11 foods to avoid during breastfeeding

Experts recommend these food items to avoid during breastfeeding in order to raise a happy and healthy baby. Read on to know more

Breastfeeding mothers should eat healthy and exercise daily

You may have been fretting over what not to eat and drink during the past nine months. You may also have been consuming foods that you would generally avoid, just because your baby was craving for it. But now that you are nursing, you need to be more cautious.

There are some foods you most definitely should avoid during breastfeeding. Dr Swapna Misra, senior consultant, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, says, “Breastfeeding mothers should eat healthy and exercise daily. Eating healthy, however, does not mean eating something special. It means that you should include green vegetables, fresh fruits, soups, proteins and plenty of fluids in your diet.”

And what must you avoid? Take a look at the 11 foods you should avoid during breastfeeding.

Caffeine

We know you are craving for some coffee and tea, now that you're barely getting to sleep. But we're sorry! When you consume coffee, it directly reaches your breastmilk and induces acid reflux. Generally, a cup of coffee contains up to 135 mg of caffeine.

In addition, babies are not able to digest and excrete coffee just as easily as you. So if you want to have coffee, wait till you feed the baby.

Lovneet Batra, clinical nutritionist, Fortis La Femme, New Delhi says, “Avoid drinking more than two cups of caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee, aerated drinks a day. Caffeine in your breast milk might agitate your baby or interfere with your baby's sleep.”

Broccoli

You may have heard that broccoli and cauliflower are 'gassy vegetables.' Well, chances are you will learn that it's true when you breastfeed.

These vegetables work their way into your body and make the breastmilk difficult to digest for the baby. They could also be irritable and cranky after consumption of milk that may in itself be gassy. So try to avoid it or consume it in less quantity.

Citrus

You may have been advised to consume as many fruits as possible. But citrus may not be one of them. Certain compounds in citrus fruits can irritate the gastrointestinal tract due to their high acidic value. This extra acidic value also aggravates reflux and heartburn.

Corn

Babies can often be allergic to certain types of foods. One among them is corn. When you consume corn it gets into your breastmilk and may irritate the baby. Although it is a bit difficult to identify corn allergies in your baby at the beginning, if you are not sure, avoid its consumption till you're breastfeeding.

Dairy products

You may have heard that dairy products including yogurt, cheese and milk are good to consume during the nursing period. But it's common knowledge that babies are intolerant to cow's milk-based formula. So when you consume the same, the allergens of diary products enter your breastmilk.

This allergic reaction to allergens of dairy products cause colic and vomiting in babies.

Eggs

Eggs are a good source of proteins but egg whites can cause irritability in young babies. Since egg content is found in many food products including cakes and ice creams it may be difficult to figure out the source of your baby's allergy.

If your baby reacts to your milk after you consume eggs, try to eliminate it from your diet all together.

Fish

Doctors often advise us to consume fish for its protein-rich quality. But be careful while consuming it during breastfeeding.

Fish has mercury that runs down to the breastmilk. Mercury affects attention, cognitive thinking, fine motor skills, memory, language and visual skills.

"Seafood can be a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Most seafood contains mercury or other contaminants, however. Exposure to excessive amounts of mercury through breast milk can pose a risk to a baby's developing nervous system," says Batra.

Garlic

Garlic is associated with many health benefits. But if your breastfed baby does gets irritable after you consume garlic, it's perhaps because it's also quite gassy in nature.

The baby may also reject your milk after you consume garlic as it can alter the taste of the breastmilk after two hours of its consumption.

Soy beans

If your baby is showing signs of irritability after you consume dairy products, chances are they might avoid breastmilk if you consumed soy beans.

Check the quality of soy you are consuming and avoid, if you think your baby is rejecting your milk.

Chocolates

If you have a sweet tooth and are more likely to pick up a chocolate bar at the grocery shop, tread with caution. Just like coffee and soda, chocolates also contain caffeine.

Remember that 28 gm serving of dark chocolate contains between 5 and 35 mg of caffeine. Batra says, "Chocolate is a source of caffeine and has a laxative effect on baby." So if you feel that your consuming chocolates is causing problems for your breastfed baby, avoid it.

Alcohol

Your doctors, friends and even mid-wives would advise you to avoid alcohol during pregnancy and even after that during breastfeeding. Alcohol is known to irritate the stomach and esophagus and cause heartburn.

According to experts alcohol consumption including one glass of wine per day may not be as bad, but they agree that it is not the best dinner item to consume.

If you are breastfeeding your child, try to avoid these food items for a healthy growth of your baby.

Batra says, “Consumption of any level of alcohol is not safe for the baby. If you do drink, avoid breast-feeding until the alcohol has completely cleared your breast milk. This typically takes two to three hours for 12 ounces (355 milliliters) of 5 percent beer, 5 ounces (148 milliliters) of 11 percent wine or 1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of 40 percent liquor, depending on your body weight. Pumping and dumping doesn't speed the elimination of alcohol from your body.”

Deepshikha Punj

HealthBaby