OK, so, my other blog, Those Aren't Your Onions, keeps getting hits for 'breastfeeding and onions.'
It's not a breastfeeding resource, but there was a post about breastfeeding support groups on there. Obviously, search engines were making a non-existent connection about breastfeeding and onions! So, to help the poor souls directed to that blog in search of breastfeeding and onions tips, here is the post you may/may not have been looking for.
As a general rule, there is no strict reason why mothers should stop eating certain foods whilst breastfeeding. A healthy balanced diet is usually all that is necessary for a mother feeding her baby. There are all sorts of opinions online, so here I've tried to gather a good selection and present an average view.
Sometimes, with foods such as cow's milk or eggs, proteins can pass out of the mother's gastrointestinal tract and get into breastmilk, causing the baby to have a reaction; though this is normally restricted to babies with a tendency towards allergies (La Leche League (1997) The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding 6th Edition, 3rd Printing, p.355).
The method of dealing with this? Cut out the food from the mother's diet to see if the baby improves.
However, La Leche League suggest that before you conclude a problem is down to your diet, you should investigate all other possible causes.
When infants react to something, they normally have congestion, rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea, alongside colic/fussiness. There are many possible reasons for these reactions: medication, illnesses, supplemental (artificial) feeds, growth spurts and teething have all been commonly recognised as causing one or more of these symptoms.
Another factor to consider is whether your baby has had any contact with allergens such as a new washing powder, fabric softener, soap, shampoo, baby lotion or household cleaning products.
Try to think about all the things your baby has come into contact with and try to eliminate those possibilities first.
Young babies are often fussy, so if this is the only symptom, it may not be your diet that is to blame. Try to use some comforting strategies first - useful ones can be found at Kelly Mom.
Furthermore, Kellymom points out that:
But, if you've tried removing all other possibilities, you've comforted, fed and fed until baby wants no more, and s/he is still suffering, perhaps from colic, then, some sources suggest it could be worth adapting what you are eating.
The easiest way of finding out if something is causing a problem is to cut out particular foods gradually.
If your baby seems to improve after removing a certain food, give it a few weeks then reintroduce foods one at a time to find the real culprit.
Keeping a food diary that also tracks your baby's level of irritability can help you to keep on top of this and perhaps see connections you never knew were there.
Always make sure you are eating a consistently healthy diet, don't cut back on everything or your health will suffer!
Finally, there are always anecdotes about fussiness getting better after cutting out certain foods. If it works, making life easier for you and your baby, then fantastic. Here are a few reference links about foods that people have said make a difference. Remember, this is unproven and anecdotal, but if it works for you then let me know!
It's not a breastfeeding resource, but there was a post about breastfeeding support groups on there. Obviously, search engines were making a non-existent connection about breastfeeding and onions! So, to help the poor souls directed to that blog in search of breastfeeding and onions tips, here is the post you may/may not have been looking for.
As a general rule, there is no strict reason why mothers should stop eating certain foods whilst breastfeeding. A healthy balanced diet is usually all that is necessary for a mother feeding her baby. There are all sorts of opinions online, so here I've tried to gather a good selection and present an average view.
Sometimes, with foods such as cow's milk or eggs, proteins can pass out of the mother's gastrointestinal tract and get into breastmilk, causing the baby to have a reaction; though this is normally restricted to babies with a tendency towards allergies (La Leche League (1997) The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding 6th Edition, 3rd Printing, p.355).
The method of dealing with this? Cut out the food from the mother's diet to see if the baby improves.
However, La Leche League suggest that before you conclude a problem is down to your diet, you should investigate all other possible causes.
When infants react to something, they normally have congestion, rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea, alongside colic/fussiness. There are many possible reasons for these reactions: medication, illnesses, supplemental (artificial) feeds, growth spurts and teething have all been commonly recognised as causing one or more of these symptoms.
Another factor to consider is whether your baby has had any contact with allergens such as a new washing powder, fabric softener, soap, shampoo, baby lotion or household cleaning products.
Try to think about all the things your baby has come into contact with and try to eliminate those possibilities first.
Young babies are often fussy, so if this is the only symptom, it may not be your diet that is to blame. Try to use some comforting strategies first - useful ones can be found at Kelly Mom.
Furthermore, Kellymom points out that:
"Fussiness that is not accompanied by other symptoms and calms with more frequent nursing is probably not food-related."
But, if you've tried removing all other possibilities, you've comforted, fed and fed until baby wants no more, and s/he is still suffering, perhaps from colic, then, some sources suggest it could be worth adapting what you are eating.
The easiest way of finding out if something is causing a problem is to cut out particular foods gradually.
If your baby seems to improve after removing a certain food, give it a few weeks then reintroduce foods one at a time to find the real culprit.
Keeping a food diary that also tracks your baby's level of irritability can help you to keep on top of this and perhaps see connections you never knew were there.
Always make sure you are eating a consistently healthy diet, don't cut back on everything or your health will suffer!
Finally, there are always anecdotes about fussiness getting better after cutting out certain foods. If it works, making life easier for you and your baby, then fantastic. Here are a few reference links about foods that people have said make a difference. Remember, this is unproven and anecdotal, but if it works for you then let me know!
"Cabbage, onion, garlic, broccoli, brussel sprouts, turnips and even chocolate can cause colic symptoms"
"Some mothers say certain foods, such as onions, garlic and citrus fruits, seem to upset their babies"
"Spicy and other food: There are no hard and fast rules about other foods. Some babies react to certain foods while others don't. Mine didn't seem too keen if I went overboard on the garlic, strawberries or brussel sprouts so avoided these while they were little. By the time they were bigger, the problem seemed to have resolved itself."
More good tips about breastfeeding myths
If you have anything to add please leave a comment, I'm always glad to hear more points of view or new methods!
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