HOME

BOOKMARK

NEWSLETTER

Join our newsletter to receive news of offers and discounts

Search

AS FEATURED IN...


Lucy Siegle On Eithical Living: Sunday March 5, 2006 The Observer

Weight Watchers®.co.uk. Now with an online plan.

Navigation


Parening Books

Search Now:
Amazon Logo


What Foods Should I Avoid While Breastfeeding?


Women in our culture are sometimes advised to avoid spicy or "gassy" foods when nursing. Or they are told that chocolate, citrus, carbonated beverages or dairy causes problems in all nursing babies.

As a breastfeeding educator, I often see women warning other Moms that they need to avoid certain foods while breastfeeding. There are also websites that give unproven breastfeeding advice that claim that women must eat a certain kind of diet in order to make quality milk for her baby. So what is the truth?

Does a nursing Mom need to restrict her diet? Are there foods that a Mom should avoid while breastfeeding?

Generally speaking, a nursing Mom does NOT need to restrict her diet.

Obviously, drinking heavily or excessive caffeine consumption (meaning several cups of coffee a day) is a no-no, but other than that, there is no reason for a breastfeeding Mother to assume that she needs to avoid any foods.

So called "gassy" foods do not affect the nursing infant because the undigested carbs that cause gas in Mom do not pass into breastmilk. It is literally impossible for "gassy" foods to cause gas in babies except in the rare case of an infant being allergic to one of these foods.

Interestingly, according to the La Leche League (considered the world's foremost authority on breastfeeding) website, "In Italy, mothers are often told not to eat garlic, cauliflower, lentils, and red peppers. In India most mothers eat all these things and breastfeed very happily. Actually, in parts of India they believe that garlic helps a mother to breastfeed successfully!"

There are even a couple of studies that showed that babies nursed longer and with more vigor when their Moms ate garlic.

The advice given to a nursing Mom varies according to local culture and the popular "old wive's tales". Women all over the world eating a wide variety of foods produce good quality milk and have thriving babies. There is not a shred of evidence that supports the idea that eating a special diet helps make breastmilk "richer".

Consequently, there is no one food that all breastfeeding Moms should avoid. Breastfeeding women should eat a variety of healthy foods, just as they did while they were pregnant.

The only exception would be if your baby has food allergies/sensitivies, which is rare but not unheard of. If your family has a strong history of allergy to a specific food (such as peanuts), you might consider avoiding that food while nursing and during pregnancy.

Enjoy nursing your baby!

Carrie Lauth publishes a free newsletter for Moms who do things the natural way. Get your copy plus free subscriber goodies at http://www.natural-moms.com


MORE RESOURCES:

MTV UK

Twin babies for Lisa Marie Presley
The Press Association - 10 minutes ago
One baby weighed 5lb 15oz (2.7kg) and the other 5lb 2oz (2.3kg). A statement said Presley gave birth by Caesarean section. The singer lives in the Los ...
Lisa Marie Presley welcomes twin babies RTE.ie
Latest Presley hit: twin girls Chicago Sun-Times
Rep Releases More Details of Lisa Marie Presley's Newborn Twins AceShowbiz
Associated Content - ITN
all 726 news articles


Lack of Insurance Raises Abused Babies' Death Risk
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 2 hours ago
In addition, abused infants from poor families are 3.5 to almost seven times more likely to die compared with babies from affluent families, according to ...
Blood test to find infections in babies The Canberra Times
all 7 news articles


TheMedGuru

Babies 'boost' mothers' intelligence
Hindu, India - 4 hours ago
London (PTI): Babies not only bring happiness in family but they also boost the intelligence level of their mothers, a new study has claimed. ...
Babies aid mothers' brains The Sun
all 17 news articles


2 abandoned babies found, one stillborn
Times of India, India - 9 hours ago
A baby boy yet to open his eyes was left abandoned in Puttenahalli, while another stillborn baby was found near a drain in front of the KIMS Hospital on ...


LifeNews.com

Palin Attacks Obama’s ‘Appalling’ Refusal to Defend Babies Who ...
CNSNews.com, VA - 5 hours ago
Patrick O’Malley proposed three bills in the Illinois Senate to protect babies who survived abortions. O’Malley’s legislation was inspired by nurse Jill ...
How Valid is Palin's Abortion Attack on Obama? TIME
Debate in Obama's past Washington Times
Analysis Shows Mainstream Media Silent on Barack Obama's Pro ... LifeNews.com
ProLife Blogs - WISC
all 11 news articles


2 babies die in separate blunt-force traumahomicides
Memphis Commercial Appeal, TN - 10 hours ago
A forensic exam revealed that this baby also died as a result of blunt-force trauma. "We are talking to some people on the baby girl that was at Le Bonheur ...


Breast pumps, baby monitors reported stolen from Babies R Us store ...
TCPalm, FL - 19 hours ago
LUCIE — Police charged two Coral Springs men with grand theft Saturday for stealing breast pumps and baby monitors from the Babies R Us store in The Landing ...
Two charged with stealing baby monitors, breast pumps, at Babies ... Sun-Sentinel.com
all 4 news articles


ABC News

3 Ways to Make Sure Kids Get Their Vitamin D
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 2 hours ago
The docs were concerned that many children, particularly young babies, aren't getting enough Vitamin D, which is essential for absorbing calcium from food ...
Vitamin D levels are too low in kids %%head%%Vitamin D levels too ... The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com
New recommendations for doubling children's Vitamin D doses Examiner.com
Vitamin D: New Guidelines for Children WebMD
eFluxMedia - ABC News
all 457 news articles


Two Babies Killed in Memphis This Weekend
Eyewitness News Memphis,  USA - 12 hours ago
Two babies killed in Memphis - within fifteen minutes of one another. Police have taken one person into custody in the death of a 13 month-old boy. ...
Homicide Investigators are investigaing two overnight homicides MyFox Memphis
MPD investigates 2 suspicious child deaths Eyewitness News Memphis
all 3 news articles


Son's birth helped me heal after losing two babies
Glasgow Daily Record, UK - 6 hours ago
WHEN mum Hayley Groden lost two babies in quick succession, she thought she would never recover. Baby Noah died when Hayley suffered a rare and dangerous ...

babies - Google News