By Alison Heyerdahl

It has long been thought that what a mother consumes passes straight to the baby through her breastmilk.  In line with this thinking is the belief that certain foods have the ability to create digestive issues in the baby.  Spicy foods, cabbage, cold foods, coffee, and dairy products are all considered lactation no-gos.  While there are many misconceptions and wives’ tales around this notion, research has recently shed some light on the issue.

It is well known that maternal breastmilk is the healthiest nutrition for a baby, and is, therefore, the first choice in feeding.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), it has multiple benefits for the mother and the baby alike.  Furthermore, breastfeeding or feeding a baby expressed milk has been found to reduce the risk of certain diseases such as eczema and asthma, in addition to decreasing the incidence of certain food allergies later on.   Despite this evidence, mothers are constantly under the impression that their breastmilk is harming their babies unless they maintain a perfect diet.  Furthermore, without any real scientific evidence to date, some mothers, because of the fact that they have an occasional cup of coffee or glass of wine, stop breastfeeding altogether, or unnecessarily restrict their diets.

Do mothers need to maintain a perfect diet while breastfeeding?

Research has found that the majority of mothers can eat whatever they like (including broccoli, pizza, chocolate, and coffee in moderation) and that this will not adversely affect their breastmilk.  Furthermore, even though it has long been thought that “gassy” foods will make your baby “gassy”, this is not the case.  Gas is only produced when the fiber from vegetables and grains interacts with the bacteria in the intestine.  Neither gas nor fiber can pass into the mother’s breastmilk.  However, although it is rare for food to cause digestive issues in the baby, for the highly sensitive child, allergic responses such as colic, asthma, or skin rashes are possible.   It must be noted that although the highly sensitive baby is not allergic to the mother’s breastmilk, they can sometimes react negatively to certain foreign proteins present in the milk.  

Why do some babies have allergic reactions to breastmilk?

This is because, in the first 6 months of life, the baby’s immature digestive system is more sensitive.  In the early stages of life, the good bacteria that help break down the food are still being developed, and as a result, the intestinal lining is more easily irritated by certain allergens than it would be later on by those same substances.  With maturity, the lining of the intestines prevents the passage of these allergens, and so the baby becomes much less sensitive to these foods.  

What can be done if the baby is allergic to certain foods the mother is consuming?

It has been suggested that instead of nursing mothers automatically limiting their diet, they should eat normally and only eliminate those foods that are thought to be a problem.  The most common culprit of food allergies and digestive issues in breastfed babies is the cow’s milk protein derived from dairy products.  In fact, 2 – 7% of breastfed babies are sensitive to dairy products. In this circumstance, a mother should try limiting her dairy consumption, especially if there is a family history of allergies.  Some mothers are also prone to develop yeast infections while pregnant or breastfeeding, and dietary changes such as eliminating alcohol and foods containing sugar, dairy, and yeast can be beneficial.  

Are there any foods that could cause a problem for breastfed babies?

It is often thought that caffeine, found in coffee, tea, and soft drinks, can cause a problem for breastfed babies.  Research has found that although caffeine does enter the breastmilk, it is only 1% of that consumed by the mother, and so modest consumption (1 – 3 cups a day) does not negatively affect the baby.  The same is true for alcohol, whereby modest consumption (1 glass of wine) will not cause a problem for the baby.