Breastfeeding mothers usually require additional calories above pre-pregnancy needs to maintain their own health and their milk production. Choosing nuts as a healthy protein source can provide needed protein and calories for nursing mothers, without the hassle of cooking or preparation that other foods require.

Breastfeeding an infant is a round-the-clock job. Sometimes the hardest part is remembering to take care of yourself. You may already be aware that what you eat and drink will be passed on to your baby when you’re nursing. Still, do you know how much water you should drink to stay well hydrated?

If you're looking to shed pounds after giving birth, a healthy diet and daily exercise is safe even if you are breastfeeding. The National Institutes of Health recommends losing weight slowly -- no more than a pound and a half a week if you're breastfeeding.

Breast milk can be an optimal source of nutrition for infants, provided that new mothers make healthful food and beverage choices. Dietary preferences can affect breast milk in a number of ways: Certain foods may flavor breast milk, make infants fussy or negatively impact their development.

A baby cannot actually be allergic to his mother's breast milk, but may develop an allergy or intolerance that appears to be a breast milk allergy. In most cases, these problems can simply be solved through a change in the mother's diet.

The risks of taking medication varies once a mother gives birth and the child is breast-feeding. The doctor must determine if the benefits of the medication outweigh not breast-feeding the child or exposing the infant to the effects of the medication.

Breastfeeding mothers may wonder if diet plays a role in causing gas in breastfed infants.

Nursing mothers devote extra time and energy to providing their babies the best nutrition possible. Breast milk is full of antibodies that formula does not contain. Mothers who choose to breast-feed need to pay extra attention to their diet, while formula-feeding moms do not.

Although the cause of baby acne is unknown, there are some things that can irritate your baby’s skin and make existing acne more noticeable. It is important to understand what can trigger baby acne and how you can help manage it.

Caring for a reflux baby can be emotionally and physically exhausting because of frequent night wakings, excessive crying, spitting up, vomiting, severe pain, slow weight gain, respiratory problems and feeding difficulties.

If you and your baby have decided it's time to stop breastfeeding, or if you have to wean due to a medical condition or new medication, there are a few things to consider to make the transition as easy and painless as possible.

Brewer's yeast comes from a one-celled fungus and is a byproduct of beer making, though it can also be grown as a nutritional supplement. A good source of iron, chromium and selenium, brewer's yeast also contains several B vitamins, though not B-12.