by Jennifer Foster

Created on: January 17, 2011

As a new mother, one of the biggest challenges is keeping your baby healthy.  If you are breastfeeding your child, then your level of healthiness can influence how your baby feels.  Breastfeeding moms should have a well-balanced diet and should try to incorporate a diverse selection of foods into their daily meals to ensure a good variety of nutrients and vitamins.  However, you should also be aware of some foods that may cause your baby trouble and avoid these things in your diet.

Spices:

Many of the foods we enjoy are given their flavor from one or more spices.  Spices, in general, are a healthy addition to a food program.  When breastfeeding, though, some spices can increase your baby’s risk of gas, bloating, and even colic.  Garlic, red pepper, and cinnamon are the three most common ones that you may want to avoid.  Other spices may cause problems for some babies so keeping a food diary may help you determine these as your baby experiences them.  Spices may also influence how your breast milk tastes to your baby.  This may not cause your little one any tummy troubles but some babies may be reluctant to eat something unfamiliar tasting.

Highly Acidic Foods:

Many citrus foods contain high levels of acid and this can cause or irritate diaper areas in breastfed babies.  The most well-known foods and juices that should be avoided because of high acid content are pineapples, tomatoes, oranges, lemons, and grapefruits.  These should be especially avoided if your baby is recovering from or experiencing diaper rash.

Caffeine:

Caffeine should be avoided or limited in the diet when breastfeeding for two major reasons.  First, caffeine is a diuretic and can steal valuable water from your body.  If a breastfeeding mom does not have sufficient water, her milk production will decrease.  Secondly, caffeine can be transferred to baby through the milk.  This may result in your baby being fussy and irritable and having trouble sleeping well.  When monitoring your caffeine, remember that it may be found in a variety of things.  Coffee, tea, soda, and many common over the counter medications contain caffeine so check labels carefully.

Alcohol:

Choosing to consume alcohol is a personal choice in all situations, but breastfeeding mothers should be especially careful when making this choice.  Alcohol can reduce your milk production and may also be transferred to your baby through your breast milk.  If you do choose to drink alcohol while breastfeeding, be sure to consult your child’s doctor for recommendations and options to ensure that your baby remains healthy.

In addition to the above mentioned items, your doctor or pediatrician may suggest additional things that are specific to your child’s unique situation.  As a rule, always consult your doctor before making major changes to your diet or before taking supplements or medication while breastfeeding.

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