Foods to Avoid When Breast-Feeding

While some nursing mothers find they can eat just about whatever they want while they're breast-feeding, others find that certain foods seem to change the taste of the breast milk for the nursing baby. This usually occurs when the mother has eaten foods with a stronger taste. Some babies enjoy a variety of breast milk tastes, whereas others tend to only like a particular taste. There are certain foods and drinks that breast-feeding mothers have to avoid.

Looking for a Pattern

What foods you avoid are really dependent on you and your baby. The first step for new nursing moms is to look for a pattern. If the mother notices that her baby becomes gassy and fussy, she should pay attention to the foods she's eaten. This is where a food log will come in handy. New mothers may find a food log to be difficult with a new baby, but in order to get to the bottom of what may be causing the baby distress, it may be vital. For mothers who are able to decipher exactly which food is giving the baby gas, the food should be avoided for a few days to make sure that it is the actual food causing the discomfort.

Common Foods to Avoid

It is common for particular foods to affect the baby negatively. Breast-feeding mothers often report that chocolate, spices (such as cinnamon, garlic, chili and curry powder), citrus fruits and juices (such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit), kiwi fruit, strawberries, pineapple, "gassy" vegetables (such as onion, cabbage, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers and peppers) and cherries and prunes have a negative effect on the baby.

A common misconception is that all caffeine must be avoided. One or two cups of coffee are okay while breast-feeding. It's important to remember that whatever the mother puts into her body also goes into the baby and caffeine is a stimulant, so too much of it may be disruptive to the baby's sleep. Sodas, teas and over-the-counter medicines may also disrupt the baby's sleep.

Most women avoid drinking alcoholic beverages all together while breast-feeding. There are some people who claim that an occasional drink is okay. Overall, most would advise against it, just to be on the safe side. Alcohol is not considered to be healthy for babies and children or anyone, in general, so even a small amount of alcohol could affect the baby negatively.

If a breast-feeding mother has more than one alcoholic beverage, the level of alcohol will increase enough in her system to get into the breast milk. This is not a good thing for the baby.

Food Allergies and the Baby

Allergy symptoms include fussiness, congestion and diarrhea. If these symptoms occur, it may be because of something the baby comes into contact with on a regular basis. It could be foods the mother eats or later on, it could be foods that the baby eats on his own. Common foods that cause allergies include nuts, cow's milk (and products), soy, wheat, egg, corn and corn syrup. Do not take foods away from the baby's diet without first consulting the child's doctor. Sometimes children often come into contact with soap or mildew, which they can also have an allergic reaction to, so it's not always something that's being eaten.

The reason it's important not to just take something away from the baby's diet is because she needs to eat a well-balanced diet and omitting something from the diet may mean having to add something in to take its place. A nutritionist can be helpful when eliminating and adding foods in for a well-balanced diet.