breastfeeding question? about what i eat?

Question

so i was wondering? how long after i each something does my baby get it into her system? is it as soon as the feeding after i ate whatever?
Cuz lately she has been really gassy or acting like she has gas--she seems to be in discomfort in the evening time...Im really hoping it is gas and not colic (my son had colic starting from 2 wks to 4 months) I have tried to go bland with everything i am eating but that is so hard.

What are gas trigger foods that nursing moms should be cautious about eating? I know spicy foods, and dairy...anything else?

Answer 1

My baby is gassy. Is this caused by something in my diet?
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gassybaby.html

Can a nursing mother eat this food? FAQs
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-foods.html
Is there a list of foods that I should avoid while breastfeeding?

There are NO foods that a mother should avoid simply because she is breastfeeding. It is generally recommended that you eat whatever you like, whenever you like, in the amounts that you like and continue to do this unless you notice an obvious reaction in your baby to a particular food. There is no such thing as a "LIST OF FOODS THAT BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS SHOULD NOT EAT" because most nursing moms can eat anything they want, and because the babies who are sensitive to certain foods are each unique - what bothers one may not bother another. If you have a family history of allergies, you might want to avoid certain foods (for example, peanuts or dairy), but again, this would be different for every child.

COLIC-CAUSING FOODS IN BREASTFEEDING
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T083301.asp

Answer 2

"MYTH: breastfeeding mother has to be obsessive about what she eats. Not true! A breastfeeding mother should try to eat a balanced diet, but neither needs to eat any special foods nor avoid certain foods. A breastfeeding mother does not need to drink milk in order to make milk. A breastfeeding mother does not need to avoid spicy foods, garlic, cabbage or alcohol. A breastfeeding mother should eat a normal healthful diet. Although there are situations when something the mother eats may affect the baby, this is unusual. Most commonly, "colic", "gassiness" and crying can be improved by changing breastfeeding techniques, rather than changing the mother's diet."

http://www.drjacknewman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=79

and definitely check out Kellymom.

"The idea that certain foods in any mom's diet will cause gas in her baby is incredibly persistent but is not founded in research. If certain foods in moms' diets were an overall problem for most babies, we would expect that cultures that emphasize those foods would have more gassy and fussy babies, but this does not occur at all.

This is not to say that certain foods would not bother a particular baby - this does happen occasionally (and it's more likely with very young babies). However, there is no list of foods that every mom should avoid while breastfeeding. In fact, most babies are fine with any food that mom eats, so there is no reason to avoid a food unless you notice an obvious reaction in your baby every time you eat a particular food.

Most babies are gassy from time to time, some more than others. Gassiness is often worse at night. This is due, on the most part, to baby's immature digestive system and has nothing to do with what mom does or eats. Because so many people promote the idea that food in mom's diet causes gas, many a breastfeeding mom will immediately assume it is due to something she has eaten if her baby is gassy."

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gassybaby.html

edit: "The rule of thumb is that anything that can make you gassy can make a baby gassy" is NOT true. From the link above: "Breastmilk is made from what passes into mom's blood, not what is in her stomach or digestive tract."

Answer 3

Some women say it doesnt matter, but I disagree whole-heartedly. The other day I had some mild chili and the next day DD was so incredibly fussy I had to give her gas drops and do tummy rubs to help relax her. I also noticed that when I eat a lot of broccoli she gets gassy.

Also, the link to kellymom has tons of good info, it's an awesome resource especially for BFing moms.

GL!

Answer 4

My 4 month old is breastfed and is the gassiest little thing no matter what I eat. Infant gas drops, which are totally safe for an infant, have been an absolute lifesaver! It is said that, in addition to the foods you mentioned, that onions, beans, and broccoli can cause gas in the baby. The rule of thumb is that anything that can make you gassy can make a baby gassy. Good luck!

Answer 5

dairy, soy, nuts, eggs, and wheat are the usual suspects for causing upset stomach in a nursing baby via mommy's diet.

spicey foods is a myth!! eat all the tabasco, garlic, cabbage, broccoli you want.

read through these to get some idea:
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/food-sensitivity.html
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-diet.html

for me it was wheat... but whole wheat only. if I ate a little it was fine, but if I'd had some shredded wheat cereal for breakfast, a sandwhich on whole wheat for lunch, and whole wheat pasta for dinner - we'd be up ALL night with a screaming baby!!

Answer 6

Just eat more soups like fish soups, beef bones soup and chicken soups. It will really help. Try to avoid as much as possible spicy foods.
I think you're baby is experiencing colic, ask your doctor.

Answer 7

greasy,spicy,dairy,eggs...there are a lot of things that can cause gas in babies.Try drinking a lot of water during the day which will help a little.You can try baby gas-x after meals which helps soooo much.Saved me a lot of sleep.

Answer 8

kellymom.com has good info

How does a mother's diet affect her milk?
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-diet.html

Answer 9

I heard Broci does has well.

Answer 10

what?
you eat spicy food!
with a baby!