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Most new mothers try to breastfeed their baby at first, unable to ignore the oft-repeated mantra ‘breast is best’. However, despite the vast benefits of breastfeeding that are being highlighted during World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), including protecting the baby from infection and disease, and health benefits for the mother, a huge proportion of mothers quickly give up. Figures from the last UK-wide Infant Feeding Survey (albeit from 2010) found that while more than three-quarters of women start breastfeeding when their baby’s born, this drops to 55% doing any breastfeeding at six weeks, while at six months, just 34% do any breastfeeding, and only 1% breastfeed exclusively. There are many reasons for this, but Public Health England research found more than half of mothers were concerned they might need a special diet to breastfeed, and a similar proportion were worried that breastfeeding meant they couldn’t tell if their baby was getting too much or too little milk. But should new mums really be concerned about eating or not eating specific foods if they’re breastfeeding, and can their diet affect how much milk their baby’s getting? The simple answer is no, as long as they’re eating a healthy balanced diet, says the baby charity Tommy’s. Because while the NHS warns pregnant mothers to avoid specific foods like soft blue cheeses, undercooked meat, liver, pâté and game meats, there are no foods breastfeeding mums must not eat, says Tommy’s. “There are a lot of myths out there around breastfeeding which can leave new parents unsure of what to do and where to turn,” says Tommy’s midwife Sophie King. “If you choose to breastfeed or combination feed, there’s no special foods you need to have, but a varied diet can help our bodies make the best quality milk for our babies. This typically includes lots of vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins. It’s also important that you stay well-hydrated with plenty of water. “ In addition, she says it’s recommended that mothers who are exclusively breastfeeding take a daily vitamin D supplement. An occasional alcoholic drink is unlikely to cause any harm if you’re breastfeeding, says King, but she warns: “Try not to have more than one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week. There’s some evidence that regularly drinking more than two units of alcohol a day while breastfeeding may affect your baby’s development.” In addition, caffeine can reach babies through breast milk, and King explains: “Caffeine is a stimulant, so if you have a lot, it may make your baby restless and keep them awake.” Caffeine occurs naturally in lots of foods and drink, including coffee, tea and chocolate, and it’s also added to some soft drinks and energy drinks, as well as some cold and flu remedies. “There’s not enough information to say how much caffeine is too much, and babies respond to caffeine differently,” says King. “But it’s a good idea to reduce how much caffeine you drink, especially when your baby is less than six months old.” But does what a mother eats affect her milk supply? Again, the answer is no, explains Justine Fieth of the breastfeeding support charity La Leche League GB (LLLGB). “There are no particular foods you need to eat to increase breastmilk – milk production is determined by the amount of milk removed from the breast,” she says. Breastmilk is made in the mother’s breasts, directly from her blood, rather than from the food she eats. Fieth says LLLGB recognises the importance of a varied and healthy diet, and stresses that it’s important for mothers to speak to a qualified breastfeeding supporter if they feel they have low milk supply. “Unless there’s a physical or physiological reason for low milk production, a mother who breastfeeds on cue will be able to produce enough milk for her baby, regardless of what she eats,” she explains. “In certain circumstances, medications can be used to increase supply, but diet plays a minor part – though obviously, eating a varied, healthy diet is always a good thing.” For breastfeeding support, contact the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sten dos: What you need to know about the quirky wedding trend Why have the birds disappeared from my garden? Psoriasis Awareness Month: Everything you need to know

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Eddie Howe has saluted unsung hero Jacob Murphy after watching him inspire Newcastle to Premier League victory over Crystal Palace. Murphy, a £12million signing from Norwich in July 2017, has been a peripheral character for much of his time at St James’ Park to date and was sent out on loan to West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday before Howe’s appointment as head coach in November 2021. However, it was the 28-year-old that the manager turned to for the club’s first Champions League fixture in 20 years at AC Milan last month, and he was asked to fill the injured Harvey Barnes’ boots against Palace, responding with the opening goal and setting up two of the three which followed in a 4-0 win. Asked about the contribution of a man whose future at one point looked to lie away from St James’ Park, Howe said: “He’s someone who is the ultimate professional. He’s reliable, plays multiple positions and has never let me down. “For me, it’s all about consistency. What you’re looking for from the players’ perspective is that they turn up every day and give their best. “Now, you’re going to have some good days and you’re going to have some bad days. I always say that the key response is how you handle the bad days. “Before I came here, Jacob had some difficult moments, but you have to keep coming back. “You have to be really resilient, you have to keep turning up, and I believe that if you do the right things off the pitch, then eventually you’ll show the right things on the pitch. After the PSG win, we want to continue our momentum and see where it takes us Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe “For me, he’s just been that model of consistency in his approach and attitude. “It’s great to see someone who puts that work in rewarded with an opportunity, and then it’s all about taking that opportunity. He’s done that, and it’s great to see.” Murphy’s fourth-minute opener, a lob towards Callum Wilson which looped over keeper Sam Johnstone and crept inside the far post, set the Magpies on their way, but it was two goals inside three minutes at the end of the first half which put them out of sight as Anthony Gordon, from Murphy’s cross, and Sean Longstaff found the back of the net. Callum Wilson completed the scoring 24 minutes from time with the former Canaries winger again supplying the assist to send Newcastle, who used midfielder Sandro Tonali as a second-half substitute as he awaits the outcome of a betting investigation, into Wednesday night’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund on Tyneside confident they can build upon their 4-1 demolition of Paris St Germain. Howe said: “After the PSG win, we want to continue our momentum and see where it takes us.” Opposite number Roy Hodgson left the north-east in sombre mood after a day to forget. Hodgson said: “We were unfortunate with the first goal, of course, that didn’t help, that freak goal. “If we’d have scored it, I’d have be delighted, but it’s a tough goal to have against you after a few minutes because that’s not one that really has come about because you’ve got it totally wrong defensively.” Read More Erik ten Hag says Harry Maguire ‘playing like we want him to’ Ange Postecoglou praises ‘professional’ Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg David Beckham leads tributes to ‘national hero’ Sir Bobby Charlton Collin Morikawa returns to winning ways with six-shot victory in Japan Tributes paid to ‘giant of the game’ Sir Bobby Charlton after his death at 86 On This Day in 2010 – Wayne Rooney makes shock U-turn after Man Utd quit threat

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