FAQs on Breastfeeding: Can certain foods the Breastfeeding Mother takes, upset her baby?

Small amount of certain substance present in the mother’s diet may pass unchanged into her breast milk. Occasionally, that may upset the baby and make her cry. It is more likely to happen if you have taken cow or buffalo milk or coffee. In general, it is difficult to advise a mother about which foods to avoid. If you notice that the baby is definitely upset whenever you eat or drink something, and then avoid taking that particularly item. For instance, if you are drinking milk, this could be a possible cause of the so-called 3 months’ colic or evening colic. You can try to stop taking milk and milk products completely, including milk in tea or other foods, for 2 weeks. If milk is the cause of colic, the baby will cry less. In that case, do not take milk until the baby completes 6 months. If the baby continues to cry in spite of the absence of milk from your diet, milk is not the cause of her colic.

Do not stop breastfeeding if you are told that your baby is not tolerating your milk. In case of a strong history of allergy in the family, we recommend that you avoid taking milk and milk products, peanuts and eggs during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If someone raises a doubt about how you can produce milk if you do not drink any, give him or her example of the cow. A cow does not drink any milk and yet produces it!

Flavors of garlic, onion, asparagus and vanilla eaten by you can enter your breast milk too! Surprisingly, most babies seem to like these flavors.

It must also be remembered that some high need babies just cry more than usual. They want to be carried or cuddled more often. Even if they are not hungry, they may like to suckle more for comfort. If the mother accepts that her baby is different and she gives her extra body contact, the baby generally settles down and starts behaving better within a matter of 1 to 2 months.

_{Source: Book – Guide to Child Care by Dr R K Anand}

_{To consult Dr R K Anand in person, click here}

_{Explore the entire collection of articles: Breastfeeding Tips}

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