14 Foods To Avoid While Breastfeeding

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I n d u l g e n c e during p r e g n a n c y is f o l l o w e d by s e l f – d e p r i v a t i o n when b r e a s t f e e d i n g .

W e are r e f e r r i n g to y o u r eating p a t t e r n . Pregnancy is a time w h e n you m a y eat v a r i o u s foods t o satiate y o u r cravings. B u t once t h e baby i s born, y o u do n o t have t h e liberty t o listen t o your t a s t e buds. B e f o r e you e a t anything, y o u would a s k these q u e s t i o n s : “ C a n I e a t it?” “ W i l l they h a v e an e f f e c t on m y baby?”

T o save y o u from t h i s anxiety, M o m J u n c t i o n has c o m e up w i t h a l i s t of f o o d s to a v o i d when b r e a s t f e e d i n g .

B u t before g o i n g into t h e details, l e t us t e l l two t h i n g s :

Y o u need t o have r e g u l a r meals w h e n lactating, t o meet t h e daily d o s e of n u t r i e n t s .

T h e r e is n o such f o o d , which n e e d s to b e universally a v o i d e d by a l l the m o t h e r s . Each b a b y reacts d i f f e r e n t l y to a food. S o , what w o r k s for y o u r neighbor’s c h i l d might n o t work f o r your a n g e l .
Sponsored

N o w , let’s m o v e on t o the f o o d s that y o u may h a v e to a v o i d while b r e a s t f e e d i n g . And b y ‘avoid’, w e do n o t mean y o u have t o ban t h e m from y o u r menu, b u t limit t h e m to s m a l l amounts.

C l i c k here t o view a n enlarged v e r s i o n of t h i s infographic

1 4 Foods T o Avoid D u r i n g Breastfeeding

1 . Coffee

W h y is c o f f e e topping t h e list? I t is b e c a u s e of t h e caffeine c o n t e n t in i t . Some a m o u n t of c a f f e i n e in t h e coffee ( o r tea, s o d a , energy d r i n k s and o v e r – t h e – c o u n t e r medicines) e n d s up i n your b r e a s t milk.

S o what? U n l i k e adults, b a b i e s cannot e x c r e t e caffeine e f f i c i e n t l y . So t h e accumulated c a f f e i n e in t h e i r bodies c a u s e s irritation, s l e e p l e s s n e s s , and c r a n k i n e s s . High a m o u n t s of c a f f e i n e can l o w e r iron l e v e l s in b r e a s t milk a n d decrease h e m o g l o b i n levels i n the b a b y (1). H e n c e the b e s t solution i s to c u t down o n coffee.

“ B u t , how d o I b e g i n my d a y , especially a f t e r a l o n g sleepless n i g h t ? ” Are y o u asking t h i s ? Have c o f f e e moderately ( n o t more t h a n 2 t o 3 c u p s a d a y ) because s m a l l e r amounts o f caffeine a r e absolutely f i n e .

2 . Chocolate

P r e v i o u s l y , break t i m e would h a v e meant c h o c o l a t e time. B u t not a n y m o r e . Chocolate i s rich i n the s u b s t a n c e called t h e o b r o m i n e , which h a s an e f f e c t similar t o that o f caffeine. I f you f e e l that y o u r little o n e ’ s crankiness i s due t o your c h o c o l a t e consumption, t h e n keep a w a y from i t .

T h e only w a y to k n o w if y o u are t a k i n g too m u c h of c a f f e i n e is t o observe y o u r baby’s b e h a v i o r . I f a m o t h e r consumes m o r e than 7 5 0 m g of c a f f e i n e or t h e o b r o m i n e a d a y , the b a b y might e x h i b i t erratic a n d fussy b e h a v i o r , besides s u f f e r i n g from s l e e p issues.

3 . Citrus F r u i t s

C i t r u s fruits a r e a s o u r c e of v i t a m i n C, b u t their a c i d i c components c a n irritate l i t t l e tummies. T h e i r immature g a s t r o i n t e s t i n a l tract w i l l not b e able t o deal w i t h these c o m p o n e n t s , thus r e s u l t i n g in d i a p e r rash, f u s s i n e s s , spitting u p and m o r e .

I f you d e c i d e to c u t on c i t r u s fruits s u c h as l i m e s , grapefruits, l e m o n s , and o r a n g e s , replace t h e m with o t h e r vitamin C – r i c h foods l i k e papaya, p i n e a p p l e , strawberries o r leafy g r e e n s and m a n g o .

4 . Broccoli

H a d broccoli l a s t night? T h e n do n o t be s u r p r i s e d if y o u r baby h a s gassy p r o b l e m s today. O t h e r gassy f o o d s to a v o i d while b r e a s t f e e d i n g are: o n i o n , cauliflower, c a b b a g e , and c u c u m b e r . However, t h e r e is n o research-based e v i d e n c e to p r o v e it.

5 . High-Mercury F i s h

M e r c u r y appears i n your b r e a s t milk i f you e a t high-mercury f i s h and o t h e r foods t h a t are h i g h in t h a t element. H i g h e r levels o f mercury i n the b r e a s t milk c a n affect t h e baby’s n e u r o l o g i c a l development.

A c c o r d i n g to t h e United S t a t e s Department o f Agriculture, “ I f a b r e a s t f e e d i n g woman c o n s u m e s a h i g h amount o f mercury-rich f o o d s , it c o u l d harm t h e development o f baby b y transferring i n t o the b r e a s t milk a n d then o n t o the b a b y (2).”

F D A recommends t h a t “breastfeeding w o m e n should a v o i d eating s w o r d f i s h , shark, k i n g mackerel a n d tilefish f r o m the G u l f of M e x i c o as t h e y contain h i g h amounts o f mercury.” E a t fish ( i n c l u d i n g canned t u n a ) in m o d e r a t i o n not e x c e e d i n g two s e r v i n g s a w e e k .

6 . Alcohol

A l c o h o l can p a s s from m o m to b a b y through b r e a s t milk a n d affect h i s neurological d e v e l o p m e n t . But a f t e r nine f u l l months w i t h o u t a d r i n k , it i s fine t o have a n occasional g l a s s of w i n e or b e e r .

S t u d i e s have s h o w n that a couple o f units o n c e or t w i c e a w e e k do n o t harm y o u r baby. L e v e l s higher t h a n these m a y inhibit m o t h e r ’ s “let d o w n ” reflex ( i . e . the r e l e a s e of m i l k to t h e nipple a r e a ) (3).

M o d e r a t i o n is t h e key, s a y s Dr. J a c k Newman, a member o f the L L L I Health Advisory C o u n c i l . In h i s book ‘ M o r e Breastfeeding M y t h s ’ , Newman s a y s , “ A l c o h o l can b e consumed i n reasonable a m o u n t s . Only a fraction o f the c o n s u m e d alcohol r e m a i n s in b r e a s t milk.

“ A nursing m o m can d r i n k some a l c o h o l and c o n t i n u e to n u r s e her b a b y . Quitting a l c o h o l is l i k e making l i f e unessentially r e s t r i c t i v e for b r e a s t f e e d i n g moms”.

I f you p l a n to h a v e more t h a n one d r i n k at a time, t h e n wait f o r two h o u r s before y o u breastfeed y o u r baby.

7 . Peanuts

I f your f a m i l y has a history o f peanut a l l e r g i e s , avoid p e a n u t s until y o u wean y o u r baby. T h e allergic p r o t e i n s in p e a n u t s could p a s s into y o u r breast m i l k and t h e n to t h e baby. S h e might s u f f e r from r a s h e s , wheezing o r hives. E a t i n g even a few p e a n u t s can r e s u l t in t h e allergens p a s s i n g into m o t h e r ’ s milk b e t w e e n one a n d six h o u r s .

R e s e a r c h suggests t h a t there i s an i n c r e a s e d chance o f developing a lifetime p e a n u t allergy f o r children e x p o s e d to p e a n u t s at a n early a g e . However, t h e r e is n o sufficient e v i d e n c e to s u g g e s t that a v o i d i n g peanuts d u r i n g breastfeeding p r e v e n t s peanut a l l e r g i e s in b a b i e s (4).

8 . Parsley a n d Peppermint

P a r s l e y and p e p p e r m i n t are t w o herbs, i f taken i n huge a m o u n t s , can r e d u c e your b r e a s t milk. W h e n e v e r you e a t these h e r b s , monitor y o u r milk s u p p l y , especially w h e n your b a b y is i n the g r o w t h spurt – the p h a s e when h e needs m o r e milk t h a n usual.

I n fact, m o t h e r s often d r i n k peppermint t e a when t h e y want t o stop t h e milk p r o d u c t i o n after w e a n i n g . Another h e r b , sage, t o o decreases m i l k supply.

9 . Dairy

T o have o r not t o have d a i r y has a l w a y s been a dilemma f o r nursing m o t h e r s . Babies c o u l d be i n t o l e r a n t to c o w ’ s milk. W h e n the m o t h e r eats d a i r y products o r drinks m i l k , the a l l e r g e n s might e n t e r breast m i l k and i r r i t a t e the b a b y . If y o u observe s y m p t o m s like v o m i t i n g and c o l i c in y o u r baby a f t e r you c o n s u m e dairy p r o d u c t s , it m e a n s that y o u need t o stop e a t i n g them f o r some t i m e . Other s y m p t o m s include e c z e m a , skin i s s u e s , and s l e e p issues.

C h i l d r e n with d a i r y intolerances o f t e n show s i g n s of a soy a l l e r g y too. K e e p a c h e c k . Go f o r organic v a r i e t i e s of h i g h – f a t dairy, m e a t , and p o u l t r y , as n o antibiotics, g r o w t h hormones, c h e m i c a l s , or p e s t i c i d e s are u s e d in t h e i r production.

1 0 . Garlic

G a r l i c ’ s smell c a n get i n t o the m i l k too! S o m e babies l i k e it. S o m e do n o t . If y o u find y o u r baby a t discomfort w h i l e nursing, c h e c k if g a r l i c is t h e reason. S o m e babies m a y grimace o r fuss a t the b r e a s t if t h e y encounter g a r l i c ’ s strong a r o m a .

1 1 . Spicy F o o d s

S p i c y foods c a n irritate s o m e babies, w h i l e others a r e perfectly f i n e with i t . A d a s h of p e p p e r is m o r e than e n o u g h to h u r t a f e w babies. T h e y remain f u s s y for a long t i m e . Lessen t h e spices i n your f o o d if y o u r little o n e is n o t comfortable w i t h it.

1 2 . Wheat

G l u t e n intolerance i s a c o m m o n food p r o b l e m as i t results i n bloody s t o o l s , sensitive t u m m y , and f u s s i n e s s . Like a n y other f o o d , the b e s t way t o diagnose t h e allergy i s by e l i m i n a t i n g it f r o m the d i e t . Some m o m s choose t o remove a l l common p r o b l e m – c a u s i n g foods a n d gradually r e – i n t r o d u c e them o n e at a time.

1 3 . Corn

A l l e r g i e s to c o r n are c o m m o n among b a b i e s and t o d d l e r s . They c a u s e discomfort a n d rashes i n babies. I f you o b s e r v e that y o u r baby i s allergic t o corn, e l i m i n a t e it f r o m your d i e t .

1 4 . Eggs o r Shellfish

A family h i s t o r y of a particular f o o d allergy p o s e s a r i s k in i n f a n t s and b a b i e s . If t h e r e is s o m e b o d y allergic t o shellfish o r eggs i n your i m m e d i a t e family, t h e n avoid t h e m while b r e a s t f e e d i n g . Egg a l l e r g i e s , mostly i n the f o r m of s e n s i t i v i t y to e g g whites, a r e pretty c o m m o n .

A f t e r reading o u r exhaustive l i s t of f o o d s to a v o i d while n u r s i n g , you w i l l surely h a v e one q u e s t i o n : “ I s there a n y t h i n g left f o r me t o eat w i t h o u t worrying a b o u t my b a b y ? ” Do n o t worry. I t is n o t necessary t h a t you h a v e to s t o p eating a l l these f o o d s . Your b a b y could b e allergic t o a f e w foods o n the l i s t , or h e may n o t be a l l e r g i c to a n y of t h e m at a l l !

Tips For A v o i d i n g Foods W h e n Nursing

C o n s u l t your d o c t o r before a v o i d i n g any f o o d s while b r e a s t f e e d i n g , so t h a t it d o e s not c a u s e a n u t r i t i o n a l imbalance i n you.

Meanw h i l e , keep a close e y e on y o u r baby’s b e h a v i o r and h i s reactions t o specific f o o d s .

I f you f i n d symptoms l i k e diarrhea, r a s h e s , congestion s o o n after n u r s i n g , seek m e d i c a l advice b e f o r e avoiding a n y food.

W h e n you a r e sure t h a t something i n your d i e t is a f f e c t i n g your b a b y , avoid i t for a week a n d see i f there i s any d i f f e r e n c e .

A v o i d processed f o o d s containing p r e s e r v a t i v e s and a d d i t i v e s that a r e n ’ t good f o r your b a b y . Avoid f o o d s that a r e high i n trans a n d saturated f a t s to a v o i d obesity.

M a i n t a i n i n g a food d i a r y is a good i d e a . Keep a list o f the f o o d s you a r e eating a n d your b a b y ’ s behavior. T h i s practice m a k e s your j o b easy.

Y o u do n o t need a special d i e t while b r e a s t f e e d i n g . Focus o n making r i g h t nutrition c h o i c e s for t h e benefit o f you a n d your b a b y .

I f you s u s p e c t that s o m e food i s troubling y o u r baby, e l i m i n a t e it a n d seek m e d i c a l advice. I t can t a k e up t o 14 d a y s from t h e day o f elimination, f o r the f o o d to s t o p influencing t h e breast m i l k . So g i v e enough w a i t i n g time b e f o r e reintroducing i t !

D o e s your b a b y seem t o behave d i f f e r e n t l y after y o u eat c e r t a i n foods? D o e s he s u f f e r from a n y food-related a l l e r g i e s ? Tell u s about i t here. L e a v e a c o m m e n t below.

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