We are referring to your eating pattern. Pregnancy is a time when you may eat various foods to satiate your cravings. But once the baby is born, you do not have the liberty to listen to your taste buds. Before you eat anything, you would ask these questions: “Can I eat it?” “Will they have an effect on my baby?”

1. Coffee

Why is coffee topping the list? It is because of the caffeine content in it. Some amount of caffeine in the coffee (or tea, soda, energy drinks and over-the-counter medicines) ends up in your breast milk.

2. Chocolate

Previously, break time would have meant chocolate time. But not anymore. Chocolate is rich in the substance called theobromine, which has an effect similar to that of caffeine. If you feel that your little one’s crankiness is due to your chocolate consumption, then keep away from it.

3. Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are a source of vitamin C, but their acidic components can irritate little tummies. Their immature gastrointestinal tract will not be able to deal with these components, thus resulting in diaper rash, fussiness, spitting up and more.

If you decide to cut on citrus fruits such as limes, grapefruits, lemons, and oranges, replace them with other vitamin C-rich foods like papaya, pineapple, strawberries or leafy greens and mango.

Mercury appears in your breast milk if you eat high-mercury fish and other foods that are high in that element. Higher levels of mercury in the breast milk can affect the baby’s neurological development.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, “If a breastfeeding woman consumes a high amount of mercury-rich foods, it could harm the development of baby by transferring into the breast milk and then onto the baby (2).”

5. Alcohol

Alcohol can pass from mom to baby through breast milk and affect his neurological development. But after nine full months without a drink, it is fine to have an occasional glass of wine or beer.

Studies have shown that a couple of units once or twice a week do not harm your baby. Levels higher than these may inhibit mother’s “let down” reflex (i.e. the release of milk to the nipple area) (3).

6. Peanuts

If your family has a history of peanut allergies, avoid peanuts until you wean your baby. The allergic proteins in peanuts could pass into your breast milk and then to the baby. She might suffer from rashes, wheezing or hives. Eating even a few peanuts can result in the allergens passing into mother’s milk between one and six hours.

7. Parsley and Peppermint

Parsley and peppermint are two herbs, if taken in huge amounts, can reduce your breast milk. Whenever you eat these herbs, monitor your milk supply, especially when your baby is in the growth spurt – the phase when he needs more milk than usual.

In fact, mothers often drink peppermint tea when they want to stop the milk production after weaning. Another herb, sage, too decreases milk supply.

8. Dairy

To have or not to have dairy has always been a dilemma for nursing mothers. Babies could be intolerant to cow’s milk. When the mother eats dairy products or drinks milk, the allergens might enter breast milk and irritate the baby. If you observe symptoms like vomiting and colic in your baby after you consume dairy products, it means that you need to stop eating them for some time. Other symptoms include eczema, skin issues, and sleep issues.

Children with dairy intolerances often show signs of a soy allergy too. Keep a check. Go for organic varieties of high-fat dairy, meat, and poultry, as no antibiotics, growth hormones, chemicals, or pesticides are used in their production.

9. Garlic

Garlic’s smell can get into the milk too! Some babies like it. Some do not. If you find your baby at discomfort while nursing, check if garlic is the reason. Some babies may grimace or fuss at the breast if they encounter garlic’s strong aroma.

10. Spicy Foods

Spicy foods can irritate some babies, while others are perfectly fine with it. A dash of pepper is more than enough to hurt a few babies. They remain fussy for a long time. Lessen the spices in your food if your little one is not comfortable with it.

11. Wheat

Gluten intolerance is a common food problem as it results in bloody stools, sensitive tummy, and fussiness. Like any other food, the best way to diagnose the allergy is by eliminating it from the diet. Some moms choose to remove all common problem-causing foods and gradually re-introduce them one at a time.

12. Eggs or Shellfish

A family history of a particular food allergy poses a risk in infants and babies. If there is somebody allergic to shellfish or eggs in your immediate family, then avoid them while breastfeeding. Egg allergies, mostly in the form of sensitivity to egg whites, are pretty common.

Source​ ៖ www.momjunction.com