Like many breastfeeding mums, you can probably eat what you like. However, there may be times when you suspect or worry that something in your breastmilk is upsetting your baby. For example, your baby may have wind or there may be changes to her stool.
Your baby may also cry a lot, and not necessarily during the late afternoon and early evening, the times associated with colic. There are many causes of tummy troubles or fussiness in babies. But it's been found that traces of particular substances in breastmilk do upset some babies.
If you suspect your baby is reacting to your breastmilk, you may want to cut out some foods to see if it makes a difference. If you do decide to cut out some foods, it is important that you speak with your doctor first. You need to make sure you're still getting a healthy balanced diet. It's also important that your baby gets the right treatment, in case there is some other reason for his discomfort such as not latching on properly. See our tables below for guidance about what to do.
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- Herbs
- Alcohol, Caffeine, Nicotine
| Food | Solution |
|---|---|
| Cabbage (patta gobhi), onion (pyaaz), garlic (lehsun), broccoli (hara gobhi), brussels sprouts (bandh gobhi) and turnips (shalgam) may cause wind and crying, although the evidence for this is weak. | Leave these foods out of your diet for two weeks. If your baby's symptoms improve when you don't have these foods, consider cutting them out of your diet until your baby is a bit older. |
| Cow's milk products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and even butter in your diet can cause an allergic reaction or intolerance in some babies. Allergy is unusual, though. | If you suspect your baby is sensitive to traces of dairy produce in your breastmilk, take note of your baby's symptoms and see your doctor. She will advise you about leaving dairy products out of your diet for a week or so, to see if your baby's symptoms improve. She can also suggest supplements to take if you exclude dairy products for longer. |
| Eggs, citrus foods, wheat, corn, spicy foods, peanuts, nuts, soy, chocolate, fish especially oily fish such as tuna (kuppa machli) are other potential allergens that may cause a reaction in some babies. Symptoms can include, restlessness, discomfort, wind, crying, posseting and colic. | If you think one of these foods is causing a problem, cut it out for one to two weeks to see if your baby's symptoms improve. You could keep a chart of what you've been eating, and when to help you keep track. Do make sure that you speak to your doctor before you alter your diet. Bear in mind it's best to eat no more than two portions of oily fish a week, even if your baby shows no symptoms if you eat it. That's because oily fish contains mercury and pollutants. |
| Cold foods such as ice cream, yogurt and frozen desserts may contain a bacteria called listeria which could cause a type of food poisoning called listeriosis. However babies are unlikely to get listeriosis from breastmilk. | Make sure that all frozen desserts you eat are pasteurised. If you aren't certain then it's best to stick to desserts that need to be well-cooked before eating. Boiling temperatures kill any bacteria in the food, making it safe to eat. There is also a popular belief that a baby may catch a cold if the mum consumes cold foods. However there is no evidence to suggest that cold foods cause colds or that a cold could be passed to your baby from drinking breastmilk. |
| Ready-to-eat foods usually contain preservatives, dyes and additives which may upset your breastfed baby. | Remove ready-to-eat meals from your diet for one to two weeks if you feel eating them is upsetting your baby. Even if such foods are not the cause of your baby's discomfort it's wise to consume them as soon as possible to remove the risk of listeria. |
Herbs
Although herbs are considered natural alternatives to certain drugs, they can be just as powerful. Ingredients from herbs do get into breastmilk but there is very little research on how herbs can affect a breastfed baby. That’s probably why experts advise against taking herbs in large doses, even if they are considered safe. Some herbs may make your baby uncomfortable and even sick, so always check with your doctor before taking any herbal remedy or trying out any herb.| Herbs | What you should know |
|---|---|
| Peppermint, chamomile, ginger (adrak), echinacea | Taken in teas, these herbs are probably fine. Stick to teas that have ingredients you might cook with, such as ginger (adrak). Avoid combinations of teas in one bag, in case they have ingredients you don't spot. |
| Ground fenugreek (methi seeds), anise, borage, raspberry leaves, dill, agnus castus, garlic, stinging nettles ( bichhu butti), fennel seeds (saunf), carom seeds (ajwain) , cinnamon (dalchini), cumin (jeera). | These herbs are often used to increase breastmilk supply and some are used to reduce wind, heartburn and colic. As long as they are taken in small quantities they are generally safe for your baby. |
| Herbal medicines | Don't take any herbal medicines. Although these are freely available in pharmacies, it's hard to be sure that they're safe for your baby. See your doctor if you are feeling unwell and think you may need medicine. |
Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine
It's just as important to safeguard your baby from the ill effects of alcohol, nicotine and caffeine while breastfeeding as it was when you were pregnant.| Substance | What it does | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Alcohol enters your bloodstream and then your breastmilk at different speeds, depending on how much you weigh and whether you drink alcohol with food or on an empty stomach. The amount of alcohol in your blood usually peaks 30 or 45 minutes after you have drunk it. | You may want to avoid all alcohol if you can, but it's probably fine to have one or two glasses of beer or wine a week. Food cooked with alcohol or local or homemade alcohol such as bhang or taadi are also best avoided. If you want to have a drink, wait until after you've fed your baby. |
| Caffeine | Caffeine can be found in tea, coffee, cola, energy drinks and chocolate. Caffeine does get into breastmilk, but in small amounts. Your baby may be more irritable and feed more frequently if you ingest a lot of caffeine. Babies can't get rid of caffeine efficiently, so it can build up in their systems. | There's no official guidance on caffeine and breastfeeding. Caffeine in your breastmilk won't harm your baby. But if your baby is restless or irritable, it may be worth keeping your caffeine intake at the same level as that advised for pregnant women. That's 200mg a day (equivalent to three cups of tea or two cups of instant coffee). |
| Nicotine | Nicotine ingested by smoking tobacco can get into breastmilk. Heavy smoking has been known to decrease milk production and to cause vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid heart rate, and restlessness in babies. In general, though, nicotine is not easily absorbed into a baby's intestinal tract and is quickly metabolised. Babies of smokers are prone to colic and respiratory infections and smoking can increase the risk of SIDS in newborns. | Stop smoking, for you and your baby's sake. But if you just can't give up while you're breastfeeding, try cutting down on the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. And don't smoke just before breastfeeding or around your baby, especially indoors. |
Water
Breastfeeding can make you thirsty so it’s always a good idea to keep a glass of water or juice close by when you nurse your baby. You also need to be cautious about drinking clean boiled or filtered water to avoid water borne infections. It is best to carry a bottle of water with you when you go out or opt for a well-known brand of mineral water.
If you're worried about whether you're getting enough to drink, check the colour of your urine. If it's pale-coloured, you're getting plenty to drink. If it's dark yellow, or smells strongly, or if you feel lethargic or faint, you may be dehydrated, in which case you should drink more water.