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Do I need to avoid certain foods (for example, eggs, cow’s milk, fish, nuts or wheat) to reduce my baby’s risk of developing allergies?
There is not enough evidence currently that avoiding specific foods will reduce baby’s risk of developing allergies. However, if there is a family history of allergy, some doctors may recommend delaying the introduction of certain foods, e.g. eggs, cow’s milk and nuts, till baby is older. You may wish to consult your doctor for more advice when baby is six months old and ready to start solid foods.
Will my baby be jaundiced if I eat ginger?
There is no evidence that ginger or any foods consumed by the breastfeeding mother will cause baby to be jaundiced. Jaundice is due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the baby’s body. Bilirubin is a by-product of red blood cell breakdown, which occurs naturally every day. However, as the newborn baby’s liver is immature, bilirubin breakdown is slow, leading to its accumulation and the characteristic yellow colour of baby’s skin and eyes.
Is it safe to consume artificially sweetened foods and drinks when breastfeeding?
Moderate consumption of approved sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame potassium and sucralose is considered safe when breastfeeding. These sweeteners are used as table top sweeteners, e.g. Equal and Palsweet, and used by food manufacturers in low calorie products like drinks, yoghurts and confectionary.
Can I go on a weight loss diet without affecting my breast milk supply?
Most breastfeeding mothers will lose their weight gained during pregnancy. Losing 1 to 2 kg a month is considered as healthy weight loss. Going on a weight loss diet whilst breastfeeding is not recommended as you may not be consuming enough nutrients to meet your requirements, and breast milk production may be affected. Use your weight as an indicator – if you are losing more than 2.5 kg a month after the first month, you may be eating too little.
Is there any special diet to increase breast milk production?
Traditional food such as unripe papaya cooked with fish has been advocated to increase mother’s milk.
Fenugreek, also known as ‘venthaiyem’ (in Tamil), ‘methi’ (in Hindi) or ‘halba’ (in Malay) is the herb that is commonly used in cooking curry. It has traditionally been used to increase milk supply.
Fenugreek tea can be taken four times a day by adding three teaspoons of fenugreek seeds to a glass of hot water to improve milk supply. Fenugreek capsules are available from health food outlets and pharmacies – two capsules four times a day or three capsules three times a day can be taken to improve milk supply.
Fenugreek is considered safe for nursing moms when used in moderation and is listed as GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, be cautious that an excessive amount of fenugreek may cause loose stools in the mother.
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