Foods and Drinks to Avoid while Breastfeeding

It goes without saying that alcohol is definitely in the list of things to avoid while breastfeeding (or at least kept to a strict minimum) as it will remain in your body system for the next 2-3 hours from the time of your last drink (one glass), and is medically proven to cause issues that would affect your child’s cognitive functions, physical movements and sleeping patterns. The more alcohol you consume at a time, the longer it takes for it to be cleared from your system – not forgetting to mention that alcohol affects breast milk production by 20%. Before you start breastfeeding your child, it is best to know what else not to consume. Did you know that you should be avoiding stuff like citrus fruits and chocolate?

Why Should You Avoid Citrus Fruits and Chocolate?

As an infant, your child’s gastrointestinal tract (mouth to anus tract) has yet to mature. Citrus fruits contain certain compounds that do cause irritations, which would lead to fussiness, diaper rashes and even vomiting. To pump yourself with vitamin C without the side effects occurring to your child, opt for fruits such as mangoes or pineapples instead.

Chocolate is not enforced to be avoided but to be consumed with caution as it does contain caffeine. There have been cases of mothers who shared that eating too much chocolate has caused a laxative effect – so if you find your child showing “mood swings” or having diarrhoea, this is a sign to cut back (or avoid) eating more of it.

There’s Mercury in Some Fish

Though fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids (necessary for brain development in infants), it does contain a high amount of mercury. This exposure to mercury would mean a life-long attack on your child’s central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). As such, mercury poisoning would lead to possible speech and language impairment, visual processing disorder, coordination between small muscles and cognition development.

Examples of fish that contain a high amount of mercury are such as shark, bigeye tuna, king mackerel and marlin. Perhaps you may be a pescatarian and if so, trout, salmon and sardines are great choices – being that these are high in omega-3 but low in mercury.

Beware of Supplements

Supplements are commonly taken to boost vitamins and minerals, especially during the breastfeeding phase. However, if you are practising a well-balanced diet, your body will be provided with sufficient nutrition required. There are some herbal supplements that are not regulated by the FDA as these have threatening heavy metals.

While there are women who rely on supplements to increase breast milk production, there is insufficient evidence proving that theory – so there really isn’t a reason to spend more money without proven results. Remember that supplements must never be used as a replacement for a healthy diet, and you ought to seek consultation from your doctor beforehand.