Diet restrictions during pregnancy are common. But what you may not know is, some of these restrictions extend beyond delivery into the breastfeeding period. As your baby’s nutrition depends on you, following a proper diet is essential. Although you may relax the restraints a bit, there are some foods that you should avoid to ensure healthy nourishment for your little one. 

When it comes to the baby’s nourishment, there are a few alternatives to breast milk. Besides strengthening the infant’s immunity, breastfeeding helps the mother shed pregnancy weight faster. Through breastfeeding, the mother also enriches her bond with the baby and reduces the chances of developing breast cancer later.

Breastfeeding diet generally includes a lot of fruits, green vegetables, protein, dairy products and supplements. Bananas, mangoes, carrots, peas, beans, yoghurt, fat-free milk, and lean meat are some of the mother’s natural foods that enhance the baby’s nourishment. 

Also, knowing about the foods that you should avoid is essential, as they adversely affect the nutritional richness of breast milk. Let us list down the same so that you can be careful:

Seafood

Fishes and other edible marine animals may have an excess of mercury that can affect the cognitive development of the baby. They can even damage the infant’s Central Nervous System permanently. As a result, the baby may suffer from impaired speech and recognition, as well as underdeveloped motor skills. Hence, you may need to stay away from Tuna, Mackerel, Swordfish, Marlin, Tilefish and other marine organisms that have high mercury content. 

Caffeine

It is unwise to drink caffeine during pregnancy and the post-natal period when the baby is breastfeeding. Although you may have a cup of herbal tea in the morning, it is best to avoid drinking coffee. The caffeine may end up in the breast milk, thus leading to sleep disorders for the infant. The little ones do not have a fully-developed digestive system, so they can’t process caffeine as effectively as an adult. 

Garlic

The foods you eat determine the taste of the breast milk. Babies do not seem to enjoy the taste of garlic at all. So it is best to remove garlic from your diet for the period. However, garlic is a useful immunity-booster, and you can start eating it once your baby stops breastfeeding. If you want, you may get some effective mother care products from an online store to help reduce your cravings for the restricted foods. 

Alcohol

Alcohol beverages are a strict No-No for mothers while breastfeeding. They remain in your system for about three hours, and if you breastfeed during that time, the alcohol may end up in your baby’s underdeveloped digestive system. Needless to say what harm it can cause to your little one! So stay away from alcohol and keep your baby safe. 

Processed foods

If snacking on fried and processed foods is your thing, you may have to refrain from it for a while. Anything you eat or drink may end up in the milk, so stay away from oily and junk foods, like chips, patties, pizzas, pastries and the likes. 

Mothers leave no stone unturned to ensure proper health and wellbeing of their little ones. Abstaining from these foods is just a little sacrifice that they have to make for a short period. Once the baby starts having food on its own, the mother can go back to her diet, of course, at the doctor’s advice.