One of the most common questions from new moms, according to the University of Virginia Health System, is whether to avoid certain foods while breastfeeding. While some foods may cause problems for some infants, all babies are different and a food that affects one may not bother another. There are no specific foods that all breastfeeding mothers should avoid, says the National Women's Health Information Center. Nursing moms should, however, limit their intake of certain foods.
Alcohol and Caffeine
When a breastfeeding mother drinks alcohol, her nursing baby gets a small amount of it in the breast milk. You should avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol, and if you have an occasional drink, the experts at Kids Health recommend waiting two to three hours before breastfeeding. If you have more than a few drinks of alcohol, pump your breast milk, discard it, and wait two to three hours for every drink you consumed before nursing your baby again.
New moms should also limit their intake of caffeine while breastfeeding. Moderate amounts usually don't bother the baby, but drinking more than five cups of coffee, tea or soft drinks per day can keep him from sleeping and cause irritability.
Spicy, Gas-Producing and Potentially Harmful Foods
Some spicy or gas-producing foods may cause your baby to have stomach upset. If you notice your baby being unusually fussy or gassy, keep track of what you eat and how the baby reacts to it. Babies who react to a particular food usually do so within four to 24 hours after the mother has eaten the food, according to the National Women's Health Information Center. If you identify any offending foods, you can eliminate them from your diet while breastfeeding.
Just like during pregnancy, mothers who are breastfeeding should limit their intake of fish high in mercury. High levels of mercury may cause damage to the baby's developing nervous system.
Foods That Contribute to Allergies
It is unclear, according to the experts at Kids Health, whether limiting a mother's intake of peanuts and peanut butter is necessary to avoid peanut allergies in her baby. Dairy products can also contribute to allergies, and some doctors recommend eliminating them from your diet if they cause a reaction in your baby.
