Make healthy lifestyle choices

Your lifestyle choices are just as important when you're breast-feeding as they were when you were pregnant. For example:

• Eat a healthy diet. To keep up your energy, stick to healthy-eating basics, such as choosing plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Your health care provider might recommend taking a daily multivitamin as well.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Water, juice and milk can help you stay hydrated. Moderate amounts of caffeine are generally considered OK as well — but scale back if you suspect that too much caffeine is interfering with your baby's sleep. If you have an alcoholic drink, avoid breast-feeding for two hours afterward.
• Rest as much as possible. If you can, sleep when the baby sleeps.
• Don't smoke. Smoking during breast-feeding exposes babies to nicotine, which can interfere with your baby's sleep. Your baby could also be at risk of a cigarette burn if you smoke around him or her. In addition, secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS, as well as respiratory illnesses.
• Be cautious with medication. Many medications are safe to take while you're breast-feeding. Still, it's best to get your health care provider's OK first. If you have a chronic health condition, ask your health care provider if it's OK to breast-feed your baby.

Also ask your baby's doctor if your baby needs vitamin D supplements, especially if you're exclusively breast-feeding. Breast milk might not provide enough vitamin D, which helps your baby absorb calcium and phosphorus — nutrients necessary for strong bones.