Include fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, and protein-rich foods as much as possible. Snacks can be an important source of daily nutritional needs if carefully chosen. There is no evidence that any one food when eaten in moderation will cause problems in most breastfed babies. The mother's diet would only need to be adjusted if the baby has a reaction. It is important that the breastfeeding mother drink to satisfy her thirst.
Fluids can include water, fruit juices, vegetable juices, milk and soup.
It is a good idea for the mother to get into the habit of drinking during each nursing. When the mother is drinking enough, her urine will be clear to pale yellow. Prenatal vitamins prescribed during pregnancy should be continued during beastfeeding. A nursing mother can also take a multivitamin tablet daily if she is not following a well-balanced diet. She especially needs 400 units of vitamin D and 1200 mg of both calcium and phosphorus per day.