What dairy to cut out from breastfeeding?

Understanding Dairy Elimination While Breastfeeding
For many breastfeeding mothers, the question of whether to cut dairy from their diet can arise, particularly if their baby shows signs of dairy intolerance or allergy. This decision is often influenced by the baby’s reactions to certain foods consumed by the mother, leading to concerns about fussiness, digestive issues, or skin reactions.
Why Consider Cutting Out Dairy?
Dairy intolerance in infants can manifest in various ways, including excessive crying, gas, diarrhea, or skin rashes. If a mother suspects that her baby is reacting negatively to dairy, it may be beneficial to eliminate dairy products from her diet. This is particularly relevant for babies who are diagnosed with conditions like Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI), where both dairy and soy may need to be avoided.
Types of Dairy to Eliminate
When considering a dairy-free diet while breastfeeding, it is essential to understand which dairy products to cut out. The primary sources of dairy include:
– Milk: This includes whole, low-fat, and skim milk.
– Cheese: All types of cheese, including soft cheeses like cream cheese and hard cheeses like cheddar.
– Yogurt: Regular and Greek yogurts, which are often considered healthy options, should also be avoided.
– Cream and Butter: These are common in many recipes and should be eliminated as well.
– Lactose-Free Products: Even lactose-free milk and yogurt can still contain proteins that may trigger a reaction in sensitive infants.
Transitioning to a Dairy-Free Diet
Transitioning to a dairy-free diet can be challenging, but there are strategies to make it easier. Mothers are encouraged to explore alternatives such as:
– Plant-Based Milks: Options like almond, oat, or coconut milk can serve as substitutes.
– Dairy-Free Yogurts: Many brands offer yogurt made from almond, coconut, or soy.
– Nutritional Yeast: This can provide a cheesy flavor in dishes without the dairy.
It’s crucial for breastfeeding mothers to ensure they are still receiving adequate nutrition, particularly calcium and vitamin D, which are abundant in dairy products. Supplements or fortified alternatives can help meet these nutritional needs.
Monitoring Baby’s Response
After eliminating dairy, mothers should closely monitor their baby’s behavior and symptoms. Improvements in fussiness or digestive issues may indicate that dairy was indeed a contributing factor. However, it is also important to consult with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian to ensure that the dietary changes are appropriate and that both mother and baby are receiving the necessary nutrients.
Conclusion
Cutting out dairy while breastfeeding can be a significant adjustment, but for many mothers, it is a necessary step to ensure their baby’s comfort and health. By understanding which dairy products to eliminate and exploring suitable alternatives, mothers can navigate this dietary change effectively. Always remember to seek professional guidance to support both maternal and infant health during this transition.

What foods make breastfed babies gassy?

Many mothers have reported foods such as kale, spinach, beans, onions, garlic, peppers or spicy foods cause infant gas, while many babies tolerate these foods just fine.

Which dairy products increase breast milk?

Paneer: Cheese and paneer help to increase breast milk. For Vegetarians, consumption of a minimum of 100 grams of cottage cheese or paneer is advised. Both are rich sources of protein and are beneficial for a nursing mother.

Do I have to cut out all dairy while breastfeeding?

Occasionally, breast fed babies can react to milk proteins transferred in breast milk from the mother’s diet. If your baby reacts to cow’s milk proteins in your breast milk, you will be advised to avoid milk (dairy) whilst breastfeeding.

Why avoid cinnamon while breastfeeding?

Coumarin, an ingredient in some cinnamon products, can cause liver problems, but the amount you’d get is so small that it probably won’t be a problem. Given the lack of evidence about its safety, children, pregnant women, and women who are breastfeeding should avoid cinnamon as a treatment.

How to flush dairy out of your system while breastfeeding?

Take out all cow’s milk products, soy and eggs from your diet. Wait 2-4 weeks to see if baby improves. The food will clear from your milk in a few days, but baby’s gut may take longer to heal. If baby improves, introduce one new type of food at a time, generally the one that you miss the most!

How do you know if you should go dairy free while breastfeeding?

If your baby is showing signs of a dairy allergy or a milk protein intolerance, your doctor may recommend that you follow a dairy-free diet as you continue breastfeeding. As you remove dairy products from your diet, remember that it can take 10 to 20 days to eliminate cow’s milk protein from your system.

What should a breastfeeding mother avoid eating?

Caffeine. It’s not just tea and coffee that contains caffeine – it’s in chocolate, and various energy drinks and soft drinks. It’s sensible to cut caffeine out while breastfeeding because it’s a stimulant so can make your baby restless. If you do drink caffeine, try not to have more than 300mg a day.

Are eggs considered dairy?

Eggs are not dairy products. While eggs and dairy both provide protein, dairy products come from the milk of mammals, like cows, whereas eggs come from birds, including hens and ducks.

What does baby poop look like with a milk allergy?

Green, bloody, or mucus-tinged stool—along with some other issues—could indicate a milk allergy. If you suspect your baby has a cow’s milk protein allergy, keep an eye out for these common issues that may occur shortly after feeding: wheezing, coughing, swelling, a rash, gas, crying, and unusual poops.

What dairy products should I avoid while breastfeeding?

You will need to avoid cow’s milk, soya milk and any products that contain these such as dairy and soya cheese/yogurts/custards/deserts (see Table below).