What Should We Avoid While Breastfeeding?
Are there foods I should avoid eating while breastfeeding?
Short answer:
Most breastfeeding mothers do not need to avoid specific foods — simply eat a balanced diet.
Limit things like caffeine and alcohol, be cautious with fish high in mercury, and if your baby seems sensitive to a certain food, you can try avoiding it temporarily.
In more detail:
Interestingly, different cultures have different ideas about what foods should not be eaten by breastfeeding mothers. Often a food that is discouraged for breastfeeding mothers in one culture is encouraged in another culture. It can be helpful to remember that most foods are eaten by nursing parents somewhere in the world! Most mothers find they can eat whatever foods they normally enjoy.
As you learn about your baby, you may wonder if a particular fussy period, or a rash or a change in your baby’s poop was caused by something you ate or if your baby is allergic to your milk. Your baby cannot be allergic to your milk. It is made specifically for her. If your baby has a particularly fussy period after you’ve eaten a meal of beans or broccoli, it is most likely a simple coincidence rather than your baby reacting to what you have eaten. However, it is possible that your baby is sensitive to something you have eaten.
from the website of La Leche League Canada (lllc.ca)
It is a good idea for you, just like everyone else, to think about what you are choosing to eat and to choose foods that nourish and sustain your body as much as possible. The food any family chooses will depend on personal preference, climate, culture and finances.
There are no foods you need to avoid while breastfeeding (unless you’re allergic to them of course). Some strongly flavored foods may change the taste of your milk, and many babies seem to enjoy a variety of breast milk flavors! Often the dominant flavors of your diet – whether soy sauce, chili, garlic or something else – were in your amniotic fluid during pregnancy. Before birth, babies swallow amniotic fluid and are then accustomed to these flavors before tasting them in your milk.
Many mothers and breastfeeding parents find they can eat whatever they like, and occasionally a baby will be fussy at the breast, or may be gassy, after you eat a particular food. If you notice that your baby reacts badly after you have eaten something, it may be best to leave that food out of your diet for a while. To test whether that food really was the cause, reintroduce it once and see if your baby reacts in the same way again.
from the website of La Leche League International (llli.org)
Allergies
If you have a family medical history of allergy, it is worth being careful about your diet and avoiding known allergens during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
from the website of La Leche League International (llli.org)
Peanuts
If you’d like to eat peanuts or foods containing peanuts, such as peanut butter, while breastfeeding, you can do so as part of a healthy, balanced diet (unless, of course, you are allergic to them). There’s no clear evidence that eating peanuts while breastfeeding affects your baby’s chances of developing a peanut allergy. If you have any questions or concerns, you can talk to your healthcare provider about this.
from the website of La Leche League International (llli.org)
Caffeine
If you do drink caffeine, try not to have more than 300mg a day.
Alcohol
It’s safer not to drink any alcohol while breastfeeding, but an occasional drink is unlikely to harm your baby – 1 or 2 units of alcohol, once or twice a week, should be fine.
If possible, allow 2 to 3 hours in between drinking and breastfeeding (you should only do this after breastfeeding is well established). This allows time for the alcohol to leave your breast milk.
Shark, swordfish and marlin
It’s good to include 2 portions of fish per week, but when you are breastfeeding:
- limit swordfish, marlin or shark to 1 portion a week (because of the high levels of mercury in them)
- do not eat more than 2 portions of oily fish a week (like fresh tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines and pilchards)
Peanuts and breastfeeding
Unless you’re allergic to peanuts, there’s no evidence to suggest you should avoid them (or any peanut-based foods like peanut butter) while breastfeeding.
Cows’ milk and breastfeeding
Cows’ milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most common childhood food allergies.
While it’s more common when first infant formula milk is introduced or when your baby starts eating solids, it can happen while breastfeeding.
Symptoms include:
- skin reactions, such as a red itchy rash
- swelling of the lips and face, and around the eyes
- tummy ache, vomiting, colic, diarrhoea or constipation
- runny or blocked nose
- eczema
Some babies are lactose intolerant (lactose is the natural sugar in milk). This means they can’t digest it – but this not an allergy and may only be temporary.
Symptoms include:
- diarrhoea
- vomiting
- tummy pain or rumbling
- wind
If you’re worried that your baby is showing signs of an allergic reaction, or intolerance, speak to your doctor. They’ll assess your baby and advise you on the best course of action.
According to the National Health Service (NHS, UK):
* Most of these materials are sourced from original English-language sources. The translations were created with the help of Google Translate and ChatGPT. For the most complete and accurate information, please always refer to and verify the original source first. For the most complete and accurate information, please always refer to and verify the original source of the information.
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