Being a new mom is hard. One of the most unexpected challenges for a lot of women is breastfeeding. In this edition, we’re talking to the CEO of Momful about how to make that process a little easier. 

ASK AN EXPERT: Nutritional Advice while Breastfeeding

We sat down with Whitney Palma, Founder, and CEO of Momful, which makes nutritional productions designed specifically for the breastfeeding & postpartum mom. 

Why did you start Momful? 

The product wound up being the solution to my breastfeeding problems. My daughter was vastly underweight and diagnosed with “failure to thrive,” which basically means your baby is not getting enough nutrition. 

I thought breastfeeding was going well, so it was shocking when I went into the one-month checkup and the doctor said if I wanted to continue breastfeeding I needed to consult with an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). 

What did the lactation consultant say? 

We spent an hour going through everything I already learned in my classes, about latching and how often to feed. And at the end of the appointment, she asked me about my nutrition. And my nutrition was the last priority for me. When in reality I was the primary source of nutrition for my baby, and I realized it had to be a priority the way it was when my baby was inside my body. It was eye-opening. 

What kind of advice did you get when it comes to nutrition? 

They said to make sure I was taking a good multivitamin, a lactation supplement. And to make sure I was getting enough calories and eating nutrient-dense, nutrient-rich foods. So as I was leaning into my nutrition I noticed that I was producing more breast milk and my daughter’s weight was bouncing back. 

I know Momful makes vitamins and supplements for breastfeeding moms. Are there any foods that you recommend? 

Nutrient-dense foods. Oatmeal is a good one; you’re getting rich whole grains. The recommendation is to mix something in it. You’re getting a lot of calories but good calories because they are complex carbs. 

You’re supposed to eat more calories when breastfeeding, right? 

Breastfeeding burns 300 to 500 calories a day, so you want to make sure you’re eating with that in mind. I would not advise being in a calorie deficit. And remember you have to keep up with the physical demands of taking care of a newborn also. 

What about drinks? 

Hydrating is so important. Eight glasses of water a day is hard anyway, and now you’re adding in a baby. So make sure you get your water. 

Is there anything else that helps when it comes to breastfeeding, besides nutritionally? 

I think a key thing to success in breastfeeding moms is the power of community and education. So having great education from an expert source like a lactation consultant and a community of moms that have breastfed, support from a partner or family and friends, it’s all shown to improve the rates of success. 

So I recommend taking a class from a board-certified lactation consultant, and identifying that person before the baby comes. Because finding that person can be tricky, and when you’re in the throes of breastfeeding and new parenting, you don’t want to start looking.