Which foods should mothers avoid while breastfeeding?

Which foods should mothers avoid while breastfeeding?

[mme_highlight] Caffeine, spices, alcohol, citrus fruit, mint and parsley, as well as the most common food causing allergy – peanut, dairy, wheat and eggs – should be avoided. If a mother has an allergic reaction, the suspected causative aliments must be suspended for 2 weeks and then introduced one at a time. [mme_highlight]

Breast milk is the food that is naturally adapted to the needs of an infant and has an absolute priority in the nutrition of infants. However, nursing mothers should pay particular attention to the fact that substances from food and liquids they intake can reach the baby’s body, through milk. Therefore some foods and substances should be avoided.

Which foods to avoid and why?

Caffeine can be found in coffee, cola drinks, tea and cocoa. Caffeine can reach the baby’s body through milk. Although a small percentage of caffeine (from 0.06 to 1% administered dose) has been found in breast milk, it is enough to cause a reaction in the baby. The baby eliminates caffeine slower than adults. Therefore, sleep disturbance, irritability and higher blood pressure may occur due to the presence of caffeine in the blood of a child.

Some groceries affect the taste and smell of milk (pepper, garlic, chili spices, sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.). These groceries should be avoided because your baby may refuse to suckle due to changes in smell and taste of milk. In addition, pepper, garlic, chili spices, broccoli and cauliflower could cause colic and irritability of baby.

Alcohol should be avoided, because it is excreted in breast milk. Less than 2 percent of the consumed amount gets into breast milk, but that amount is enough to damage the baby’s health. Impaired motor development, change in the sleep patterns and hypoglycemia may occur due to the presence of alcohol in the blood of a child. Besides this fat, alcohol also affects the lactation- 3 to 4 hours after alcohol intake, milk production is reduced for 20 percent. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a modest amount (one glass) of wine or beer is allowed.

Fishis high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, but some species of fish are particularly rich in mercury. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 25 % percent of the fish that people eat had mercury levels above the safety levels. Mercury causes the damage of nervous system and it is especially dangerous for babies, as they slowly excreted mercury.
Therefore, lactating women should avoid fish high in mercury such as king mackerel, hark, tilefish and swordfish. Fish that contains small amounts of mercury (canned light tuna, pollock fish, salmon etc.) can be eaten, but its consumption should be limited to one portion per week.

Citrus fruit contains acid, which can irritate the baby’s immature digestive tract. Therefore, the intake of citrus fruits should be limited, however, mothers should enrich the diet with other aliments containing vitamin C.

If the mother has got allergy to some food allergens, this allergy can also occur in 0.2-0.3% of children through breastfeeding. A history of food sensitivity, asthma and/or eczema in family members increases the chances for a baby to have allergies. If both parents have allergies, the baby has 80% chances of having it too; if only one parent has allergies, then the odds decrease to 30%. Allergic reactions can occur in the form of eczema, colic, fussiness, wheezing, constipation or diarrhea, etc. There are rare milk allergies that can be severe or fatal.

The most common allergies are allergies to peanut, dairy, soy, shellfish, wheat and eggs. Peanut allergy is very common in infants. One to three hours after ingestion of peanuts, peanut allergens are present in 50% of mothers in milk. Between 5 to 10 % of babies are allergic to dairy. The babies who are only breastfed have about 0.5 % chance to develop soy allergy. In addition, babies who are only breastfed have about 0.5% chance to develop milk allergy.

Mother should thus exclude food that can trigger allergic reactions in babies. If an allergic reaction affects the baby, all suspected foods should be excluded from mother’s diet for two weeks. After that period, the mother should eat the suspected ingredients each day one by one to carefully observe the baby’s reaction after breastfeeding. This is the easiest way to discover the allergens.

Some products, such as mint and parsley, reduce milk production. Therefore, they should be avoided or mother should reduce their intake to a minimum.

It should be noted that smoking and the use of drugs are very harmful for baby’s health. It was found that children of mothers who smoke suffer from infant respiratory illness more frequently and gain less weight. If a sick mother considers the use of drugs, she should consult a pediatrician or a doctor who supports her breastfeeding.

With the exception of the restrictions stated above, mothers can eat a normal and balanced diet. After the termination of breastfeeding, the mentioned restrictions can return to the diet.

General advice is that food should be safe, clean and well heat treated if necessary. It is also recommended to avoid foods that contain a lot of additives, preservatives, artificial colors and sweeteners. The point is to establish healthy eating habits that will allow both mother and baby to feel good.

Summary and Recommendations

  • Some substances, like caffeine, pepper and other spices and citrus fruit should be avoided, as they can pass through the mother’s milk and cause irritability or colic and, thus, should be avoided.
  • A breastfeeding mother should avoid alcohol at all cost, because it decreases the production of milk and, since it passes to the milk, alcohol can impair child development.
  • A family history of allergic reactions, particularly when these happened in parents, raises the probability for a baby to develop allergies.
  • The most common causes of allergy to food are: peanut, dairy, wheat and eggs.
  • If a mother has an allergic reaction, the suspected causative aliments must be suspended for 2 weeks and then introduced one at a time in an attempt to discover which one caused the allergy.

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