Doctors recommend that women after childbirth follow a strict diet during the first weeks so as not to harm the development of the newborn’s digestion.
Is stewed cabbage allowed during breastfeeding? How long after the baby is born can dishes made from it be included in the diet of nursing women? Will it complicate the adaptation process? In the second month of lactation, pediatricians allow the consumption of stewed cabbage; it is well digestible, has many beneficial qualities, and does not cause allergies.
The benefits of stewed cabbage during breastfeeding
The vegetable contains a large amount of useful substances necessary for mother and child. When properly preparing a dish (stewing cabbage), they are only partially destroyed. It is better to start eating cabbage with vegetable soups. Then you can eat stewed cabbage as an independent dish.
Benefits of stewed cabbage:
- The dish is low calorie.
- Helps digest heavy foods.
- Fights fat deposits.
- Contains many vitamins and minerals necessary for mother and baby.
- Promotes rejuvenation and cell restoration.
- Does not cause allergies.
- Strengthens and improves immunity, as it contains vitamin C.
- Fights cholesterol.
- Has a beneficial effect on blood vessels and hematopoiesis.
- Cleanses the body of toxins and waste.
- Normalizes intestinal function and improves metabolism.
- Eliminates constipation.
- It protects your eyes from ultraviolet rays.
- Helps to cheer up and gives strength.
- Increases stress resistance.
- Fights blood clots and cancer cells.
- Positively affects memory.
- Positively affects skin, hair and nails.
- Has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
The benefits of stewed cabbage
The vegetable contains a large amount of various vitamins and minerals. Any variety of cabbage contains:
- iron;
- iodine;
- sulfur;
- beneficial amino acids;
- coarse dietary fiber;
- cellulose;
- manganese;
- vitamins A, B, K, C, PP;
- zinc.
The composition of the vegetable makes it the most valuable in dietary nutrition. Cabbage does not cause fat deposition and promotes better absorption of coarser foods - meat. That is why cabbage is often combined in cooking with various meat varieties and tomatoes.
Cabbage is often eaten raw, but for the benefit of the mother, it is necessary to eat the vegetable stewed. An important aspect is that it must be stewed under a closed lid in order to preserve the maximum of nutrients. The extinguishing time should not exceed 15-20 minutes. Do not overcook cabbage, otherwise it will become tasteless.
The dish has a lot of useful properties:
- saturates the body with beneficial vitamins;
- rejuvenates and restores cells;
- does not have an allergenic effect.
Various varieties of vegetables can be consumed in stewed form. Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and white cabbage are suitable for the diet for breastfeeding.
Some mothers believe that cabbage can cause colic in their baby. However, this is not the case. Colic is a natural physiological process in which beneficial bacteria colonize the baby's intestines. You should not succumb to the stereotype that cabbage will cause fermentation in the mother’s gastrointestinal tract and negatively affect the baby’s intestines. Stewed vegetables do not cause fermentation. But it is better for a nursing mother to avoid raw foods.
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Harm of stewed cabbage during lactation
Cabbage (stewed) does not cause abdominal pain in a baby. What exactly are mothers afraid of? Although, whether it is possible to stew cabbage while breastfeeding depends on the health status of the mother herself. If she has problems with the digestive tract, then the dish should be taken after consultation with a therapist.
It is important that when consuming sauerkraut, not only the mother receives nutrients, but they also enter the child’s body through milk.
Is it possible to have stewed cabbage while breastfeeding? Is this dish harmful? However, increased gas formation in the child and mother was extremely rare. Therefore, the dish is not recommended if the baby has severe colic during this period. Stewed cabbage can enhance them.
Cooking features
To begin with, give preference to broccoli and cauliflower, and then you can add white cabbage, but gradually. When you try the dish for the first time, limit yourself to a small portion. Now, it is important for you to understand how the baby reacts to a new addition to the diet. If stewed cabbage during breastfeeding does not cause allergic reactions or anxiety in the child, you can include it in the diet.
It is important that the feeding portion should be 150-200 grams, no more than 2-3 times a week.
In the future, you could diversify primitive cooking or stewing with other products. Carrots, onions, zucchini and potatoes, white meat chicken or lean beef will complement the culinary duo well. A little later, add bell peppers and legumes. You should not give preference to sausages and semi-finished products. The baby will obviously not respond well to these supplements.
Seasonings for stewed and boiled foods include salt, pepper, bay leaf, parsley and dill. Other spices and herbs are not recommended.
White cabbage during lactation
Can a nursing mother have white cabbage? And which varieties are healthier? More on this later.
Cabbage is famous for its diversity of crops:
- White cabbage.
- Broccoli.
- Colored.
- Marine.
All of them bring many benefits to the body. But which stewed cabbage will be healthier for mother and baby during breastfeeding? White cabbage (stewed) can be consumed from the third or fourth month after the birth of the baby. But it should be introduced into the diet quite carefully. It will supply the body with folic and ascorbic acid, relieve swelling and pain in the mammary glands during feeding, and replenish lost nutrients.
Broccoli on a nursing mother's menu
Mom is allowed to start pampering herself with broccoli from the second month of feeding. You can make a dietary vegetable stew from broccoli or cook light cabbage soup. When breastfeeding, portions should be small. Do not include these dishes in your daily diet: it is better to eat them once every 2-3 days. This type of cabbage does not cause excessive gas formation not only in the baby, but also in the mother. Monitor your child's stool and digestion. If there is the slightest violation, stop consuming the suspicious product.
Sea kale during breastfeeding
This type of cabbage is sold ready-made. Its benefit lies in its high iodine content. It is this element that protects the thyroid gland of mother and child. It also strengthens the heart, blood vessels and improves memory. It is allowed to use after the baby turns 3 months old. Since there is a high probability of allergies. It is better to use in small quantities.
Based on the above, to the question “is it possible to eat cabbage while breastfeeding”, the answer will be in the affirmative. And it’s not just possible, but even necessary. The main thing is not to overdo it with portions. You also need to know at what age this or that type of cabbage is allowed.
Varieties
There are many types of this vegetable crop, each of which has its own unique properties. Any of the varieties is characterized by a high content of vitamin C and fiber. Before we find out which of them is best suited for enriching the diet, and whether a nursing mother can use one or another type, let’s consider each one separately. So, cabbage happens:
Brussels
It turned out to be the most valuable. It contains three times more vitamin C than its “brothers”. For those who suffer from hypertension, this vegetable is especially indicated, because it contains potassium. Rich in essential folic acid.
Broccoli
Broccoli deservedly takes second place. Contains carotene and high-quality vegetable proteins. With their help, cholesterol levels are lowered. Just like Brussels sprouts, it does not cause excessive gas formation and digestive problems, which often causes inconvenience and discomfort to a person. It is worth noting that this fruit is recommended for a woman who has chosen breastfeeding. When starting complementary feeding, your baby can be given broccoli puree within a week, after zucchini.
Colored
In third place is the no less famous color one. It is easily digested, combines a delicate taste and a whole list of essential vitamins. Although there is a small disadvantage for breastfeeding - the presence of purine substances. For those mothers who suffer from kidney problems, it is better to control the amount of product consumed.
Read also: Can a nursing mother drink pomegranate juice (during lactation)?
Red cabbage
It has surpassed its relative in the cabbage bed. What makes it valuable is the pigment cyanidin, which gives a bright purple hue. In turn, the pigment has a positive effect on blood vessels and improves the passage of blood through them.
White cabbage
We have reached the most famous and popular. As you can see, this beauty is far from first on the list. Although this does not make it harmful or bad at all, it simply means that the presence of positive properties is slightly lower. Unlike other types, it is possible to pickle and eat fresh, preserving ascorbic acid in large volumes. She is the winner in the fight against winter vitamin deficiency.
There is a significant disadvantage to breastfeeding, such as the formation of fermentation in the stomach after consumption. If a woman is on breastfeeding, it can be assumed that eating this type of crop will lead to obvious inconvenience. Stewed cabbage when breastfeeding a newborn, unfortunately, can cause colic in the baby. Painful sensations are clearly not necessary, which means including it in the diet only three to four months after childbirth.
Chinese
It looks interesting, has leaves, but does not have a head of cabbage. The composition is very close to the previous representative. The only negative is that it’s tasty to use only the leaves in a salad, and there are few of them. The stalk can be cut into Christmas tree strips and added to soups.
Marine
There is also a subspecies that is a plant, not a vegetable crop. Sea kale has been known since childhood and is famous for its high iodine content. When your baby reaches six months of age, you can eat valuable algae in limited quantities.
How to properly introduce cabbage into your diet?
We have already found out the answer to the exciting question “can a nursing mother eat stewed cabbage?” Now let's talk about how to introduce this product into your diet.
The variety of cabbage the mother chooses determines at what month (age of the child) you can start eating sauerkraut. First, the mother must know whether she can eat this dish herself (whether there are any digestive problems). If everything is in order, then you need to learn how to prepare the dish correctly (recipes will be discussed below). The main rule is that you cannot use spices (except bay leaves, which are allowed).
Introducing stewed cabbage should begin in the morning. Because if a child has problems (colic, allergies or intolerance to one of the beneficial substances in cabbage), he can go to any hospital. And at night, the baby’s stomach should rest, and not try to absorb the “new milk” received from the mother.
In addition, unlike mom, the body can react to cabbage (even stewed cabbage):
- loose stools or, conversely, their consolidation;
- skin rash (very rarely, maybe from seaweed);
- the child may become easily excitable, this will affect the quality of sleep and the baby’s behavior;
- the appearance of cutting pain in the abdomen.
If you eat stewed cabbage in the evening and one of the listed signs appears, then baby and mother will have a fun night.
When, after eating the dish, nothing like this was observed within 24 hours, then the portion can be safely increased. The initial dose should not exceed 30 g. Then 100 g per meal is possible. But you need to try to ensure that the amount of cabbage you eat per week does not exceed 300 g in 7 days.
Is it possible to eat cabbage while breastfeeding if it is pickled, pickled or fresh? Here the answer will be negative. The safest dish is considered to be only stewed cabbage.
Stewed cabbage for a nursing mother. Different dish options
If your mother decides to treat herself to a cabbage dish, then it is important to decide on the type/variety of the vegetable. When purchasing, be sure to check whether the cabbage is old. If it is seaweed, is it expired?
The best places to start are cauliflower and broccoli. Later it will be possible to eat white cabbage. In the beginning it is better to cook it without additives. Then you can include carrots, tomatoes, dill and so on.
When cooking, be sure to cook with the lid closed, this way the beneficial substances will be better preserved. The cooking time should not be longer than 1/3 hour. Overcooked cabbage is tasteless and practically useless.
- A healthy cauliflower dish. You need to take its inflorescences, rinse and bake in the oven with egg and cheese.
- It is useful to cook white cabbage without spices; meat can also be omitted. The chopped cabbage is poured with water (here according to mother’s wishes, but make sure that the cabbage is boiled and not fried). Add the bay leaf; remove it at the end of cooking. If the child reacts normally to tomatoes, then you can add them. Exactly peeled tomatoes. And tomato paste may contain spices, which are harmful to both mother and child. You can add grated carrots. Add a little salt. Simmer until done, but do not overcook. This dish will be useful for a child as a first complementary food when he grows up.
- Just white cabbage with salt. Chop the cabbage. Boil water and add chopped cabbage. Cook for no more than 20 minutes. Salt immediately. It is better to strain the finished cabbage through a colander. In this form, cabbage is considered the most harmless for the developing digestive tract of a child.
Stewed vegetables for nursing mothers: benefits and possible harm
Boiled vegetables create minimal stress on the digestive tract, are well digestible and contain virtually no calories. Cooked vegetables are easier to digest than raw vegetables. Dishes made from stewed vegetables contain a great variety of vitamins necessary during lactation, help replenish energy reserves and support the defenses of the body weakened by pregnancy.
Possible harm is minimal, but not excluded. Even the most harmless products at first glance can cause stool disorders and allergic reactions in infants.
Unwashed, stale and nitrate vegetables cause food poisoning, bloating and cramps. Choose seasonal/local vegetables as well as produce grown in your own garden.
Process vegetables thoroughly before cooking. Rinse in plenty of water, soak if recommended. Avoid damaged vegetables, products with signs of spoilage and rot. Beware of exotic products.
Recipe for stewed cabbage with onions and tomatoes
A recipe for stewed cabbage for a mother whose baby is over 6 months old. You will need:
- White cabbage;
- tomato;
- bulb onions);
- dill and parsley;
- sunflower oil;
- laurel leaf;
- salt.
All ingredients are taken at the discretion of the mother. Finely chop everything. Fry onions and carrots in oil. Then add the cabbage and simmer everything together a little (about three minutes). Add water and simmer for another 15 minutes. Before turning off the heat (about five minutes, you need to add salt and add the remaining ingredients). After cooking, remove the bay leaf.
Broccoli and Cauliflower Stew Recipe
For preparation you will need:
- broccoli and cauliflower in equal quantities;
- tomatoes;
- carrot;
- a little dill;
- onion;
- sunflower oil.
Cut the inflorescences of two types of cabbage in half (or whole) and leave them in salted water for a while to remove the bitterness. Afterwards, drain the water and cook in new water for 30-40 minutes with the addition of salt. Chop tomatoes, carrots and onions and fry in oil. After 5 minutes, add the cabbage broth and the cabbage itself (the amount of broth is at your discretion). Simmer for another 10 minutes.
Which cabbage varieties to choose
White cabbage includes ascorbic (vitamin C) and folic (B9) acid, which is very important for every body. But such a vegetable often increases the formation of gases, increases colic and flatulence in the newborn. Therefore, it is not recommended for use until the baby’s body adapts and the colic goes away. As a rule, this occurs after three to four months.
You can add fresh vegetables in small dosages to soup already in the second or third month. And eat stews after four. This vegetable perfectly relieves swelling and eliminates chest pain, prevents lactostasis. Therefore, many mothers use cabbage leaf compresses.
Broccoli and cauliflower are full of B vitamins, especially folic acid, and retinol (vitamin A). In addition, such vegetables contain more vitamin C than citrus fruits! Moreover, they are absolutely safe, while citrus fruits are very allergenic. Therefore, vegetables are included in the diet of a nursing woman and complementary feeding for infants in the first week immediately after zucchini.
Broccoli improves the functioning of the intestines, and cauliflower improves digestion, cleanses the intestines and the body, and is an effective prevention of cancer, gastritis and ulcers. Both types effectively increase immunity and protect against viral diseases, relieve stress and energize.
Sea kale is not a vegetable, but an algae. And, as you know, seafood is not recommended for a nursing mother in the first months, because they often cause food allergies in both children and adults. Therefore, the product should not be administered earlier than three months.
Sea kale can be eaten occasionally in small dosages when the baby reaches six months of age. Seafood fills the body with iodine, which is important for the functioning of the thyroid gland. They improve metabolism, regulate the functioning of the heart and strengthen blood vessels, improve blood composition and prevent blood clots, and stimulate memory.
Sauerkraut, like other marinades or pickles, is contraindicated for a nursing mother. Such products contain a lot of spices and acid. This can lead to poisoning and digestive disorders. And excess salt leads to dehydration, which can negatively affect breast milk production. Pediatricians do not recommend using such marinades before six months. And then you can occasionally eat pickles in limited quantities, while increasing your drinking water intake to support breastfeeding.
