Can Certain Foods The Mother Takes Upset Her Baby While She is Breastfeeding?

Small amounts of certain substances present in the mother’s diet may pass unchanged into her breast milk. Occasionally, these may upset the baby and make her cry. It is more likely to happen if you have taken cow’s or buffalo’s milk or coffee. In general, it is difficult to advise a mother about which food to avoid. If you notice that the baby is definitely upset whenever you eat or drink something, then avoid taking that particular item. For instance, if you are drinking milk, this could be a possible cause of the so-called 3 months old’s 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 the example of the cow. A cow does not drink any milk and yet produces it!

Flavours of garlic, onion, asparagus and vanilla eaten by you can enter your breast milk. Surprisingly, most babies seem to like these flavours.

It must also be remembered that some high-need babies just cry more that 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

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