What is not safe to do while breastfeeding?

Understanding Safety While Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a crucial period for both mothers and their infants, as it provides essential nutrients and fosters a strong bond. However, certain practices and substances can pose risks during this time. Here’s a detailed look at what is not safe to do while breastfeeding.
Dietary Considerations
Avoiding Certain Foods
While breastfeeding, mothers should be mindful of their diet. Certain foods can affect the quality of breast milk and potentially cause adverse reactions in infants. For instance, fish high in mercury, such as shark, swordfish, and bigeye tuna, should be avoided due to the risk of mercury poisoning in babies. Additionally, while some spicy foods may not be harmful, they can lead to digestive discomfort for some infants, so moderation is key.
Caffeine and Alcohol
Caffeine consumption should also be limited. High levels of caffeine can lead to irritability and sleep disturbances in infants. The general recommendation is to keep caffeine intake to about 300 mg per day, which is roughly equivalent to two to three cups of coffee. Alcohol is another substance that breastfeeding mothers should approach with caution. While occasional consumption may be acceptable, it’s advised to wait at least two hours after drinking before breastfeeding to minimize the alcohol content in breast milk.
Medication Awareness
Consulting Healthcare Providers
Mothers should be cautious about the medications they take while breastfeeding. Some medications can pass into breast milk and affect the baby. It’s essential to consult healthcare providers to determine which medications are safe. Over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements, and even some prescription medications may not be suitable during this period.
Lifestyle Choices
Smoking and Secondhand Smoke
Smoking is another significant concern. Nicotine and other harmful substances from cigarettes can transfer to breast milk, potentially harming the infant’s health. Moreover, exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of respiratory issues and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Stress and Mental Health
Mental health is equally important. High levels of stress can affect milk production and quality. Mothers should seek support if they are experiencing postpartum depression or anxiety, as these conditions can impact both their well-being and their ability to breastfeed effectively.
Conclusion
In summary, while breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial process, it comes with specific considerations that mothers must heed to ensure the safety and health of their infants. By avoiding certain foods, being cautious with medications, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, mothers can provide the best possible start for their babies during this critical time.

What negatively affects breast milk?

A woman’s lifestyle may affect her breast milk, and have an impact on the baby. During breastfeeding, it is important for a woman not to consume alcohol, smoke, or take drugs. These substances are known to pass through the breast milk.

What should you not do while breastfeeding?

If you do drink alcohol, don’t have more than two drinks a week. Wait at least 2 hours after each drink before you breastfeed. You also can pass street drugs, like heroin and cocaine, to your baby through breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you need help to quit using street drugs.

What is not recommended for breastfeeding?

The only true contraindications to breastfeeding are the following: Infants with classic galactosemia (galactose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase deficiency) Mothers, in the US, who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), untreated brucellosis, or suspected or confirmed Ebola virus disease.

Why can’t you eat chocolate while breastfeeding?

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.

What is the 5 rule for breastfeeding?

Updated recommendations for storing breast milk
The Centers for Disease Control recently updated their recommendations on breast milk storage. Previously, many people followed the 5-5-5 rule: storing breast milk for five hours at room temperature, five days in the refrigerator, and five months in the freezer.

What can affect baby while breastfeeding?

Foods like beans, broccoli, cauliflower, or some dairy products can cause fussiness, gassiness, or colicky behavior in some babies. Foods like cow’s milk, soy, wheat, corn, oats, eggs, nuts and peanuts, and fish or shellfish are common allergy-causing foods.

What are 5 cons of breastfeeding?

• There can be discomfort involved with breastfeeding.
• You may leak milk at times that are inconvenient or embarrassing.
• Feeding your baby in public may be more difficult.
• Everything you consume is being passed on to your baby.
• You need special clothing and bras for breastfeeding.

What can babies react to in breast milk?

It’s always possible that Baby is allergic—or sensitive—to foods like soy, citrus, eggs, nuts, or caffeine, but cow’s milk in Mom’s diet is most often the allergy culprit. But unlike allergic reactions in big kids and adults (runny nose or sneezing), allergic reactions in infants surface differently.

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 are the don’ts of breastfeeding?

Don’ts

• Don’t give up on breastfeeding your newborn no matter how hard you find it.
• Do not ignore your pain if you are experiencing sore nipples.
• Don’t eat any painkillers or medicine unless your doctor prescribes it.
• Don’t start breastfeeding when you are feeling angry or depressed.