What a breastfeeding mother eats and drinks directly impacts her baby. At times, what she eats can cause her baby discomfort or excess gas. Some infants have a condition called gastroesophageal reflux (GER), more commonly known as heartburn. Pay close attention to your diet to stay healthy, keep your milk supply up, and help your baby to be healthy, satisfied and comfortable. Identifying food allergies also is helpful because GER is occasionally caused by allergies.
An Ideal Diet
Town and Country Pediatrics recommends that breastfeeding mothers take in an additional 500 to 600 calories. Choosing nutrient-rich foods, such as dairy products, vegetables, fruits and lean meats, helps keep your body healthy and produce enough milk for your baby. Eat foods with excess fat, sugar, salt and cholesterol rarely or not at all to supply your baby with the healthiest breast milk possible. These things also impact your well-being, so if you avoid them, you will find yourself healthier as a result.
Additionally, being well-hydrated is important, especially during breastfeeding. You will probably find yourself thirsty much of the time, so simply listen to your body to determine how much water you should have.
Because alcohol passes through breast milk, feed your baby before having an alcoholic drink. La Leche League (LLL) of Northern Arizona says that it takes an average of two to three hours for the alcohol to leave your system, so after consuming one alcoholic drink, wait at least three hours before nursing again. After moderate or heavy drinking, do not breastfeed your baby; rather, pump and dump out the breast milk.
What is GER?
The LLL explains that "GER occurs when the muscle at the entrance to the stomach fails to keep the stomach contents in the stomach." Common symptoms of GER include fussiness, sudden and inconsolable crying, pain, trouble swallowing, frequent spitting up and slow weight gain. This diagnosis is usually based on the parents' description of the baby's symptoms. According to pediatrician Dr. William Sears, GER is less common in breastfed babies, and reflux occurs more when babies are crying.
Allergies Linked to GER
Reflux.org reveals that allergies can be a cause of GER. According to LLL, babies have a 30 percent chance of having the same allergies as their parents. The best treatment for food allergies is to avoid the consumption of foods containing allergens. Mothers should avoid foods she and the father are allergic to while she is pregnant and breastfeeding.
If neither the mother nor father have known food allergies, an elimination diet may be necessary to determine what is causing the baby's allergic reactions. Eliminate the suspected foods for two to three weeks and watch to find out if the GER symptoms go away. If this seems to help, reintroduce suspected food(s), one at a time. Wait at least two weeks before adding a new food, as it can take up to 10 days for a reaction to occur.
According to Reflux.org, "Foods which may cause allergic reactions can include eggs, dairy products, oranges, tomatoes, fish, peanuts, corn, wheat, and soy. Some mothers have also found that eliminating caffeine, nicotine, and artificial flavorings and preservatives is helpful."
Baby's Position
How the baby is positioned makes an impact in her GER symptoms. Place the baby in a sling or a front carrier when possible. Keep her upright to lessen her discomfort. Dr. Sears says, "Babies with severe reflux sleep best on their stomach and propped up at a 30-degree angle by elevating the head of the crib." He also recommends keeping the baby upright for at least 30 minutes following a feeding.
Other Health Issues Related To GER
Dr. Sears considers GER one of the most common causes of colic. It may also cause coughing or wheezing in infants and young children for which there is no other obvious source.
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