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 if you’re drinking excessive caffeine or alcohol this could act as a stimulant for your baby.
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 yours responds after breast-feeding. But 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 out, but it can mean your baby has difficulty sleeping, too.
• Dairy products, onions, cabbage and brussel sprouts 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 breast-feeding, they may be allergic to something you’ve eaten. Cows’ milk, nuts, wheat, fish and eggs are just some foods which can cause an allergic reaction. If this happens, avoid the food or drink that you think might have caused the problem for a few days. Then try it again and watch for any reactions. However, if anyone in your family has a nut allergy, it’s advisable to just avoid nuts completely. Many mums find that keeping a food diary makes it much easier to track how their baby responds after each breast-feed.
Drinking alcohol and breast-feeding
Try to avoid alcohol. If you do drink, leave it a few hours before you feed your baby. This will allow the alcohol to work its way out of your bloodstream.
Drinking plenty of fluids (about 12 glasses of water a day) will help stop you from dehydrating and keep a reliable breast milk supply for your baby.