Foods to avoid while breastfeeding

As a nursing mom, you can pretty much eat anything you want. If you have an overall healthy, well-balanced diet, then you don't have to stop eating any of the foods that you enjoy just because you are breastfeeding. However, there are some things you should limit while you are nursing your baby.

Caffeine: It's OK to have one or two cups of coffee or another beverage that contains caffeine each day.But taking in more than that could cause a drop in your supply of breast milk, as well as jitteriness, sleeplessness, irritability, and symptoms of colic in your baby.

Chocolate: Proceed with caution if chocolate is your sweet indulgence of choice. Just like coffee and soda, chocolate contains caffeine. (Though not as much—a 1-ounce serving of dark chocolate contains between 5 and 35 mg of caffeine; a cup of coffee generally contains up to 135 mg of caffeine).

Fatty Meats: Bacon, sausage, hot dogs, deep-fried meats and cold cuts are high in saturated fats and salt. Have a little bit, but don't overdo it.

Alcohol: It travels through your breast milk to your baby. A glass of wine with dinner or a drink with your friends is fine if it's once in a while, but more than an occasional drink could not only decrease your milk supply and affect your let-down reflex, it will also be dangerous to your kid's health and development.

Junk Food: Candy, sweets, and desserts taste great, but moderation is key. These treats are just empty calories that do not provide you with any nutrients, and they can also cause you to gain weight. Enjoy your chips, a cookie or some ice cream every so often, but don't reach for them as your everyday snacks.

Certain Herbs and Spices: A little bit of these herbs and spices will not cause any issues, but when used in large amounts, sage, rosemary, thyme, spearmint, peppermint, and parsley are believed to decrease the supply of breast milk.

Dairy Products Ditch the dairy? It’s common knowledge that many babies are intolerant to cow’s milk-based formula. But when you drink milk or eat other dairy products (yogurt, ice cream, and cheese), these same allergens enter your breast milk. According to LLLI, symptoms of an allergy or sensitivity to dairy include colic and vomiting. We certainly don’t want that for our little one!

Mercury: Large amounts of mercury in your diet can cause problems with the development of your baby's nervous system. It is found in fish, and some fish such as shark, swordfish, albacore tuna, and king mackerel contain greater amounts of mercury than other fish. This doesn't mean you should avoid eating all fish: it's an important source of protein, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and omega-3 fatty acids.

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