Yes, You Can Eat That! The Breastfeeding Mom’s Diet

Every two blocks there is a coffee shop, and every two blocks I cringed and moped while I was pregnant. If only I could have a taste of that coffee. If only… if only I had that little “pick me up” in the morning to start my day off right. Oh yes I wanted that double caramel espresso latte with a dollop of whipped topping but I abstained throughout my entire pregnancy. Once this child was out of me, would I at least be able to enjoy my coffee again? There are so many things we are told to keep away from while pregnant, but does the same hold true while we are breastfeeding?

Coffee

Okay, coffee and caffeinated products were definitely something I was looking forward to indulging in once again as soon as my pregnancy was over. I mean, I was well behaved while I was pregnant – I deserved a little treat, right?

Good news is, you most certainly can drink coffee and enjoy caffeinated products while you’re breastfeeding. The key here is to enjoy these foods and drinks in moderation (try to limit it to a couple of cups a day), and to also monitor the potential effects it has on your child. Some moms found that their child would suck at the breast and sleep just as well as if they didn’t drink coffee, whereas other poor moms reported that their baby went into “hyper mode” and wouldn’t sleep for hours. See what works best for your child, and remember – there’s always decaf.

Tuna

Fish lovers, rejoice! You can enjoy that fresh tuna once again! You want to remember to keep the tuna consumption to perhaps twice a week because albacore tuna does still contain mercury. Some other high mercury fish you should limit are:

• Swordfish
• Shark
• Marlin
• Escolar

Many countries have zero restrictions on some fish for nursing moms, like:

• Salmon
• Cod
• Pollock
• Shrimp
• Mussels
• Scallops
• Sole
• Canned “light” tuna

Nuts

Here’s a tricky one: though you are technically allowed to consume nuts while you are breastfeeding, some children do actually have a reaction to the nuts you ate. The proteins in nuts enter into the mother’s breast milk, and the youngster may not be able to break down these proteins successfully, causing an allergic reaction.

So before you make a triple-layer peanut butter sandwich, stop and take off a layer or two. Start off by slowly introducing nuts into your diet and monitor your child to see what his or her reaction to them is. Continue to consume more every few days if your child appears to be tolerating them well.

Should you have any concerns about what you can and cannot eat while breastfeeding, talk to your health practitioner about what food are acceptable and what are not. You may be surprised just how much you can eat while you’re NOT pregnant!

photo by Matthew Bowden