfectly quench your appetite after a tiring delivery. But there is one thing - if a woman’s body reacts violently to raw fruits with increased gas formation or stomach discomfort from apple sourness, it is still worth refraining from eating them for a while. And try not to forget about moderation - you should not eat more than two or three green apples during the day. Be sure to wash apples with warm water before eating.
If you are afraid of causing an allergic reaction in your child, then eat green apples. According to experts, they are the safest.