[Magic_Mikki]

Is it true that what I eat can affect my breastmilk? A friend of mine won't eat anything with tomatoes in it or anything chocolate. She says it upsets her baby (who is 4 months). Does spicy stuff, caffine, chocolate, etc. really get into breastmilk in a significant way? I know that they say not to drink alcohol while BF because it could get into the milk, but I also read that having a drink or two isn't enough to affect breastmilk. I don't drink, anyway, and I've seen those strips that can detect if there is alcohol in BM, but I think those strips are for if you consume a significant amount of alcohol. Anyway, I don't think Devon has a problem with my milk! And I eat chocolate, have coffee now and again, love spicy food..

[ruthann8]

Here is how I understand it, very little gets into the breast milk and you usually don't have to worry about it.....but there are some babies who are sensitive to some things. If your baby isn't bothered by what you eat than I wouldn't worry about it.About the alcohol....I have heard both sides NO alcohol is a safe amount and a small glass of wine is fine.

[angelic_ky]

Originally Posted by ruthann8

Here is how I understand it, very little gets into the breast milk and you usually don't have to worry about it.....but there are some babies who are sensitive to some things. If your baby isn't bothered by what you eat than I wouldn't worry about it.About the alcohol....I have heard both sides NO alcohol is a safe amount and a small glass of wine is fine.

ditto

[jkl123]

I don't know all that much about the subject. But I have heard that foods that make you gassy, can make your baby gassy. Some of the food, or at least its nurients must get into the breast milk - otherwise why would it be so important for you to eat healthy while BFing??

As for alcohol, I have also heard that no amount is safe, and others say one drink is OK. But when I did my own research, I discovered that a baby's liver is not completely devleoped til 3-4 months, and can't process ANY alcohol that is in breast milk... better not take that chance , IMO.

[deedee1231]

Some babies have interesting reactions to the foods their mothers consume while breastfeeding. Some do get gassy and fussy when their moms eat spicy foods or too much dairy, but if your baby doesn't have those reactions I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think any breastfeeding mothers should consume alcohol, though.

[twinzplus3]

Originally Posted by jkl123

otherwise why would it be so important for you to eat healthy while BFing??

This is a myth--it's not important that you eat healthy during breastfeeding for the baby's sake. Breastmilk is made unto its own entity--meaning that if you decide to go on the McDonald's diet while bfing--your baby will still be just fine. It's you who will suffer. The nutrient content of breastmilk doesn't change based on what you eat. It changes based on your baby's needs.

As far as other stuff--your friend may well just be paranoid. Babies that are that young are just plain fussy sometimes. If the baby is truly sensitive to tomatoes--then she probably can't also any eat citrus fruit. Likewise, it wouldn't be just chocolate but anything with caffeine and/or dairy in it--which is what the baby would be reacting to.

Stuff certainly does pass through breastmilk but in trace amounts. A baby that has a true sensitivity to something may well be allergic later in life. But not always.

[twinzplus3]

Oh and regarding the wine. . .this to me is a very American idea that you shouldn't drink one iota during pregnancy or breastfeeding. I don't drink at all. However, women all over Europe have a glass of wine here and there and yet you don't find the rate of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome any higher (in fact I'd bet it's lower but I don't know) there than you do here. Nor do you find oodles of children with impaired livers or brain damage due to their mothers' drinking while bfing.

[jkl123]

I am actually glad to know that it doesn't matter what you eat. I haven't been eating much at all lately (just not hungry, or forget to), and have been worried it's affecting Jack. At least I don't feel guilty now!

[twinzplus3]

Well. . .I didn't say it didn't matter how much you ate. I said it didn't matter too much what you ate. How much you eat can affect your supply.

[Magic_Mikki]

Thanks for the info, Val! I didn't want to be the one to say that what you eat doesn't affect breastmilk because I thought I was wrong. (But I think I remember you saying that in another post.) So caffine and alcohol in small amounts don't really get to baby? I have coffee every now and again and I've never noticed that it gets to Devon, but I really have no idea. I'm not big on alcohol, but I can't say I haven't had a margarita since Devon's birth. I don't remember where I read this, but I heard that if you have any amount of alcohol that you should wait three hours and then pump and dump. Is that true? I'm guilty of not believing that. After the margarita, I came home and went back to my normal life.

Also, I would never tell my friend that alcohol is OK, but should I mention to her that chocolate and tomatoes are ok? I don't even know why I want to! Her eating habits don't affect me! But she is one of my best friends and I would like to think that we have the kind of relationship where I could tell her she's being paranoid, but I know that she won't just be like, Really? ohh I had no idea that what I eat doesn't matter! She is a totally overprotective mother as it is. Oh well. Now I'm just rambling!