Foods to Avoid while BreastfeedingSuggestions on foods to avoid while breastfeeding can be hard to come by. I’m not sure why – nearly everything I came across in my pre-baby reading talked about a diet while breastfeeding celebrating all the things I could eat again now that I wasn’t pregnant (sushi, coffee, alcohol – of course, breastfeeding and alcohol has a whole other set of rules).However, it would have been nice to know which foods to avoid while breastfeeding, because they tend to leak into your milk and make your baby uncomfortable – rather than having to figure it out after days of behavior from my daughter that I couldn’t decipher! It Happened to Me…I remember about two weeks after her birth, my parents brought over dinner for us (they did this often for the first couple of months, bless them!!), with a main course of bowtie pasta, spicy sausage and red and green peppers.For the next two days (as I continued to eat leftovers of this as well), I noticed my daughter was suddenly very gassy, drawing up her legs to her chest and crying about 20 minutes after her feeding sessions (which were usually preceded by me eating this dish) – but I passed it off as normal newborn gas issues. But my mother-in-law noticed me eating this and advised me that both spicy foods and peppers were some of the top items on foods to avoid while breastfeeding – well, gee, I’m glad someone told me! I quit eating these for a while, and all was well in my daughter’s tummy. What Can I Do?If you notice some odd behavior from your baby, either during or after a feeding, it might help to first check this list to see if you’ve recently eaten any of these foods. If you have, try cutting one or two of them out of your diet while breastfeeding for a day or two and see if you notice any changes. (You could also try noting your own diet in your breastfeeding log. )And of course, if you notice any symptoms or odd behavior increasing – or if your baby flat-out refuses to nurse for more than a couple of feedings – make sure to call your pediatrician just in case it’s something else that needs medical care. Here are Some of the More Common Foods to Avoid while Breastfeeding:GarlicThis can change the flavor of your breast milk into something your baby doesn’t care to taste, especially since newborns especially enjoy sweet-tasting foods like your breast milk.This doesn’t usually happen unless you’ve eaten a LOT of garlic, and not every baby dislikes the flavor; mine didn’t really seem to mind this as much, but your baby may indicate his dislike by turning away from your breast and fussing after getting a few gulps. Peppers, Onions, Cabbage, Beans and BroccoliThese can make your baby gassy, just as they might make you gassy – although these might affect your baby without it affecting you. Pretty much any foods that might make you gassy – especially beans and peppers – are likely to bother your baby in the same way, so that’s always a consideration; I just hadn’t thought much about onions or broccoli falling into this category as well.Watch your baby for about 30 minutes to an hour after nursing to see if this might be a problem for her; she’ll typically wriggle around and draw her knees up to her stomach, fussing or crying. Of course, she may also pass more gas than usual – a clear enough sign! Chocolate and/or SugarYeah, I learned this one the hard way as well. After indulging in a small(ish) cup of ice cream during a family outing, I thought nothing of nursing my daughter right after finishing my treat and then putting her to bed.Well, that was enough to turn her into a party animal for the rest of the evening! All that sugar and chocolate kept her up well into the wee hours of the morning, long after she would typically have fallen asleep. Seems like a “duh” moment, but it wasn’t until then that I truly understood how much I was eating was still affecting her – just in a different way. CaffeineMost doctors agree that a cup/can or two of coffee or soda each day is okay (meaning a regular-sized cup, not a venti or the giant fountain size!), but just like the ice cream, this could also cause some sleep problems for your little one.Also, make sure you check over-the-counter medicines for caffeine too – you should already be running everything by your pediatrician anyways to get the all-clear that the medicine’s okay for breastfeeding, but even over-the-counter meds can contain some caffeine. Either way, if you’re finding it’s an issue, try holding off and having your java or take your meds immediately after breastfeeding – the time between nursing sessions should give your body enough time to cycle it through. Is It a Food Allergy?Studies have shown that babies who breastfed exclusively for six months were less likely to develop food or other allergies – so the good news is, it’s likely you won’t have to worry about this at all!First of all, know that it’s nearly impossible for a baby to be allergic to her own mother’s breast milk, so just the simple act of nursing might prevent her from developing a milk allergy. But sometimes babies do start to show symptoms they’re allergic to something, especially once you’ve started introducing solid foods – or, possibly, may be passing through your breast milk – so here’s what to look for: • Bloating and gassiness • Nausea/vomiting • Itchiness on the body or itchy eyes • Hives or a skin rash on the face or elsewhere on the body (my daughter’s intolerance of a food always showed up in a pretty nasty diaper rash later that day or that night) • Stomach pain or an upset stomach • Crying or fussiness • Fatigue • Feeding problems • Stuffy nose – or, alternatively, a runny nose (watery mucus, not green or yellow) • Diarrhea or mucus in the stools she passes If you’re noticing any of these things, keep an eye on your baby for the next 24 hours – if it seems like it’s getting worse or not clearing up, call your pediatrician. And if you notice she’s having any trouble breathing, drop everything and get to the ER right away! Bottom Line on Foods to Avoid while Breastfeeding?Okay, now that we’ve covered all the crazy stuff, just remember: Your baby will likely outgrow her aversion to many items on the list of the foods to avoid while breastfeeding; it seems to be harder for her when she’s younger, but gets better as she grows and her system becomes more tolerant of different foods. You might just have to be a bit creative with some of the more typical foods to avoid while breastfeeding, along with your timing.Your diet while breastfeeding doesn’t have to be full of bland foods; it’s actually good for you to try all different types of foods to get her used to them and ready for trying them in solid form down the road – although of course, tread carefully and talk it over with your pediatrician if you or anyone in your family has a history of severe allergies (like peanuts, etc.). If you notice your baby’s having a tough time with any of these things, give it a month or two and then try having a little bit again (maybe during the day and not right before a nap!). Either way, the foods to avoid while breastfeeding won’t be absent forever from your diet – just be flexible, hang in there, and keep eating as much healthy food as possible! Return From Foods to Avoid while Breastfeeding to the Homepage New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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