What should breastfeeding mums not eat?

Understanding Dietary Restrictions for Breastfeeding Mothers
Breastfeeding is a crucial period for both mothers and their infants, and maintaining a healthy diet is essential. While there are no strict rules about what breastfeeding mothers must avoid, certain foods and substances can impact both the quality of breast milk and the health of the baby. Here’s a detailed look at what breastfeeding mothers should consider avoiding or limiting in their diets.
Foods to Avoid
1. High-Mercury Fish:
Certain types of fish are known to contain high levels of mercury, which can be harmful to a developing baby. Breastfeeding mothers should limit their intake of fish such as shark, swordfish, tilefish, bigeye tuna, and king mackerel. The recommendation is to consume no more than one portion of these fish per week to minimize mercury exposure .
2. Caffeine:
While moderate caffeine consumption is generally considered safe, excessive intake can lead to irritability and sleep disturbances in infants. It’s advisable for breastfeeding mothers to limit their caffeine intake to about 300 mg per day, which is roughly equivalent to two to three cups of coffee.
3. Alcohol:
Alcohol can pass into breast milk, and while moderate consumption may be acceptable, it’s best to limit intake. If a mother chooses to drink, waiting at least two hours after consuming alcohol before breastfeeding can help reduce the amount in breast milk.
4. Processed Foods:
Highly processed foods often contain additives, preservatives, and unhealthy fats that may not be beneficial for either the mother or the baby. These foods can also lead to poor nutritional choices, so it’s wise to focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods instead.
5. Certain Herbal Supplements:
Some herbal supplements can affect milk supply or may not be safe for infants. It’s important for breastfeeding mothers to consult with healthcare providers before taking any herbal products.
Foods to Limit
1. Spicy Foods:
While not harmful in moderation, some babies may react to spicy foods consumed by their mothers, leading to fussiness or digestive issues. If a mother notices such reactions, it may be wise to limit spicy dishes.
2. Allergenic Foods:
Though recent studies suggest that most breastfeeding mothers can consume allergenic foods without issue, some may choose to limit foods like peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, and eggs if there is a family history of allergies. Monitoring the baby’s reactions can help guide dietary choices.
Conclusion
In summary, while breastfeeding mothers do not need to adhere to a strict diet, being mindful of certain foods can enhance the breastfeeding experience and promote the health of both mother and baby. By avoiding high-mercury fish, limiting caffeine and alcohol, steering clear of processed foods, and being cautious with herbal supplements, mothers can ensure they are providing the best nutrition possible through their breast milk. Ultimately, a balanced diet rich in whole foods will support both the mother’s health and her baby’s development.

What foods should I avoid while breastfeeding a baby gassy?

If you notice that each time you eat something your baby becomes fussy, try avoiding the food for a while and see what happens. 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.

What are the top foods that bother breastfed babies?

Now, in certain uncommon situations, babies can have a reaction to something in the breastfeeding parent’s diet. The top three culprits are dairy, soy, and wheat. But we don’t see too many babies reacting to foods like broccoli, cabbage, etc.

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 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.

Which fruits should I avoid while breastfeeding?

You may have heard that it helps to avoid certain foods while breastfeeding – such as citrus fruits, orange juice, spices (cinnamon, curry, chili pepper), spicy food, and “gassy” veggies (cabbage, onion, broccoli, cauliflower) – but there’s no convincing scientific evidence to support that advice.

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.

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 foods decrease breast milk?

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 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 should a breastfeeding mother not do?

What foods and drinks should I limit or avoid while breastfeeding?

• Alcohol. There’s no level of alcohol in breast milk that’s considered safe for a baby.
• Caffeine. Avoid drinking more than 2 to 3 cups (16 to 24 ounces) of caffeinated drinks a day.
• Fish. Seafood can be a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.