Breastfeeding: Should you avoid certain foods?

Every culture in the world has a variety of different types of foods that they eat. Some strongly flavored food may even change the taste of your breast milk. Some babies even enjoy the variety of breast milk flavor. It's important to choose the right types of food while you are breastfeeding. Foods to avoid while breastfeeding will vary from mom to mom. In fact, everything you put in your body ends up in your breast milk.Some foods that you eat that may cause your babies problems are : alcohol, beans, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, caffeine, cauliflower, cherries, cinnamon, corn, curry, dairy products, eggs, hot peppers, grapefruit, kiwifruit, iron supplements, lemon, limes, medicines, nuts, onions, oranges, peanuts, pineapple, prunes, garlic, shellfish, soy and tofu, spicy foods, strawberries, tomato and wheat. Seafood may be a problem for some babies. Dairy products in a mother can cause sensitivity. In fact, cow's milk is the most common cause of food allergies. If you need to avoid milk during breastfeeding, make sure that you replace these nutrients found in dairy products with other foods. Drinking fluids is important while breastfeeding.You need to drink water to produce enough milk without becoming dehydrated. Therefore, you should drink enough water to quench your thirst. Additionally, too much caffeine can cause a baby to be wide awake and cranky. Some teas, chocolate, coca cola and soft drinks also contain caffeine. Alcohol on a daily basis is a problem. Occasional drinks are fine. So, moderate or heavy drinking is not recommended while breastfeeding.Too much alcohol can actually reduce milk production. Remember to make good food choices while you are breastfeeding just like you did while you were breastfeeding. If you feel your baby is reacting poorly to foods you ate, reintroduce this back into his diet, one food choice at a time and see if it was really this specific food. Always consult a pediatrician if your baby is fussy or breaks out in a rash and when in doubt.