You’ve likely heard that there are certain foods that are simply “off-limits” while breastfeeding. Things like broccoli, cabbage, and other items considered to be “gassy” foods. Thankfully, breastmilk is made in your bloodstream and not in your gastro-intestinal tract. Even if those foods may cause gas for Mom, those properties aren’t passed on through breastmilk in the same way. Those warnings are nothing but old wives’ tales.
So, while you don’t need to adhere to a strict diet, eating a variety of foods with a range of flavors will help to expose your baby to a range of flavors as well. How is that? The taste of breastmilk mirrors the flavors in your diet. This can help prepare Baby to enjoy a variety of flavors when you introduce solids in the future. Choosing a healthy diet allows you to sustain your own energy and health to care for Baby.
While some babies do experience sensitivities to something in your diet, it is the exception and not the rule. That being said, for those babies who do have issues, the two most common culprits are dairy and soy. But, before you choose to eliminate anything from your diet on a hunch, it is best to reach out to an IBCLC to determine for sure what may be causing the symptoms you have identified to be certain how to best remedy those symptoms.
