Postpartum Focused course

Nutrition While Breastfeeding

Eat well, drink enough and get vitamin D, iodine, caffeine and alcohol right while you breastfeed, following US guidelines

  • 2 hoursself-paced
  • 6modules
  • 5interactive tools
  • Certificatewhen you pass

What you will be able to do

  • explain what US guidance says about eating while breastfeeding, and spot common food myths.
  • build balanced meals and snacks using the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030.
  • follow FDA/EPA fish advice and know why iodine matters while breastfeeding.
  • check your own vitamin D and make sure your breastfed baby gets 400 IU vitamin D drops a day.
  • add up your caffeine and keep it moderate, using a 200 mg a day guide.
  • explain US advice on alcohol, feeding and safe sleep.
  • plan quick meals, snacks and drinks around feeds.
  • recognize when to contact your baby's pediatrician, your OB-GYN or midwife, your doctor, or 911.

About this course

There is no special diet for breastfeeding, but there is plenty of confusing advice. This course sets out what US guidance actually recommends, in plain English: a varied diet based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030, 8 to 12 ounces of lower-mercury fish a week, a check on vitamin D and iodine, plenty of fluids, and care with caffeine and alcohol.

You will build balanced meals with the breastfeeding plate guide, check vitamin D for you and your baby, count your caffeine, review your alcohol habits against safe sleep advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics, and track your drinks for two weeks. You will also find one-handed snacks, ten-minute meals and ways to let others help with food.

It is for breastfeeding and combination-feeding mothers, and for partners and family who want to support them. It also explains what to do if you think something you eat is upsetting your baby, where to find breastfeeding support and when to get help.

Course modules

6 modules
  1. 1Eating well while breastfeeding: the basics

    Find out what US guidance actually says about eating while breastfeeding, and clear up the most common myths.

    • No special diet needed
    • Myths and facts about food and breastfeeding

    Breastfeeding plate guide

  2. 2Your breastfeeding plate

    Use the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to build balanced meals, get fish and iodine right, and adapt for vegetarian and vegan diets.

    • Building a balanced plate
    • Fish, omega-3 and iodine
    • Vegetarian, vegan and other eating patterns

    Breastfeeding plate guide

  3. 3Vitamin D, iodine and supplements

    Get US vitamin D advice right for you and your baby, check iodine, and know when to check before taking any other supplement or remedy.

    • Vitamin D for you and your baby
    • Other supplements, WIC and medicines

    Vitamin D checklist for you and your baby

  4. 4Drinks: water, caffeine and alcohol

    Stay hydrated, keep caffeine moderate and understand US advice on alcohol and safe sleep.

    • Staying hydrated
    • Caffeine while breastfeeding
    • Alcohol and safe sleep

    Hydration trackerCaffeine counter for breastfeedingCaffeine and alcohol checker

  5. 5Real-life eating with a new baby

    Quick meals and one-handed snacks, planning ahead and accepting help, and a gentle approach to your weight after birth.

    • One-handed snacks and quick meals
    • Planning ahead and accepting help
    • Your weight after birth: a gentle approach

    Breastfeeding plate guideHydration tracker

  6. 6Food worries about your baby and getting help

    What to do if you think something you eat is upsetting your baby, where to find breastfeeding support, and when to get help.

    • Is something I eat upsetting my baby?
    • Breastfeeding support and when to get help

    Vitamin D checklist for you and your babyCaffeine and alcohol checker

Tools included

Saved to your account, downloadable as PDF
  • BuilderBreastfeeding plate guideBuild a meal or snack plate from everyday foods and get instant tips based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and US breastfeeding advice.
  • CheckerVitamin D checklist for you and your babyCheck that you are following US vitamin D advice for breastfeeding mothers and breastfed babies.
  • CheckerCaffeine and alcohol checkerCheck your caffeine and alcohol habits against US breastfeeding guidance and spot anything to change.
  • TrackerHydration trackerTrack your drinks for two weeks to build the habit of having a drink at every feed and every meal.
  • CalculatorCaffeine counter for breastfeedingAdd up caffeine from today's drinks and snacks and compare it with a cautious 200 mg a day guide while breastfeeding.

Who this course is for

  • Mothers who are breastfeeding or combination feeding, from the first days onwards
  • Pregnant women who want to plan ahead for breastfeeding
  • Vegetarian and vegan mothers who want to check their diet covers key nutrients
  • Partners, grandparents and friends who want to support a breastfeeding mother with food

Check with a health professional first if

  • Anyone with a long-term health condition, such as diabetes, thyroid disease, celiac disease or kidney disease, who has not discussed their diet with their doctor or specialist
  • Anyone who has had, or currently has, an eating disorder (your doctor and the ANAD Helpline, 1-888-375-7767, can support you)
  • Anyone taking prescribed medicines or thinking of taking any supplement, herbal remedy or over-the-counter medicine (check with your pharmacist or doctor)
  • Anyone advised to follow a special or restricted diet, or whose baby has a suspected food allergy
  • Anyone who had heavy bleeding after birth, or who has been told they have low iron
  • Mothers of babies who were born early, had a low birth weight or have feeding difficulties (ask your baby's pediatrician or a lactation consultant)
  • Anyone thinking of losing weight while breastfeeding, especially with a BMI of 40 or above

Your certificate

Answer at least 7 of the 10 final questions correctly and your certificate is ready to download straight away, with your name, the course and a verification ID anyone can check.

A certificate of completion shows you finished a general education course. It is not a professional qualification.

Certificate of completion

Your name

Nutrition While Breastfeeding, 6 modules, completed October 6, 2026

Dr Aqsa Mukhtiar, PhD in Nutrition
Course author
ID MNC-4K7Q-2Z9P
Verify at mynutricare.co.uk

Your course author

Dr Aqsa MukhtiarPhD in Nutrition

  • Course author
  • Nutrition content reviewer
  • 6 years of experience

Dr Aqsa Mukhtiar holds a PhD in Nutrition and has six years of experience in nutrition, healthy eating, weight management and maternal nutrition. She writes MyNutriCare courses and reviews their nutrition content.

About Dr Aqsa Mukhtiar

Questions about this course

Do I need to eat extra calories while breastfeeding?

You may feel hungrier than usual, and the Dietary Guidelines note that breastfeeding increases energy and nutrient needs. You do not need to count calories or eat for two. Follow your appetite and choose nourishing foods from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. If you have concerns about your weight or eating, talk to your doctor.

Can I drink coffee while breastfeeding?

Yes, in moderation. Caffeine passes into breast milk, so keep it moderate. This course uses about 200 mg a day as a cautious guide, which is about two 8 fl oz cups of brewed coffee. Remember tea, cola, energy drinks and chocolate count too.

Is it safe to have a glass of wine?

Not drinking is the safest choice while breastfeeding. The CDC says up to one standard drink a day is not known to harm a breastfed baby, especially if you wait at least 2 hours before feeding. Never share a bed, couch or armchair with your baby after drinking any alcohol. If you are worried about your drinking, talk to your doctor.

Will certain foods increase my milk supply?

No food, drink or supplement has been shown to reliably increase milk supply. Frequent feeding with a good latch usually matters most. If you are worried about your supply, talk to a lactation consultant (IBCLC), your baby's pediatrician or, if you are enrolled, a WIC breastfeeding peer counselor.

What do I get with this course?

6 modules with 15 short lessons (about 2 hours in total) and 5 interactive tools, including the Breastfeeding plate guide, Vitamin D checklist for you and your baby and Caffeine and alcohol checker. Your tool results save to My Progress. A 10-question final check ends the course; score 7 or more for your certificate. Price: $19.99 (before any sales tax). Written by Dr Aqsa Mukhtiar, PhD in Nutrition. General education, not personal medical or nutrition advice.