Say nay to nine foods when breastfeeding

When it comes to breastfeeding, remember what you eat because you’re eating for two. So it’s good that you be a little picky with what you’re munching to avoid any crying consequences. Find out the nine types of food that you may want to avoid.

Coffee

Go easy on coffee (or tea and some brands of soda), because the caffeine ends up in your breast milk; which isn’t good news. So keep your consumption mild especially before you breastfeed.

Chocolate

Like coffee and some brands of soda, this guilty pleasure contains caffeine. So if you find your daily sleep routines being disrupted, the culprit may be the chocolate you’ve been eating.

Citrus fruits

You might think all fruits seem harmless, but some mothers suggest to stay away from citrus fruits (and juices) because its acidity doesn’t help when you breastfeed. Instead of citrus, try to compensate by adding vitamin C foods in your diet, like papaya and kiwi. However, you should always check with a health professional before omitting any foods from your diet to avoid any deficiency in vitamins or minerals.

Broccoli

Green is good, but raw broccoli (and cauliflower) in particular might trigger gassiness. If that happens, rule it out from your meals. If you love broccoli, steaming your broccoli lightly may help reduce gassiness.

Spicy foods

The little dash of chili pepper you eat before you breastfeed might be enough to create big (and long hours of) irritations.

So if you can’t bear to lose the spice altogether, look for flavours that add zest without the heat. Like a splash of lime juice on your chicken, instead of hot sauce. Or ginger, instead of hot peppers.

Peanuts

Peanut allergies run in the family, so it’s worth being careful when you’re breastfeeding. If you start noticing symptoms like rash, hives, eczema or wheezing whenever you consume nuts and breastfeed, omit them from your diet.

Wheat

If you notice inconsolable crying, pain or bloody stools, it an allergy to wheat. To check for sensitivity, try eliminating wheat-foods from your diet, such as pasta and bread, for 2 to 3 weeks. If the problems go away, then avoid wheat altogether.

Dairy products

Symptoms of an allergy to dairy products include colic and vomiting, sleeplessness, and eczema – dry, rough, red skin patches which can progress to open weeping sores. To check for a dairy intolerance, follow the elimination diet for a minimum of two to three dairy-free weeks to see if symptoms improve.

Shellfish

The stronger your family history for this particular food allergy, the greater the risk and earlier you will see symptoms. This means that if your partner is allergic to shellfish and you are not, you might want to refrain from it as long as you are still breastfeeding.