Breastfeeding is an important part of an infant’s life. It provides optimal nutrition that provides antibodies that protect them from illnesses. For mothers, it helps in bonding with the child, postpartum recovery, and reduces the risk of diseases such as cancer. Due to these dynamics, nursing mothers should be careful of how they eat at this stage. So, these are the foods to avoid while breastfeeding.
Foods to Avoid While Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a joyous but delicate process. Therefore, you should know what to consume to protect your child’s health.
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Fish High in Mercury
While fish is nutritious, providing omega-3 fatty acids that are helpful in brain development, some can be high in mercury, making them toxic for infants and kids. This can damage their brain development and inhibit development in certain areas such as fine motor skills, visual-spatial awareness, and speech and language development.
Caffeinated Drinks
Coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate contain caffeine, and any consumption will end up in the baby’s breast milk. This will be problematic because babies aren’t able to break down complex compounds, hence their accumulation leads to sleeping problems and irritability. Generally, mothers can have up to three cups of coffee or tea daily, but they should seek their doctor’s permission.
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Highly Processed Food
This is fairly obvious. However, some mothers say they have constant cravings for sugary and salty foods during their pregnancy and postpartum. However, these foods are high in calories, unhealthy fats, and added sugars that don’t add any value to you or the child. Moreover, the foods a mother eats, research shows, might affect the taste of a child later in life.
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Alcohol
Abstaining from alcohol is the safest option for breastfeeding mothers because it’ll end up in your breast milk. Research shows that alcohol peaks 30 to 60 minutes after your last drink and takes about 2 to 3 hours to get out of the system. This habit will affect the development milestones of your child, leading to disrupted sleep patterns, delay in psychomotor skills, and even cognitive delay later in life.
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Some Herbal Supplements
Many people think any supplement is good for your health. However, when breastfeeding, you need to be careful about which supplements you take. Due to their lack of regulation, it can be difficult to know what’s good and bad. Hence, before you take some, get advice from your doctor.
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Gasy Foods
If eating vegetables or legumes leaves you gassy, it might create a reaction in your baby. Additionally, if your baby is gassy from what they’re eating, avoid any foods that will increase this reaction.
Rethink What You Eat When Breastfeeding
So, what foods to avoid while breastfeeding? The above meals should be avoided when breastfeeding to ensure you and your child are protected. It’s a delicate process, and when handled poorly, it can affect your child’s life later. When you’re unsure of what to take, always consult your doctor.
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