You are what you eat!
Your diet can ultimately affect your baby through your breast milk, but in most cases it’s a matter of taste. Your baby won’t be used to strong flavours that you might enjoy and you should limit your caffeine.
Foods you might want to avoid eating
A lot of mums say that you should steer clear of, or limit spicy, strongly flavoured, rich or very acidic foods. The truth is every baby is different, so see how your baby responds after feeding. Here are a few foods that may affect your baby:
- Hot, spicy curries – these may cause you and your baby some digestive discomfort and wind.
- Caffeine – it can wake you up if you're feeling tired, but it can mean your baby has difficulty sleeping too.
- Guarana – which acts like caffeine is commonly added to energy/smart drinks. Many of these drinks also contain amino acids and B vitamins at higher levels than are recommended while you are breastfeeding.
- Onions, garlic, cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprouts, spicy foods and chocolate may all give your baby wind and make colic worse.
Is your baby allergic to something you’ve eaten?
If your baby has an upset stomach or rash after feeding, they may be allergic to something you’ve eaten. You should see your health care professional to confirm if this is the case and to ensure that if you make any changes to your diet that you are still getting the nutrients you and your baby need. Cow’s milk, nuts, wheat, fish and eggs are just some foods which can cause an allergic reaction. If this happens, we suggest you contact your health care professional immediately. Many mums find that keeping a food diary makes it much easier to track how their baby responds after each feed.
Drinking alcohol and breastfeeding
Try to avoid alcohol. If you do drink, drink in moderation and leave it a few hours (2-3 hours) before you feed your baby. This will allow the alcohol to work its way out of your bloodstream.
Drinking plenty of fluids (about 10 glasses of water a day) will help stop you dehydrating and keep a reliable milk supply for your baby. Water is best, otherwise milk or diluted fruit juice for some of the drinks.