What foods to avoid when breastfeeding a baby with gas?

Understanding Gas in Breastfed Babies
Breastfeeding is a beautiful journey, but it can come with its challenges, one of which is dealing with a gassy baby. Gas can cause discomfort for infants, leading to fussiness and crying. As a breastfeeding mother, it’s essential to be mindful of your diet, as certain foods can contribute to your baby’s gas issues.
Foods to Avoid
1. Cruciferous Vegetables: Foods like broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts are known for their gas-producing properties. These vegetables contain complex carbohydrates that can be difficult for both mothers and babies to digest. If your baby seems particularly gassy or colicky, it may be beneficial to eliminate these from your diet for a few weeks to see if symptoms improve.
2. Legumes: Beans and lentils are another common culprit. They are high in fiber and can lead to increased gas production. While they are nutritious, if your baby is experiencing discomfort, consider reducing your intake.
3. Dairy Products: Some babies may be sensitive to lactose, the sugar found in milk. If you consume a lot of dairy, it might be worth trying a dairy-free diet temporarily to see if it alleviates your baby’s gas.
4. Spicy Foods: Spices can sometimes irritate a baby’s digestive system. If you enjoy spicy cuisine, consider moderating your intake while breastfeeding to see if it makes a difference.
5. Carbonated Beverages: Drinks like soda and sparkling water can introduce gas into your system, which may then be passed to your baby through breast milk. Avoiding these beverages can help reduce gas.
6. Allergenic Foods: Certain allergenic foods, such as eggs, wheat, fish, and nuts, may also cause reactions in sensitive babies. While evidence is limited, if you suspect a food allergy, it might be wise to eliminate these foods from your diet and monitor your baby’s reactions.
7. Citrus Fruits: While healthy, citrus fruits can sometimes lead to digestive upset in babies. If you notice increased gassiness after consuming these fruits, consider cutting back.
Monitoring and Adjusting Your Diet
It’s important to remember that every baby is different. What causes gas in one infant may not affect another. Keeping a food diary can be a helpful strategy. By tracking what you eat and your baby’s reactions, you can identify patterns and make informed dietary adjustments.
If your baby continues to experience gas despite dietary changes, consulting with a pediatrician or a lactation consultant can provide additional insights and support. They can help determine if there are other underlying issues contributing to your baby’s discomfort.
Conclusion
Navigating the world of breastfeeding can be complex, especially when it comes to your diet and its effects on your baby. By being mindful of certain foods that may contribute to gas, you can help create a more comfortable experience for both you and your little one. Remember, patience and observation are key as you find the right balance in your breastfeeding journey.

What causes extreme gas in breastfed babies?

For breastfed babies, gas might be caused by eating too fast, swallowing too much air or digesting certain foods. Babies have immature GI systems and can frequently experience gas because of this. Pains from gas can make your baby fussy, but intestinal gas is not harmful.

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.

How do I know if my breastmilk is upsetting my baby’s stomach?

If symptoms occur such as fussiness, irritability, crying, gas, increased spitting up and/or drawing their legs up due to tummy pain, write down everything you ate that day. This lets you carefully look at your diet instead of getting rid of foods that may not be the cause of your baby’s distress.

Which fruit is not good for feeding a mother?

Strawberries. Kiwifruit. Pineapple. The gassy veggies like onion, cabbage, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, and peppers.

What should a mother eat when a baby has gas?

Some babies also may become fussy with the consumption of gas-producing foods (broccoli, cabbage, beans, etc.). If you notice this you may want to substitute other vegetables and lean proteins into your diet. Some foods may cause an allergy in an infant also, although this area needs additional research.

What foods cause colic in babies?

Some studies have found that particular foods eaten by the motherincluding cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, chocolate, onions and cow’s milkcan cause an attack of colic in her breastfed infant.

How do I reduce gas in my breast milk?

Burp your baby during and after a feeding
Take a break between sides or even during a feed to get a burp or two out. You may choose to burp your baby while they are in a seated position, with their head supported by the cradle of your hand.

Why avoid strawberries while breastfeeding?

A quart or more of orange juice or a diet heavy in seasonal fruits such as strawberries, melons or cherries have been associated with diarrhea and colicky symptoms in some infants. Foods containing many preservatives, additives or dyes have been associated with signs of discomfort in some babies.

What foods decrease milk supply?

Top 5 food / drinks to avoid if you have a low milk supply:

• Carbonated beverages.
• Caffeine – coffee, black tea, green tea, etc.
• Excess Vitamin C & Vitamin B –supplements or drinks with excessive vitamin C Or B (Vitamin Water, Powerade, oranges/orange juice and citrus fruits/juice.)

What foods make breastfed babies gassy?

Foods That Make Breastfed Babies Gassy

• Fiber. Foods like bran, beans, and whole grains.
• Fruit. Citrus fruits, prunes, plums, peaches, or apricots.
• Vegetables. Broccoli, cabbage, and Brussel sprouts.
• Garlic. Garlic-seasoned foods like pasta dishes or garlic bread.
• Dairy.
• Carbonated beverages.