Food to avoid while breastfeeding
Some women find they can eat whatever they like while breastfeeding. While it’s true that some strongly flavored foods may change the taste of your milk, most babies seem to enjoy a variety of breast milk flavors! But occasionally your baby may be fussy at the breast after you eat a particular food. If you notice a pattern, simply avoid that food.
The most common offenders include chocolate; spices (cinnamon, garlic, curry, chili pepper); citrus fruits and their juices, like orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit (also including strawberry, kiwi, and pineapple); the gassy veggies (onion, cabbage, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, and peppers); and fruits with a laxative effect, such as cherries and prunes.
A daily cup of coffee or two is fine, but too much caffeine can interfere with your baby’s sleep or make him fussy.
Remember that caffeine is also found in some sodas, teas, and over-the-counter medicines.
It's also okay to have an occasional alcoholic drink. But having more than one drink increases your blood alcohol level so that the alcohol will get into your breast milk. If you plan on having more than one drink at a time, wait two hours per drink before resuming nursing. There's no need to "pump and dump" unless your breasts are full and it's still not time to feed your baby. Moderate or heavy drinking is definitely not recommended while breastfeeding.
If your baby has allergy symptoms (such as eczema, fussiness, congestion, or diarrhea), they may be caused by something he's in regular contact with, such as soap, mildew, or foods he's eating himself. Or he may be reacting to foods you eat that get into his system via your breast milk. It usually requires a bit of detective work to figure out exactly what's causing the sensitivity. If you think that something you're eating is causing problems for your baby, it's usually something you've eaten between two and six hours prior to feeding. The most common culprits include cow milk products, followed by soy, wheat, egg, nuts, and corn or corn syrup.
Talk to your baby's doctor before you omit any foods from your diet. If avoiding a food may cause a nutritional imbalance (for example, if you eliminate all dairy products), you may need to see a nutritionist for advice on substituting other foods or taking nutritional supplements.
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