Breast milk is like a bond that connects mother and baby, and it is derived from the mother's qi and blood. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the fetus relies on the mother's qi and blood for nutrition in the womb, and after birth, it needs to be nourished by breast milk. In the Ming Dynasty, the medical scientist Wan Quan wrote in his book "Secrets of Infant Care": "Milk is as sweet as maltose." The original meaning of "maltose" refers to malt sugar, which is used here to metaphorically describe the sweetness of breast milk. The phrase "milk is transformed from blood" points out the source of breast milk, which is transformed from the mother's qi and blood. Therefore, breast milk is a natural food source designed for babies. The sweet milk is a gift from heaven, carrying the mother's nutrition and emotions, nourishing the body of every baby.
Ancient people attached great importance to the unity of birth and breastfeeding. In her book "Women's Learning" in the Qing Dynasty, female doctor Zeng Yi mentioned: "To have strong children, breastfeeding is still the best. It is the food that comes with the birth of human beings. Therefore, breastfeeding babies should be fed by their mothers' breast milk. It is often seen that children who breastfeed themselves are healthier." Heaven has created human beings, and the food for nourishment, breast milk, comes along with it. Therefore, it is best to feed babies with breast milk.
Breastfeeding is the most suitable for the needs of babies.
Breast milk is rich in nutrients and most suitable for the physiological needs of babies. It is easily digested and absorbed by babies. It contains high-quality proteins, essential amino acids, and lactose, which are beneficial for the brain development and immune system of babies. At the same time, breastfeeding is the most convenient and economical way of feeding, it also promotes the bond between mother and child, and facilitates the observation and care of the baby's changes. In addition, breastfeeding stimulates uterine contractions, helping the uterus to recover its shape, and reduces the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in breastfeeding women. Nowadays, more and more people realize the importance of breastfeeding.
In order to have abundant breast milk production and excellent nutritional composition, the mother's energy and nutrient needs should also increase relatively, and the intake of nutrition should be scientifically and reasonably balanced. Therefore, the mother's diet should be small and frequent meals, with a combination of meat and vegetables, and appropriate supplements. In the first week after childbirth, it is appropriate to have a balanced diet, focusing on promoting blood circulation, removing stasis, and stimulating lactation. The mother's body is weak after childbirth and is not suitable for excessive supplementation, otherwise, it will cause the weakness of the mother's body. The supplements for the mother should mainly be "shenghua soup" (Chinese angelica, chuanxiong, peach kernel, dried ginger, licorice), take one dose per day, continuously for 3-5 days, it has the function of promoting blood circulation and removing stasis, helping the lochia to be discharged smoothly. In the second week after childbirth, it is appropriate to have a warm diet, focusing on regulating the spleen and stomach, nourishing the kidneys and waist, and promoting lactation. Pay special attention to drinking more lactogenic soups, such as stewed pork rib soup, stewed chicken soup, stewed pork trotters, tofu soup, ginseng crucian carp soup, Eucommia ulmoides and pig kidney soup, etc. In the third to fourth weeks after childbirth, it is appropriate to have a tonifying diet, focusing on replenishing qi and blood, restoring vitality, strengthening tendons and bones, beauty and anti-aging. You can have 4-5 meals a day, and drink water or other beverages between meals, but it is not the more you eat, the better. The food should be easy to digest, and avoid overeating to prevent excessive nutrient intake, which may reduce milk production.
Traditional Chinese medicine has specific recipes for lactation stimulation.
Pork Trotter and Cuscuta Congee
Ingredients: 2 pork trotters, 5g cuscuta, 15g leaky bamboo, 100g rice. Wash the pork trotters and cut them into pieces. Boil the cuscuta and leaky bamboo together to make a decoction. Cook the pork trotters and rice in the decoction, season with chopped scallions, a little oil, and salt. Consume in multiple servings. This recipe has the function of regulating the liver, promoting qi circulation, and lactation. It is suitable for lactation deficiency caused by liver stagnation.
Astragalus and Cuscuta Chicken
Ingredients: 50g roasted astragalus, 10g cuscuta, 1 chicken. Cut the cleaned chicken into pieces, add the astragalus and cuscuta, sprinkle with a little salt, drizzle with a spoonful of yellow wine, steam over high heat for 3-4 hours, and eat on an empty stomach. This recipe has the functions of nourishing qi and blood, invigorating the spleen and stomach, promoting lactation, and diuresis.
Mothers should pay attention to maintaining a regular lifestyle, getting enough sleep; develop good breastfeeding habits, start breastfeeding early, and feed on demand; maintain an optimistic and comfortable state of mind, being a happy mother is important.
