Is it possible to eat watermelon while breastfeeding

A sufficient amount of milk, as well as its nutritional properties, largely depend on how varied the mother eats during breastfeeding. Summer is the time to saturate the baby with the beneficial properties of seasonal vegetables and fruits, as well as stock up on vitamins yourself. However, not everything that has grown in the field or in the garden is safe for the child and the woman herself during breastfeeding. For example, many young parents are worried about whether a nursing mother can have a watermelon, and if not, then why.

The benefits of the largest berry

On the one hand, this striped berry not only has a pleasant refreshing taste, but also an extremely useful composition:

• Vitamin C will support the immune system before the season of colds and infections;
• Folic acid will favorably affect the nervous system of the child and the formation of his intellect, and give the woman youth and a healthy complexion. In addition, many young mothers have noticed that drinking watermelon has a positive effect on breastfeeding: folic acid significantly increases the flow of milk;
• Potassium and magnesium will ensure good functioning of the heart and blood vessels, and these trace elements will also help in restoring the mother's body after pregnancy, childbirth and during lactation;
• Panthenolic acid will help to establish not only digestion, but also provide sound sleep for both mother and baby.
• Calcium, which this berry is also rich in, will help the mother avoid brittle nails, hair loss and tooth decay during breastfeeding.
• Riboflavin (vitamin B2) has a beneficial effect on visual acuity, in addition, it helps protect the retina from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation. Recent studies have also shown that vitamin B2 prolongs life.
• Antioxidants, which are so rich in watermelon, slow down the aging process of the body, and also fight free radicals, reducing the risk of developing cancer.

In addition, watermelon eliminates puffiness, normalizes the functioning of the liver and kidneys (all this is especially true in the postpartum period and when breastfeeding).

When treats are dangerous

On the other hand, watermelon, like any red product, can cause allergies, diathesis or atopic dermatitis in a child. Pediatricians also warn about possible bloating, as well as the risk of developing colic. You should not use watermelon even if the mother is diagnosed with gastritis or another gastrointestinal disease, you will also have to forget about the treat in case of diabetes mellitus and problems with the excretory system.

1. Experts recommend waiting for time and abandoning early watermelons, which are most likely grown using nitrates. However, they can also be contained in "minke whales" purchased at the end of August. However, with the onset of autumn, the risk of watermelon poisoning is significantly reduced. Especially if you do not forget about the simple rules for choosing and buying it:
2. The dimensions of an ideal watermelon are medium (about 5 kg), the colors are bright and contrasting, the skin is shiny, without cracks and damage, the tail is dry;
3. On the side of a good watermelon there is a yellow, not a white spot, which indicates natural aging on the melon, and not fast under the film;
4. With cotton, a ripe berry makes an elastic ringing, an unripe one - a dull sound;
5. Still, it is better to take the "minke whale" in trusted outlets, and not at the breakups, where not all sellers can present quality certificates for products. And even more so, you don’t need to buy a watermelon near the highway: gasoline exhausts settled on the crust can adversely affect the health of the mother and child.
6. You should not ask to “open” the watermelon you like: along with the knife, pathogenic bacteria can get into the pulp, which can cause the most unpleasant consequences in the body. For the same reason, you should never buy a watermelon already cut.

The birth of a child is the time to get an electronic analyzer, which is also called a nitrate meter. However, for an approximate assessment of the safety of the product, you can use more affordable test strips. So, if 1 kg of watermelon contains more than 100 microns of nitrates, a nursing mother should refuse to use such a dessert.

Try - with caution

There is a more affordable way to determine how safe a watermelon is, however, this applies to already purchased berries. To do this, you need to cut off a small piece from it, place it in a glass of clean water and note the time (5 minutes). Cloudy water is a sign of the presence of harmful substances; you can’t eat such a product.

But even if the test is passed, enjoying a watermelon, it is better to leave a little pulp near the rind itself: do not forget that this is where all the harmful substances accumulate.

In addition, pediatricians, among whom is the famous Dr. Komarovsky, advise other family members to try watermelon first, and then include it in the menu of a nursing mother. It is recommended to start with a small amount, for the first time just a couple of slices are enough. After feeding, the time of which should come up in about 2 hours, you need to observe the reaction of the child: if he does not show signs of anxiety, he does not have nausea, vomiting, loose stools, rashes and redness, and the mother herself feels great, the “minke” can Feel free to include in your diet. But even in this case, it is worth adhering to reasonable limits, without risking either your health or the health of the baby.

There is one more rule that a nursing mother should remember: in order to avoid increased gas formation in a child, it is better not to mix watermelon with other food, but to use it separately.

It must also be remembered that during pregnancy and lactation, a woman needs to carefully monitor the freshness of the products, so a cut watermelon that has lain in the refrigerator for more than a day should not be eaten.

So, whether to use watermelon while breastfeeding is an ambiguous question, which every mother must decide for herself and her baby on her own, weighing all the pros and cons. But the general rule that most pediatricians adhere to sounds like this: you can, if you use caution and measure, and also monitor the baby's reaction.