Choosing to breastfeed your baby is a huge responsibility. There are
certain things you need to take into account while breastfeeding. You
must pay close attention to what you ingest and what activities you do
that may affect your baby while nursing them.Choosing to breastfeed your baby is a huge responsibility. There are certain things you need to take into account while breastfeeding. You must pay close attention to what you ingest and what activities you do that may affect your baby while nursing them. Medicines, foods, liquids, and other substances can seep into your breast milk. Drinking alcohol and lots of caffeine is frowned upon while nursing your baby. It is up to you as the responsible mother to make sure that the baby only receives nutritious material from your milk, otherwise you may be putting them in danger.
What Should I Avoid While Breastfeeding?
- Alcohol
This can pass through your milk to your baby. A drink once in a while is fine, but you have to avoid drinking large amounts. If you are planning on having a couple drinks, feed your baby beforehand and pump a few bottles. This will allow you a little time to rid your body of alcohol before you have to breastfeed again. - Common Foods That Cause Allergies
Babies are prone to picking up allergies early in life. To lessen the risk of them having an allergic reaction, try staying away from the foods that are known to trigger reactions. This would include nuts, shellfish, and dairy foods. - Caffeine
If a mother drinks lots of caffeine rich beverages she may find that the baby has a hard time sleeping. This is due to the caffeine making its way into the breast milk. To avoid this from happening, lessen your caffeine intake significantly. - Avoid Medication
Many of the medications available today have not been tested on pregnant or nursing women. That means that researchers and doctors have very little knowledge about the effects a medication might have on a nursing child. Most OTC drugs are fine if taken in moderation, but obviously you will want to stay away from drugs that were not prescribed to you and even some herbal remedies. - Smoking
Smoking can actually cause a woman to produce less milk for the babies. The second-hand smoke the child may be breathing in can cause them to be fussy and experience diarrhea and even vomiting. The smoke can also put the baby at a higher risk for SIDS and pneumonia. Try quitting, and if you can’t, at least do not smoke around the baby.
While breastfeeding try to do as much as you can to keep your milk production good and nutritious. It is fine if you need to pump and freeze some milk so you can have a nice night on the town every now and then, but you should always keep the baby’s health as your priority.