From the Guidelines
To facilitate infant bowel movements, lactating mothers should focus on consuming a balanced diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, while staying well-hydrated with adequate water intake, as recommended by the Australian dietary guidelines 2013 1.
Key Dietary Recommendations
- Consume high-fiber foods like whole grains (oatmeal, brown rice), fruits (prunes, pears, apples), vegetables (broccoli, spinach), and legumes (beans, lentils) to help soften stools and stimulate the digestive system 1.
- Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day, with an adequate intake of 2.0 L/day for females and an additional 700 mL/day for lactating women, as suggested by EFSA 2010 1.
- Include healthy fats from avocados, olive oil, and nuts in your diet to promote bowel movements.
- Consider consuming probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables to help establish healthy gut bacteria in your baby through your breast milk.
Additional Considerations
- Be mindful of your overall energy intake, aiming for an additional 2,000-2,100 kJ per day over the recommended daily intake for women, as recommended by Australia and New Zealand, Early-Life Nutrition, Working Party 2014 1.
- Ensure adequate intake of essential nutrients like iron, folic acid, and vitamin D, with a daily supplement of 10 mg of vitamin D, as advised by SACN 2011 1.
- If your baby experiences constipation, you may want to consider avoiding certain foods like dairy, gluten, or eggs to rule out food sensitivities.
Next Steps
If dietary changes do not help facilitate infant bowel movements within a few days, it is essential to consult your pediatrician for additional guidance and support.
From the Research
Dietary Modifications for Lactating Mothers
To facilitate infant bowel movements, lactating mothers can consider the following dietary modifications:
- Increase consumption of fiber-rich foods, as they can help promote regular bowel movements in infants [ 2 ]
- Include fruits, such as kiwifruit, in their diet, as they have been shown to improve stool frequency [ 3 ]
- Drink high-mineral water, which may help improve response to treatment for constipation [ 3 ]
- Consider consuming rye bread, as it has been found to result in higher stool frequency compared to white bread [ 3 ]
- A well-designed diet that includes a variety of whole foods can help support the health of the infant's gut microbiota [ 4 ]
Maternal Diet and Infant Health
Research suggests that the maternal diet can have an impact on infant health, particularly through the entero-mammary pathway of intestinal microbiota [ 4 ]
- A mother's diet can influence the composition of her gut microbiota, which can in turn affect the microbiota of her breast milk and infant's intestines [ 4 ]
- Certain foods, such as fruit juices, can be well absorbed by infants and may not have a significant impact on stool water content [ 5 ]
Key Findings
- Breastfeeding has been shown to serve as a protective factor against the development of constipation in infants [ 2 ]
- Dietary fiber intake has been found to be similar in constipated and non-constipated infants [ 2 ]
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that certain foods, such as fruits and rye bread, may improve constipation-related outcomes [ 3 ]