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What foods to avoid while breastfeeding for 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. Many new mothers find themselves wondering about the impact of their diet on their infant’s comfort. Certain foods consumed by breastfeeding mothers can contribute to gas in their babies, leading to fussiness and discomfort.
Foods to Avoid for Reducing Gas
To help alleviate gas in breastfed babies, mothers may want to consider avoiding specific foods known to cause digestive issues. Here are some common culprits:
– Cruciferous Vegetables: Foods like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are notorious for causing gas. These vegetables contain complex carbohydrates that can be difficult for some babies to digest, leading to increased gas production.
– Legumes: Beans and lentils are also significant contributors to gas. While they are excellent sources of protein and fiber, they can lead to bloating and gas in both mothers and their babies.
– Dairy Products: Some babies may be sensitive to lactose, the sugar found in milk. If a mother consumes milk, cheese, or yogurt, it could lead to gassiness in her baby. If you notice your baby is particularly fussy after you consume dairy, it might be worth eliminating these foods from your diet.
– Spicy Foods: While many cultures incorporate spices into their diets, spicy foods can sometimes irritate a baby’s digestive system. If you enjoy spicy dishes, consider moderating your intake while breastfeeding.
– Carbonated Beverages: Drinks like soda or sparkling water can introduce gas into your system, which may be passed on to your baby through breast milk. It’s advisable to limit these beverages to reduce the likelihood of gas.
– Citrus Fruits: While healthy, citrus fruits can sometimes cause digestive upset in babies. If you notice signs of discomfort after consuming oranges, lemons, or grapefruits, it may be beneficial to cut back.
– Allergenic Foods: Foods such as eggs, wheat, fish, peanuts, and tree nuts can potentially cause allergic reactions in some infants. While not all babies will react, if there is a family history of allergies, it might be wise to avoid these foods.
Monitoring and Adjusting Your Diet
It’s essential for breastfeeding mothers to pay attention to their diet and their baby’s reactions. If your baby seems gassy or colicky, consider eliminating these foods for a few weeks to see if symptoms improve. Each baby is unique, and what affects one may not affect another. Keeping a food diary can help track what you eat and how your baby responds, making it easier to identify potential triggers.
Conclusion
Navigating the world of breastfeeding can be complex, especially when it comes to diet. By being mindful of the foods you consume, you can help ensure a more comfortable experience for your baby. If gas continues to be a concern, consulting with a healthcare professional can provide personalized guidance and support.

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.

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.)

Does cutting out dairy help a gassy baby?

Dairy Or Milk Products
The intake of certain milk or soy proteins can potentially cause gas in breastfed infants. However, if you discover that dairy is the culprit for your little one’s gassiness, they may just have a dairy allergy.

What is best for gas while breastfeeding?

Medicines to treat gas and bloating, such as Gas-X, Maalox, Mylanta, and others, are safe to take while breastfeeding. They contain simethicone, which is sometimes given to infants. It is also not absorbed into the mother’s system, so wouldn’t be transmitted in breast milk.

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.

Do eggs cause gas in breastfed babies?

Other potentially allergenic foods – including eggs, wheat, peanuts, soy, fish, and tree nuts – might cause gas and other symptoms. However, the few studies that have been done have come to conflicting conclusions. There’s no guarantee that eliminating these foods from your diet will help with your baby’s gas.

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.

What can I drink to lose belly fat while breastfeeding?

1) Drink At Least 8 Cups Of Water Every Day
And it’s especially important for breastfeeding moms. Water helps your body naturally shed unwanted pounds because water: Contributes to regular body functions, like circulation, digestion, regulation of body temperature, transportation of nutrients, and milk production.

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 cause gassy baby breastfed?

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.
Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

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