The properties of breast milk depend on the mother's nutrition. During lactation, the female body distributes resources in such a way that milk is first enriched with everything necessary. The remaining reserves are distributed among the mother's organs. Nutrients are consumed more intensively during lactation than in other periods of life. That is why a woman needs to reconsider her diet and diversify it with natural dishes. Nutritionists consider liver one of the healthiest foods that can be consumed while breastfeeding. It is a source of animal protein, a storehouse of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, and acids. But there are cases in which the consumption of the dish should be limited.
Liver, in particular chicken, beef and turkey, is recommended for use during breastfeeding from the first month after birth.
Benefits and harms of the liver during breastfeeding
Offal dishes are included in the diet developed by the World Health Organization. Any type of it contains a lot:
- easily digestible protein. It is a building material for cells. Protein ensures complete absorption of vitamins and minerals from food.
- gland. This element is well absorbed from the dish due to the content of vitamins C and B12. The substances increase each other's absorption. During lactation, foods with a high concentration of iron prevent the development of anemia in mother and child.
- B vitamins. They are responsible for metabolism and support energy metabolism.
- vitamin A, which restores the condition of skin and hair. This element is also responsible for visual acuity.
- nicotinic acid (vitamin PP). Lack of the substance leads to nervous exhaustion and digestion is impaired.
In addition to these elements, the product contains amino acids, phosphorus, cobalt, selenium, molybdenum and other substances important for the development of the baby. They enrich breast milk. At the same time, the mother’s body does not suffer from their deficiency.
One serving of the offal replenishes the daily requirement of vitamins A, B2, B12, cobalt, iron, and selenium. To get the maximum benefit, the dish is steamed or stewed.
Scientists have found that fish and animal by-products help remove toxins from the body. This allows you to protect the body of mother and child from a number of diseases.
The cod delicacy differs from the same animal by-product, poultry. It contains less iron and B vitamins, but a lot of vitamin D and Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.
In some cases, the liver can harm a nursing woman. It contains cholesterol, the amount of which increases significantly during frying. Women with chronic heart and vascular diseases need to remember this. A record amount of selenium in the composition can cause harm due to increased synthesis of thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland. For this reason, women with hormonal disorders should not eat the product often. Pork and cod liver during breastfeeding can cause exacerbation of chronic gastrointestinal diseases. These types are quite high in calories and fat.
In infants, the liver rarely causes digestive disorders or allergies. If a nursing woman loves offal dishes and tolerates them well, the baby will only benefit from them.
What is dangerous for mother and baby?
Cod liver in large quantities can harm the body of the mother and baby. Even taking into account the value of cod and its liver, there are restrictions on consumption. There are people who suffer from seafood aversion. Diseases for which the dish is contraindicated:
- hypotension;
- urolithiasis disease;
- allergic reaction;
- cholelithiasis;
- unhealthy kidneys;
Abuse of cod and cod liver can lead to an excess of calcium and vitamin D. This contributes to accelerated overgrowth of the fontanel, and this is fraught with intracranial pressure.
What type of liver is preferable for breastfeeding?
Turkey is considered the least allergenic dish, but it is difficult to get. During the first months, it is better for a nursing mother to choose a beef option. This type of product, from the point of view of nutritionists, is considered the most useful and safe for lactation.
Beef liver during breastfeeding
Beef liver has the most valuable properties. I include it in my diet immediately after giving birth. Doctors often recommend eating beef offal to nursing women suffering from anemia. To provide the body with valuable elements, it is enough for a woman to consume 100 g of liver per day. The nutritional value of the stewed product is only 125 kcal per 100 g, so it can be eaten without harming your figure.
Is it possible to have chicken liver while breastfeeding?
Poultry is slightly inferior to beef in terms of vitamin D, antioxidants and fatty acids. But chicken liver contains more vitamin A and selenium. During breastfeeding, this product normalizes mother’s digestion and improves memory. The vitamins and minerals in the composition have a beneficial effect on the baby’s mental abilities and skeletal development. The amount of iron in the dish is not inferior to beef, so it is useful to eat it for anemia.
The product is low-calorie: per 100 g there are 136 kcal. It can be introduced into the diet from the first month of lactation.
Turkey liver is less likely to cause allergies in infants, but contains fewer B vitamins. It contains much more calories than a chicken product. It is recommended to introduce goose and duck by-products into the menu after 6 months of lactation. They contain a lot of fat, so the baby may have digestive problems.
Pork liver for nursing mothers
This product is recommended to be administered 3-4 months after delivery. Pork liver has no more calories than beef liver. According to nutritionists, the offal is less easily absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. After childbirth, it can cause digestive problems in mother and baby.
How to eat?
In addition, a nursing mother needs to know that this product can only be eaten with any other foods. It could be a sandwich or salad. The main thing to remember is that this delicacy should not be consumed separately.
Cod liver is very convenient to prepare. Most often it is sold in canned form. This makes it difficult to determine the quality of the product. After all, if canned food was made using frozen liver, then it will be less healthy than one that includes a fresh ingredient.
When breastfeeding, you need to know when to consume any product. If a nursing mother eats cod liver in moderation, it will only bring benefits. It is also advisable to start taking your favorite treat for the first time when the baby is already a month old. Indeed, in the first weeks after birth, a newborn baby’s body is just getting used to new conditions. The digestive system is not yet fully formed, which means that any product can negatively affect the baby’s well-being.
Salad recipe
If you are breastfeeding, you can try making a simple salad with vegetables. For it you need to take:
- 250 grams of cod liver;
- 300 grams of potatoes;
- 100 grams of carrots;
- 80 grams of onion;
- 150 grams of pickled cucumbers;
- 3 tablespoons homemade mayonnaise;
- salt to taste.
- Wash the carrots and potatoes thoroughly and put them in a saucepan. Pour enough water and cook the vegetables for about half an hour.
- Cool the carrots and potatoes and then peel them.
- Peel and cut the onion into small cubes.
- Finely chop the pickled cucumbers.
- Also cut the boiled carrots and potatoes into small cubes.
- Mix all ingredients in one bowl.
- Remove the cod liver from the can and pat dry with a napkin or towel. This is necessary in order to get rid of excess oil.
- Cut the liver into small cubes.
- Mix mayonnaise with a small amount of canned oil.
- Mix vegetables with liver and mayonnaise. If desired, it can be replaced with another sauce. Add salt.
- Salad ready!
For a festive table, another salad with a spicy taste is suitable. To prepare it you will need:
- 1 can of cod liver;
- 4 tablespoons of grated hard cheese;
- 1 head of garlic;
- parsley;
- salt, pepper to taste.
- Cut the cod liver into small cubes.
- Chop the garlic, finely chop the greens.
- Mix canned oil with garlic and herbs.
- Combine cod liver with cheese. Pour the resulting sauce over it. Mix well.
- Salad ready!
These salads are very tasty. However, when breastfeeding, you need to know when to stop eating them. A nursing mother can eat a simple sandwich with cod liver if she wants to treat herself to this delicacy.
Source
Cod liver during breastfeeding
The main value in this dish is vitamins D, E, and fatty acids. Cod liver is very useful from a nutritional point of view, because it contains substances necessary for the functioning of the immune system and blood vessels. Fatty acids improve skin condition and promote cell renewal. Vitamin D is very important for the proper development of the baby’s skeleton, as it helps to absorb calcium from milk.
Cod liver is a very healthy dish, but due to its fat content, it is not recommended for consumption in the first months of lactation.
The canned dish contains 613 kcal per 100 g. It contains a lot of fat and salt. The baby's digestive system has a hard time tolerating such foods. There are not enough enzymes in the intestines for their complete absorption. It is advisable to postpone the consumption of cod by-product until the baby is 6 months old.
Is it acceptable in a child's diet?
It is recommended to start with cod, it has rich nutritional value, and due to its white meat, rich in protein and low fat content, it is dietary. Which is much healthier for children's intestines and less allergenic. To prepare cod for children under one year of age and older, recipes where it is baked, boiled, stewed in a slow cooker or simply in a saucepan are suitable.
You can add fish to your child’s diet if there have been no colds or vaccinations for a week.
From what age?
Like any other fish, you can add cod to your diet at the age of 8-9 months. But, according to pediatricians, it is better to wait until 10 months. We start with 5g (half a teaspoon) of boiled fish puree, and gradually increase it to 40-50g. At the same time, we carefully monitor the baby’s well-being. How does he sleep, what kind of stool does he have, has he become restless. If an allergic rash appears, it is necessary to postpone fish dishes until the child is one year old.
Adding any thickeners, such as starch, to the puree is contraindicated. There is no need to add salt to the puree, since the fish is saturated with natural salts. Give your baby complementary foods before breastfeeding.
Don't experiment with different types of fish. First, let your little one get used to one. This will make it easier to understand your baby’s reaction to a new product. When the baby is one year old, you can try, carefully, introducing cod liver. If you have any doubts, consult your local pediatrician.
How to introduce liver into the diet of a nursing mother
Breastfeeding is a crucial period in a woman’s life. New products are tried, starting with a small piece, so as not to harm the baby. Chicken and beef liver are administered in the first month of lactation. For the first time, try a few pieces. The reaction may not appear immediately.
If after consuming the baby has negative reactions within two days - problems with stool, rash, anxiety, introduction to the product is postponed for 1-2 weeks.
A large amount of liver can be harmful. It is enough to use it 1-2 times a week.
Who shouldn't eat?
Despite the fact that cod liver is rich in many beneficial vitamins and microelements and has beneficial properties for the body, there are some points that are worth paying attention to. It is especially important for a nursing mother to know about them so as not to harm her nursing baby. Before eating cod liver, you need to make sure that:
- the child is not allergic to fish or fish products;
- the nursing mother does not have low blood pressure;
- There is no excess calcium and vitamin D.
If at least one problem is detected, eating cod liver is prohibited.
How to choose and prepare liver for breastfeeding
The offal spoils quickly. This should be taken into account when choosing packaging. It is advisable to buy the chilled version. The pieces should be smooth, without inclusions. Color – dark red. The cooled liver is prepared on the same day or placed in the freezer.
Beef liver is sometimes bitter. This is its disadvantage. To get rid of bitterness, the pieces are pre-soaked in water or milk. Prepared meat is ideal for salads, pates, casseroles, and cold appetizers. Whole pieces are cooked for 40 minutes. The crushed product is simmered for 7-10 minutes until the liquid stops releasing.
Chicken liver is less “whimsical”. It does not need to be soaked before cooking.
Before preparing dishes, the pieces are washed, films and veins are removed. After this, the product is dried with paper towels.
The product, according to the diet of a nursing mother, is consumed stewed or boiled. During the frying process, some of the beneficial properties are lost and harmful cholesterol is added.
Chicken liver pate
The product is well absorbed in pureed form. Store-bought pate contains preservatives and additives, so it is better to prepare the dishes yourself. Ingredients:
- chicken liver – 0.5 kg;
- 2 boiled eggs;
- 1 glass of natural yogurt (preferably low-fat);
- a little salt;
- greens (dill, parsley).
The offal is placed in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. The water is drained. Boiled eggs and liver are passed through a meat grinder or crushed in a blender. The mixture is mixed with yogurt, salt, chopped herbs. The resulting mass is cooled. The pate is stewed with vegetables, added to cutlets or spread on bread.
It is with a self-prepared pate that you can begin to “acquaint” your baby with the liver.
Liver pancakes
The dish can be prepared without oil in a non-stick frying pan. Ingredients:
- beef liver – 0.5 kg;
- 3 tablespoons flour;
- 1 tablespoon sour cream;
- salt.
The by-product is ground with a meat grinder and mixed with the rest of the ingredients with a spoon. The result is a thick dough. Spoon it onto a dry, heated frying pan. Pancakes are fried on both sides for 2 minutes. The finished dish is sprinkled with herbs.
Easy to prepare chicken liver pancakes will usefully diversify the diet of a nursing mother.
Liver stewed in sour cream
For half a kilo of offal take:
- 3 carrots;
- 1 onion;
- 2 tablespoons sour cream;
- glass of water;
- salt;
- a tablespoon of flour;
- dill.
The onion is cut into half rings. The carrots are chopped with a coarse grater. Vegetables and liver are placed in a frying pan and simmered for 10-15 minutes. When the offal stops releasing red liquid, add salt, dill, sour cream, and flour. The dish is simmered under the lid for another 15 minutes. After turning off the stove, leave it for 5-7 minutes. The dish goes well with vegetable puree, rice, and buckwheat.
Liver stewed in sour cream with vegetables is an indispensable dish in the diet of a nursing mother.
Chicken and beef liver are valuable and safe products for breastfeeding. You can prepare many dishes from them that will benefit mother and baby.
How to choose the right quality product.
- When purchasing, first of all, you need to pay attention to the composition: except for the liver itself, salt, pepper and bay leaf, there should be nothing in the canned food.
- The best quality is considered to be that produced in the northern regions.
- The highest grade of canned food guarantees you both good taste and its usefulness.
- The jar must not be bulging or otherwise damaged.
In what form should it be served?
On the table, it is usually present in the form of salads or sandwiches. When preparing dishes from it, you must remember that it is a fairly fatty product. After opening the jar, drain the oil from it and only then use it for cooking. It is not recommended to season cod liver dishes with mayonnaise or sauces based on it. There are many cooking recipes and they are quite simple, even for novice housewives.
Experts will confirm the beneficial properties of cod liver
