World Breastfeeding Week 2023: Foods to avoid during breastfeeding

While breastfeeding, it is important to be mindful of what you eat, as some foods can affect both the baby’s health and the quality of breast milk. ...read more

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Published on Aug 07, 2023 11:23 AM IST

World Breastfeeding Week is observed every year in the first week of August (1-7) and is supported by WHO and UNICEF. This year’s theme will focus on breastfeeding and work. Nutritionist Lovneet Batra in her recent Instagram post talks about foods to avoid during breastfeeding. (Unsplash)

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Raw vegetables: Consumption of raw vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli can cause gas in the mother’s bowel; there is also possibility for mother to suffer from food poisoning. (Shutterstock)

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Coffee: Coffee is a common source of caffeine and babies have a hard time breaking down and getting rid of it. As a result, large amounts of the substance over time could accumulate in your baby’s system, causing irritability and trouble sleeping. (Bloomberg File)

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High mercury fish: Bigeye tuna, King mackerel, and Marlin fish are high in mercury, a metal that can be toxic — especially in infants and kids, who are more sensitive to mercury poisoning. Acute exposure to high levels of mercury can permanently affect your infant’s central nervous system. As a result, they may have delays or impairments. (Freepik)

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Peppermint/sage/parsley: The herbs parsley, sage, and peppermint are in a class called anti-galactagogues, because they are known to decrease breast milk production. (Pixabay)

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Alcohol: Abstaining from alcohol is the safest option during breastfeeding. Alcohol inhibits your milk ejection (let down) reflex. This makes it harder for the baby to get your milk. Moreover, alcohol consumption can decrease the infant’s milk intake by 20 to 23% and cause infant agitation and poor sleep patterns. (Unsplash)