Month: September 2021

When a person is addicted to drugs, they cannot seem to stop on their own irrespective of the damage that is being caused to the body and health.

Drug addiction has no positive effect on the human body as all of its effects are largely negative. In a case of drug addiction, the faster help is being gotten for the victim, the better.

It is important to note that when it comes to specific people like nursing mothers, drug addiction or even drug abuse is a no-no. the effect of drug addiction is not only on the mother but also the child she is nursing.

Below are four reasons why nursing mothers should not indulge in drug addiction;

1. HARMING THE BABY: While nursing a child, everything the mother ingests is important as it breaks down and is passed to the baby via the breastmilk. Therefore, these drugs misused by the mother are also broken down and are fed to the baby. Due to this, the baby begins to experience ill health such as vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme irritability.
2. THE MOTHER’S HEALTH: Drug addiction takes a toll on the mother’s mental health. Gradually, without even realizing it, her health begins o deteriorate until there is a final and sudden breakdown
3. ABANDONMENT: Drug addiction creates distance between the mother and the baby as opposed to the bond that is supposed to be developed at early age. During the period of intoxication on drugs and alcohol, the mother is not fit to take care of the child or even pay attention to her baby.
4. MISPLACED PRIORITY: Drug addicts will go to whatever length that they can to fund their drug use. In a situation when a nursing mother is a drug addict, she would spend all the money supposed to be spent for the child’s welfare on drugs.

As a nursing mother, it is not always easy to get all the nutrition that you need as there is so much on your hand to do with your newborn or toddler.

The thought of cooking nutritious meals and taking time out to put your health first can easily be pushed back. Nevertheless, it is very important at this stage to pay attention to your health and take care of yourself.

What you ingest while nursing a child especially because of breastfeeding can affect your body and your growing body. Therefore, below are some important tips that will serve as a great help if you are a nursing mother, aspiring or you have one around me;

• STAY HYDRATED

Water is a very important part of healthy living as it helps the organs of the body and also serves as a detoxifier. Breastmilk is made mostly of water and due to this nursing mothers tend to feel thirsty at intervals.

For nursing mothers, it is advisable to drink water regularly and not just when they feel thirsty, most preferably, eight glasses of water per day.

• EAT MILK-MAKING FOODS

There are quite a number of foods that enrich the body of a nursing mother and also enhances the production of milk. Foods like oatmeal, chickpeas, dark green vegetables, and almonds have great properties that the production of milk.

• ENOUGH CALORIES

Breastfeeding and the production of milk in the body take up a lot of energy, it is, therefore, essential to get this energy back. The calories being talked about here is not the one from junks as it is not nutritious to the body. Instead, these calories can be gotten from healthier meals and snacks.

• BALANCED DIET

In summary, it is very important as a nursing mother to pay attention to your diet as you are not just eating for yourself but also for the growth of the baby. Include greens and fruits in your diet, eat varieties of them and limit eating empty calorie snacks.