Foods Avoid When Breastfeeding: What Should I Not Eat?

How important a role does eating play in maintaining nutrition and growing your lovely children? Eating healthy not only benefits the baby but also helps the mother stay in better shape and spirit. A mother always tries to eat the best foods to breastfeed her baby. All foods have nutritional value, however, not all foods are suitable to eat during breastfeeding. In this article, we provide a list of foods to avoid when breastfeeding, and sincere advice for the health of mother and baby.

Food and Drinks to Avoid When Breastfeeding

Caffeine

Consuming caffeine while breastfeeding can cause some problems for the baby and mother

A small amount of caffeine consumed by the mother passes through her breast milk into the baby’s body. Babies, especially those under 6 months old, cannot metabolize caffeine as quickly as adults so that it can build up in their bodies.

• Affects baby’s sleep: Caffeine can cause difficulty sleeping, restless sleep, or increased crying in babies. Sleep is important for young children’s development and growth, so any factors that affect sleep should be considered.
• Children’s digestive system is affected: Caffeine can affect children’s digestive system, causing problems such as indigestion or stomach pain.
• Mother’s health is affected: Mothers who consume too much caffeine may experience problems such as insomnia, anxiety, and increased heart rate, which not only affects the mother’s health but can also affect the mother’s health. baby care.

If you want to continue consuming caffeine while breastfeeding, consider the following measures:

• Limit caffeine consumption to a maximum of 200-300 mg daily (about one to two cups of coffee), but this may vary depending on your baby’s response.

Caffeine is not only present in tea and coffee but also in chocolate, many energy drinks, and other soft drinks. Here are estimates for drinking caffeinated beverages:

1 mug of filter coffee = 140mg

1 mug of instant coffee = 100mg

1 mug of tea = 75mg

250ml can of energy drink = 80mg of caffeine, while larger cans may contain up to 160mg of caffeine.

1 (354mls) cola drink = 40mg

50g plain chocolate bar = up to 50mg of caffeine.

• Watch for signs of irritability, fussiness, or changes in your baby’s sleep after you consume caffeine. If you see these signs, reduce your caffeine intake or stop altogether.
• If you must drink coffee or caffeine, try to consume it immediately after feeding your baby so that the amount of caffeine in your breast milk reduces before the next feeding.

Therefore, caffeine is the first food to avoid when breastfeeding you need to pay attention to.

Alcohol

Drinking wine, beer or alcohol while breastfeeding can affect your baby’s health and development.

When you drink alcohol, some of it passes through breast milk into the baby’s body. Babies, especially newborns, have not yet developed the ability to metabolize and eliminate alcohol as quickly as adults, so it can accumulate in their bodies.

• Affected baby’s sleep: Alcohol can cause unstable sleep, restless sleep or interrupted sleep in babies.
• Baby’s development and behavior are affected: Some studies show that consuming alcohol while breastfeeding can affect the baby’s brain and behavioral development, including the ability to move and language¹.
• Reduced breast milk production: Alcohol can reduce the mother’s milk production and change the taste of the milk, causing the baby to breastfeed less or refuse to breastfeed.

But if you choose to drink alcohol, don’t breastfeed until the alcohol has eliminated your milk. 

• For 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor, wait at least 3 hours before breastfeeding².
• The American Academy of Pediatrics ( AAP) recommends that breastfeeding mothers limit their alcohol consumption. If you drink alcohol, limit it to a maximum of one drink per day, equivalent to about 14g of alcohol.
• You can express milk after drinking alcohol to reduce the amount of alcohol in the milk, but this method does not quickly lower the alcohol concentration in breast milk.

Here are estimates for drinking alcoholic beverages:

a small glass of wine (125ml)

half a pint of beer

a single measure of a spirit (25ml)

Another important note is that when you have drunk alcohol, you should not sleep in the same bed as your baby. This is associated with the risk of infantile death syndrome (SIDS). Therefore, the best way is to list alcohol on the list of “ foods avoid when breastfeeding” for your baby’s safety.

Fish

When breastfeeding, you should limit or avoid certain types of fish because they contain high levels of mercury, which can affect your baby’s health. Mercury can accumulate in the bodies of fish, especially large, long-lived fish, and at the bottom of the sea. When mothers consume these fish, mercury can pass through breast milk and into the baby’s body. Mercury can harm the development of the brain and nervous system of infants, affecting the baby’s ability to learn, behave, and develop comprehensively.

Types of fish to avoid:

• Shark
• Swordfish
• King Mackerel
• Tilefish
• Marlins
• Bluefin Tuna and Bigeye Tuna

Types of fish should be limited:

Some types of fish contain moderate levels of mercury, so limit consumption and, if eaten, no more than 1-2 times per week³:

• Canned tuna (can eat light tuna instead of albacore tuna)
• Salmon
• Tilapia (Tilapia)
• Pollock
• Cod (Cod)
• Shrimp (Shrimp)
• Crab

Gassy Foods

Mothers who consume foods that cause bloating may experience discomfort, bloating, and abdominal pain. Although the gases produced by the food the mother eats do not directly pass through the breast milk, some compounds from the food can alter the composition of the breast milk, making the baby feel uncomfortable and fussy.

Foods that cause bloating should be limited

• Kinds of beans: Black beans, green beans, soybeans, white beans, and other beans.
• Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts.
• Onions and garlic: These foods can cause bloating and change the taste of breast milk.
• Fruits and juices: Some fruits such as apples, pears, and plums can cause bloating.
• Gas drink: Carbonated soft drinks and beer can cause bloating.

Therefore, gassy foods are also on the list of “ foods avoid when breastfeeding”. You should limit foods that cause bloating to avoid affecting your baby’s comfort and health. Observe your baby’s reaction and adjust the diet if necessary. Besides, you can choose other foods to increase breast milk and ensure nutrition for your baby during breastfeeding.

Cows’ milk

Cow’s milk may cause problems for some babies, especially those who have sensitive or allergic reactions to proteins in cow’s milk. Some infants may be allergic to proteins in cow’s milk, including casein and whey. When the mother consumes cow’s milk, these proteins can pass through the breast milk and cause an allergic reaction in the baby.

Although not as common as a protein allergy, some children may be intolerant to lactose, a sugar found in cow’s milk. However, this condition is rare in infants because most children can digest lactose.

Symptoms of cow’s milk protein allergy in infants may include:

• Skin rash, eczema
• Difficulty breathing, wheezing
• Vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
• Crying non-stop

Symptoms include:

• Bloating, bloating
• Diarrhea
• Crying after feeding

Breastfeeding Advice

When breastfeeding, eating properly not only ensures the mother’s health but also provides adequate nutrition necessary for the baby’s development.

• Drink enough water every day to maintain breast milk levels and help your body function effectively. Aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day, or more if you feel thirsty.
• Supplement important nutrients

1. Omega-3 fatty acids: Eat fish rich in omega-3s like salmon, sardines, and herring to support your baby’s brain development. If you don’t eat fish, you can supplement with fish oil.
2. Calcium: Make sure to get enough calcium from dairy products, dark green vegetables, tofu, and nuts like almonds.
3. Iron: Eat iron-rich foods like red meat, chicken, beans, and green vegetables to prevent anemia.
4. Vitamin D: If you can’t get enough sunlight, get vitamin D from foods or supplements.

• Monitor your baby’s reaction: Observe your baby’s reaction after you eat certain foods. If your baby shows signs of discomfort, fussiness, or allergies, try eliminating that food from your diet and consult your doctor.
• Consult an expert: If you have any questions or concerns about your breastfeeding diet, consult your doctor or nutritionist for specific and appropriate advice.

Conclusion

We have just listed foods to avoid when breastfeeding that have been researched on a popular level. You should learn more from experts and doctors to gain more knowledge for your child’s particular case. After all, we all try to do what’s best for our children. Mother and baby always have a close and magical bond. So, mothers will try to maintain that healthy bond for their children’s development.