Are you looking to find out if you can drink protein shakes while breastfeeding?
Quick answer. Yes, you can!
It’s recommended that you take at least 25g extra protein daily. This might seem a bit daunting for some breastfeeding moms, but there are lots of ways to safely up your daily protein consumption.
Protein shakes are a fast and simple way to add protein to your daily diet. While protein shakes are generally safe, it’s imperative to note that a large percentage of protein shakes on the market today come with artificial sweeteners, thickeners, and gums—which you should avoid!
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Importance of Protein When Breastfeeding
While breastfeeding, your body makes use of the nutrients from your food to make breast milk. For this reason, it’s not only vital to get adequate protein, minerals, and vitamins to provide your growing child with what they need to develop well, but also critical to eat enough to nourish your own body.
Kidshealth.org states that you need an additional 300-500 calories daily and around 71g of protein while breastfeeding. The additional protein and calories help your baby grow and develop properly, but they also help you avoid losing too much lean muscle mass. Breastfeeding moms usually lose 1-4 pounds a week, even without limiting their calorie intake, as the extra energy and calories kept in body fat go to the baby.
Getting adequate protein will ensure you get the amino acids required to give your baby the right nutrition, so the body doesn’t attempt to get amino acids from the muscles instead.
Is Drinking Protein Shakes Safe for Lactating Moms?
When considering adding a protein shake to your diet, it’s always advisable to first turn to natural protein sources with foods like beans, peanut butter, milk, or eggs. Of course, natural protein sources aren’t always available and you’ll need to take supplements. So to all the pregnant and breastfeeding moms out there: Yes, it’s generally safe to drink a protein shake!
Protein shakes are easily digestible—one shake contains about 15 to 30g of protein—with many flavor options available as well. These shakes are definitely convenient for nursing moms since it doesn’t require excessive “meal preparation”, there won’t be any leftovers that would eat up space in your fridge, and they can supply you with much-need protein in no time!
This doesn’t mean that you should go and buy one (or more) right now. Always check with your doctor or midwife first before you actually shop for any supplement to make sure that it’s safe for both you and your unborn child. It’s also vital to remember that protein shakes aren’t meant to replace an already healthy diet but to merely supplement it.
Why Do Nursing Moms Need Protein Shakes?
Many new moms love protein shakes since they’re rich in nutrients and easy to digest. Some extra benefits of these shakes for pregnant women include the following:
- They’re easy and quick to make.
- They are great for drinking on the go.
- You can easily include other superfood additives.
- They taste amazing and can cure your sweet tooth!
- They’re an excellent way to add a little extra protein for moms lacking in protein.
Should Breastfeeding Women Drink Protein Shakes?
Protein shakes are an awesome way to meet your body’s elevated protein needs while breastfeeding. Just make sure to pick a brand with a quality protein base and check all labels to avoid dubious ingredients. And be sure to consult your OB-GYN or other healthcare providers for more advice.