Gassy Foods When Breastfeeding

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Many breastfeeding moms wonder if their diet has something to do with gas forming in their baby's tummy. Breastfeeding experts suggest that no specific food consumed by mothers has been scientifically proven to cause stomach upset in their nursing babies. However, they advise mothers to eat a balanced diet and observe if there are any foods they suspect may cause gas in their infants.
Can Eating Gassy Foods When Breastfeeding Cause My Baby to Be Gassy?
The good news is that mothers can eat anything they want without causing upset stomach in their breastfed babies. Although some foods such as cabbage, broccoli, spices and garlic are known to be gas formers in the mother's digestive system, these foods will not affect the milk they produce.
However, your baby may be sensitive to other foods in your diet and these might cause an upset stomach. These foods include dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt, cream, pudding, and other milk products), peanuts, corn wheat, eggs and fish. There is no need to avoid all these nutritious foods if you suspect your baby has food sensitivity. Instead, try to identify which particular food may be the culprit and avoid eating it for a week, then observe what happens. It may take more than a week before your body is cleared of the food eaten, but your baby may improve within days.
You may try introducing the food again to your diet and observe how the baby behaves. It may take a keen observation to rule our food sensitivity by eliminating one type of food at a time but it may help find out which one is causing discomfort to the baby. You may also ask a breastfeeding expert or lactation consultant to help you on this matter.
Some mothers produce abundant milk and the baby may suffer from "lactose overloa...

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Acidic foods can cause digestive discomfort in infants, too. Citrus foods such as strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, and grapefruit have a high acid content. Mothers must monitor their intake of acidic foods to see if their babies are affected after breastfeeding.
5. Caffeine
Caffeine is not necessarily associated with gassiness. However, caffeine can lead to irritability in breastfed infants especially in those who are suffering from gas or discomfort. Some foods and beverages contain caffeine, including soda, coffee, tea, and chocolate. Try to limit your caffeine intake by drinking only two 8-oz servings a day while breastfeeding to avoid infant discomfort and irritability.

Works Cited

http://www.babycenter.com/404_will-my-breastfed-baby-get-gas-if-i-eat-certain-foods_9233.bc
http://www.livestrong.com/article/34344-foods-avoid-breastfeeding-gassy-newborns/

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