Lactating mother’s nutritional requirements should meet
- Her own daily needs
- Provide enough nutrients for the growing infant
- Furnish energy for the mechanics of milk production
Diet of lactating mother and her nutritional status during pregnancy affect both the quality and quantity of breast milk (to certain extent only). Nutritional needs are more during lactation compared to pregnancy. By the 6th month, a normally developing infant doubles it’s birth weight.
Sometimes infants fail to thrive while breast fed due to maternal and infant causes.
Energy
Recommended energy increase is an additional amount of 550 k cal for the first six months and 400 k cal during next six months i.e. 7-12 months more than the usual adult requirements.
Additional calories are required for
a. Milk content
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b. Milk production
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- Average milk production for a lactating woman is 650ml – 1000ml
- Calorie value of human milk is 65k cal / 100 ml.
Calorie value of 650ml is 420 calories Efficiency of conversion of diet calories to milk calories is 60%, 700 calories are required
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- Metabolic work involved in producing this amount of milk requires around 400 k cal.
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The additional energy needed for lactation is drawn from maternal adipose tissue stores laid down during pregnancy. Depending on the adequacy of these stores, additional energy input may be needed in the lactating woman’s daily diet. The output of milk gets reduced after 6 months therefore an additional allowance of 400 k cal/ day is recommended.
Protein
- During lactation protein requirement is computed based on secretion of milk of mother with 9.4 g protein/day (0 – 6 months) and 6.6 g protein/day (6 – 12 months) which corresponds to 820 ml of milk and 600 ml of milk respectively containing 1.15g/100ml of protein.
- Assuming a 70% efficiency of conversion of dietary protein into milk protein and a 25 per cent of individual variation, the safe daily intake will be 16.8 g and 12.0 g during the first six months and later six months respectively. During lactation an additional daily intake of 25 g (i.e. 50 + 25 ) for the first 6 months and 18 g (i.e. 50 + 18) for later six months is recommended.
- If energy or protein is lacking in the lactating mother’s diet there will be a reduction in quantity of milk but the quality is maintained. A very low protein intake results in decrease of proportion of casein.
- More protein or energy intake will not enhance amount of protein or increase volume of milk.
Fat: Though the total amount of fat in breast milk is not influenced by mother’s diet, the composition of milk fat reflects the composition of the mother’s diet.
Table: RDA of a lactating mother
Nutrients
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Adult woman
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Lactating mother
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0- 6 months
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6 – 12 months
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Energy (k.cal) Sedentary Moderate Heavy
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1875 2225 2925
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+550 +550 +550
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+400 +400 +400
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Protein (g)
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50
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+25
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+18
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Fat (g)
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20
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45
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45
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Calcium (mg)
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400
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1000
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1000
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Iron (mg)
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30
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30
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30
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Retinol (µg)
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600
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950
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950
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? – carotene (µg)
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2400
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3800
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3800
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Thiamine(mg) Sedentary Moderate Heavy
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0.9 1.1 1.2
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+0.3 +0.3 +0.3
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+0.2 +0.2 +0.2
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Riboflavin (mg) Sedentary Moderate Heavy
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1.1 1.3 1.5
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+0.3 +0.3 +0.3
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+0.2 +0.2 +0.2
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Niacin (mg) Sedentary Moderate Heavy
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12 14 16
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+4 +4 +4
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+3 +3 +3
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Pyridoxine (mg)
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2.0
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2.5
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2.5
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Ascorbic acid (mg)
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40
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80
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80
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Folic acid (µg)
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100
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150
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150
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Vitamin B12 (µg)
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1
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1.5
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1.5
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