What to eat when breastfeeding a gassy baby?

Understanding Gassiness in Breastfed Babies
Breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial way to nourish your baby, but it can sometimes lead to concerns about gassiness. Many new mothers find themselves puzzled when their little ones seem fussy or uncomfortable, often attributing this to their own diet. Understanding what to eat—and what to avoid—can help alleviate some of these concerns.
The Role of Maternal Diet
A mother’s diet can indeed influence her baby’s digestive comfort. Certain foods consumed while breastfeeding may contribute to gassiness in infants. Common culprits include dairy products, soy, and wheat. These foods can lead to increased gas production in some babies, making them fussy and uncomfortable. Keeping a food journal can be a helpful strategy for mothers to identify any specific foods that may be causing issues. By tracking what you eat and your baby’s reactions, you can pinpoint potential triggers more effectively.
Recommended Foods for Breastfeeding Mothers
While it’s important to be mindful of certain foods, a well-balanced diet is crucial for both mother and baby. Focus on incorporating fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins into your meals. This variety not only supports your health but also exposes your baby to different flavors through breast milk, which can be beneficial for their development.
Foods to Avoid
If you notice that your baby is particularly gassy, consider reducing or eliminating the following from your diet:
– Dairy Products: Milk, cheese, and yogurt can be problematic for some babies.
– Soy Products: Tofu and soy milk may also contribute to gas.
– Wheat and Gluten: These can be difficult for some infants to digest.
– Cruciferous Vegetables: Foods like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are known for their gas-producing properties.
– Legumes: Beans and lentils can also lead to increased gas production.
Other Considerations
It’s essential to remember that gassiness is a common issue among infants and can occur regardless of maternal diet. Babies naturally swallow air while feeding, which can lead to gas. Even if a mother adopts a restrictive diet, it may not necessarily resolve the issue. Therefore, while adjusting your diet can help, it’s also important to manage expectations and understand that some level of gassiness is normal.
Conclusion
Navigating the dietary needs of a breastfeeding mother with a gassy baby can be challenging. By focusing on a balanced diet while being mindful of potential gas-inducing foods, mothers can help create a more comfortable feeding experience for their little ones. If concerns persist, consulting with a pediatrician or a lactation consultant can provide additional guidance tailored to your specific situation.

What should I eat to avoid gas in my baby?

Eat differently
If you’re breastfeeding, and your baby seems particularly fussy when you eat a certain food, you may want to try to reduce the amount of gassy foods you’re eating. This often includes dairy products and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli.

What can I take 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.

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.)

Is my breastmilk making my baby gassy?

Common causes of gas discomfort in breastfed babies:
Strong let-down or oversupply, causing baby to gulp quickly and swallow air. Constipation. Immature digestive tract is still learning to process breastmilk, gas, and stool effectively. Sensitivity or allergy to a food in mom’s diet.

What foods cause gas in babies while breastfeeding?

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.

How do I reduce gas in my breast milk?

Relieving Gassy Babies

1. Burp twice. Try to coax two burps out of your baby instead of just one.
2. Sit upright. Hold your baby in an upright position while burping.
3. Tummy time. Laying your baby on their tummy will help to push gas out.
4. Bicycle exercises.
5. Massage the tummy.
6. Adjust baby’s latch.

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.

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 foods should breastfeeding moms eat to prevent colic?

Include protein foods 2-3 times per day such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, nuts and seeds. Eat three servings of vegetables, including dark green and yellow vegetables per day. Eat two servings of fruit per day. Include whole grains such as whole wheat breads, pasta, cereal and oatmeal in your daily diet.

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.