Are you currently breastfeeding, or will be breastfeeding soon, and wondering what you can do to keep your immune system in good shape? Having strong immunity while breastfeeding is not only important for keeping you healthy, but for maintaining the health and well-being of your baby as well. Even if you already take Wellements probiotics and have been proactively shopping for an organic iron supplement for toddlers, boosting your immune system while breastfeeding can give you and your child a leg up in staying as healthy as possible. Here’s what you can start doing today to make sure your immune system is strong and resilient during your breastfeeding months.

Continue To Eat Healthfully and Incorporate Fresher Foods Into Every Dish

Breastfeeding transfers nutrients directly to your child through your milk, so it’s essential to make sure you continue to eat a healthy diet and to use supplements such as baby multivitamin drops when necessary in order to ensure your child gets a well-rounded diet. You can accomplish this by:

  • Eating a hearty, healthy breakfast every morning to help kick-start your metabolism and get in part of your nutrients for the day
  • Incorporating adequate sources of protein, including lean meats, fish, beans and legumes
  • Eating the “rainbow” by consuming a variety of fruits and veggies to get plenty of vitamins and minerals
  • Consuming adequate probiotics, usually found in fermented foods such as kombucha, kimchi and certain dairy products, to foster good gut bacteria

Stay Hydrated, Exercise and Get Plenty of Rest Each Night To Support Your Immune System

Maintaining basic tenets of good health can help you keep up a baseline of immunity throughout the breastfeeding process. Don’t forget to take care of yourself as well as your child! For instance, you should:

  • Try to get as close to eight hours of sleep every 24 hours as you can, including naps you can take while your baby is sleeping
  • Drink enough water throughout the day and aim for eight or more glasses
  • Aim to squeeze in at least 20 to 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise a day, whether that’s going for a jog or simply chasing after your kids

Practice Key Self-Care Techniques To Help Keep Stress at a Minimum

Another key part of keeping your immune system in good shape is maintaining low stress levels. Although this might sound difficult to do as a new parent, simply implementing a few key self-care techniques into your day could make all the difference. For example, you might:

  • Take a few minutes each morning to practice meditation and deep breathing
  • Keep a journal of your thoughts to help get frustrating negative emotions out
  • Consider seeing a therapist if you think you may have postpartum depression or other similar postpartum conditions

Breastfeeding is a special time for parent-baby bonding, but can also make you feel tired or drained of energy. In order to maintain your health, pass essential nutrients to your child and make sure your immune system stays as strong as possible, it’s important to be proactive. Follow these simple steps to help boost your immunity while breastfeeding.