what foods are good for lactating mothers & what foods to avoid to reduce colic in babies?

Answer 1

i asked my doctor this same question. my baby kept crying, was i eating too much garlic? she said babies cry no matter what u do. babies are gassy, they swallow air, but less if u nurse. if u notice something really bothers your baby, don't eat it! they say garlic onions caffiene... i think thats it. get 'the baby book' by dr. sears. he's awesome, there is a belly massage in there the I LOVE U massage, helps relieve gas. just avoid alcohol and medication! drink a lot of water. good job doing whats best for you baby!

Answer 2

Ideally, mothers of nursing babies should eat a balanced, varied diet including fresh fruits and vegetables. It is important to eat foods from all the food groups, as well as continuing to take your prenatal vitamins. Include fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, and protein-rich foods as much as possible.

When breast-feeding, your calorie intake should not fall below 1800 calories per day. Don't rely on junk foods for your calories. Follow a nutritious diet: a diet low in fat, nutrient-dense (i.e., full of vitamins and minerals) and high in fiber. The two biggest mistakes you can make is (a) Start eating junk food, or (b) Go on a crash diet. Either action is guaranteed to make you fat and unhealthy.


Although you will get plenty of unsolicited advice about dietary restrictions while you are breastfeeding, there aren't any foods that a mother should routinely avoid. Babies can be fussy and can have excess gas -- just because babies are fussy and babies have gas, not because you had broccoli for dinner last night. When a new baby is fussy, a mother who is breastfeeding may worry that something she has eaten is the cause. But no matter how a baby is fed, fussy periods are normal during the first three months of life. It is unlikely that the baby is reacting to a food you have eaten. Occasionally, a baby may be sensitive to something in the mother's diet. The most common sensitivities are to protein antigens that are found in cow's milk, soy, wheat, fish, corn, eggs and nuts. If you believe your baby is reacting to something in your diet, eliminate that food for two or three weeks, then try it again. There is no evidence that any one food when eaten in moderation will cause problems in most breastfed babies. The mothers diet would only need to be adjusted if the baby has a reaction.

Drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated : Drink, drink, and drink some more! The oxytocin released when you breastfeed can make you thirsty. Fluids can include water, fruit juices, vegetable juices, milk and soup. It is a good idea for the mother to get into the habit of drinking during each nursing. When you are drinking enough, your urine will be clear to pale yellow.

Water is the best liquid you can drink. Avoid drinks with lots of sugar and/or caffeine.

Answer 3

All of the suggestions already posted are correct:

Broccoli, dairy, onions, caffiene, beans, etc.

But, do make sure it really is colic. My daughter was first diagnosed with colic, but I knew it was wrong because as soon as I got the burp out (eventually) she was fine. That's not colic.

It turned out (based on that and other symptoms) that my daughter has GERD. In the past, GERD has often been mis diagnosed as colic. We discovered it when she was 3 weeks old, the pediatrician put her on liquid zantac twice a day, and the colic was gone immediately. No more projecile vomiting, better sleep, no pain eating, and no colic. So make sure to talk with your pediatrician if your child has any of these other symptoms.

Another couple of techniques you might try are sitting the baby up as best you can while feeding (I know, there's a knack to it), burping every 5 minutes (or every oz if you are using a bottle), getting a wedge to put under the crib sheet to elevate the baby while he/she sleeps. If you supplement formula, try a hypoallergenic version like Enfamil Neutrimigen or Similac Alimentum (my daugher is on Alimentum after they determined she is also allergic to milk and soy).

Good luck, and remember, they often grow out of colic and/or GERD around 6-9 months so it won't last forever!

Answer 4

There is no specific diet that you need to follow while breastfeeding. There are no specific foods that all mothers need to avoid. You can even have caffeine and alcohol in moderation.

If you think your baby might have a problem with something you are eating, it might be a good idea to keep a journal and note which foods seem to affect him. Then you can cut those specific things out of your diet.

The link below will be very helpful.

Answer 5

Try to keep any foods that cause gas out of your diet:
dairy
onions
beans
cauliflower
broccoli

I found that helped a lot. Also try some probiotics for the baby to help even out their system. Goodluck!

Answer 6

stay away from broccoli. I can most defnitely remember that it really upset the babies when I ate broccoli. Avoid sodas, caffine drinks, and too much sugars. Also avoid anything that can cause gas.

Answer 7

No chocolate or anything from the cabbage family, no soy products

No alchohol, No drugs

Things that give you gas will also give the baby gas.

Answer 8

chocolate, broccoli. Avoid foods that cause you gas and hardburn, like spicy foods.

Answer 9

try eating healty foods,no sodas,coffee, alcohol,smoking,can't name them all and make sure you eat healty every 8hours so that the baby don't get gas