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Can I Have Whey Protein Powder While Breastfeeding?

When breastfeeding, you’re not just eating for yourself. 

You gotta think about every.little.thing you put in your body because it can potentially be passed to your baby via your breast milk. 

Let’s explore if it’s safe to add whey protein powder to your diet while breastfeeding…

(this post may contain affiliate links)


Did you know?
Breastfeeding moms requires extra protein.
They have special nutritional needs and require extra protein in their diet to meet the extra demands on their milk-making bodies. (pregnant women in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters require extra protein too!)

What is whey protein?

Whey is one of the primary proteins in dairy products and is the liquid that’s left behind when milk is curdled and strained. (think cheese making!)

It’s usually translucent and yellowish/greenish in color and contains all 9 essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein).

Benefits of adding protein powder to a Breastfeeding diet

Convenient.  It can be hard to get enough protein into your diet.  Protein powder makes it easy to do so.

Healthy.  Many powders contain vitamins and minerals that are difficult to fit into your daily diet.

Versatile. Easy to mix into shakes, smoothies, or recipes.

Filling.  Breastfeeding moms are HUNGRY!  When you breastfeed you require an extra 450-500 calories per day.  Adding extra protein to your diet helps you stay fuller for longer.  Protein powder is a great way to do this!

Good for postpartum weight loss.  Helps you shed the baby weight because protein supports maintaining lean tissue.  Studies show increased intake of protein is linked to faster return to pre-pregnancy weight.

Things To Consider Before Choosing a Whey protein powder

Not all protein powders are created equal.

For instance, some powders are created for athletes and have supplements and fillers not meant for pregnant or breastfeeding moms. 

Read the label before buying any protein powder.

Look for a whey protein powder that:

  • contains high quality, clean whey protein base

  • has been tested by an independent organization

  • does NOT have any shady ingredients (fillers, synthetic vitamins, artificial sweeteners, high levels of added sugar, additional stimulants like caffeine)


Best Whey Protein for Breastfeeding

Naked Whey has only 3 ingredient.  THREE!!!
It contains 100% grass-fed pure whey protein powder, organic coconut sugar, and vanilla… that’s it!   AMAZING! 

See this Amazon product in the original post

Our 3 FAV Breastfeeding Products

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🤱 3. If your nipples are sore, these are an absolute lifesaver. They’re super cheap, can be worn for multiple days (perfect when you’re trying to get a good latch), and are soooo soothing.