The Great “Gassy Food” Breastfeeding Myth

Summary: Breastfeeding diet has many myths related to it. Here we have listed some myths that you should certainly avoid.

Pregnancy brings with itself many trials and tribulations for soon to be mothers. Health problems, bodily changes and hormonal fluctuations all push your energy levels to extreme. However being a mother and that feeling is worth all the tribulations you go through. Still after pregnancy your woes are not over and you have to make sure that your newborn is healthy and fine.

There are a lot of myths about taking care of newborns. Most of these are connected in one way or the other to breastfeeding. It is mandatory to breastfeed babies for the first six months. If you are breast feeding or planning to, you must have heard a lot about what kinds of food to eat and what to avoid. Mostly every one casts out food that can be remotely termed as spicy, citrus or gassy. But the thing is most of these assumptions are just myths. Here we find out what should be your approach towards breastfeeding and what all myths you should avoid.

The fact

Flavoring of mother’s milk is straight from the diet she is on. This is actually how your baby first gets the exposure to your diet and responds to same food items late on as solid diet. Studies show that babies who are breastfed take up solid foods much readily as compared to those who are formula-fed. It is therefore easier to feed baby the same diet later on, which mother feeds on during breastfeeding.

Another myth is that babies don’t like the milk that is flavored with certain strong spices or other foods. It is just a myth; according to a study some mothers nursed their babies after eating garlic. Instead of what is commonly assumed these babies suckled longer for more milk.

Culture also plays a great role in forming opinions about the myths of breastfeeding. For instance in India it is considered good to eat garlic for breastfeeding while in Italy it is a strict no for breastfeeding moms.

What’s Best Then?

So if you are wondering what are the best foods to eat during pregnancy then the answer is Variety. Yes, make sure to include a lot of food in your diet so as to expose your baby to many flavors. It will help him or her to easily pick the food preferences later on during growth years.

Just don’t get any ideas if you see your baby fussing after breastfeeding. This can be simply because of any health problem like teething or a missed nap or simple irritation. Just don’t make changes in your diet because you believe during breastfeeding some foods make you gassy or are bad for baby. Always focus on bigger picture and try to include a variety of food in your diet. This will also build natural tolerance in your child making him/her stronger.

These are the important points about breastfeeding myths that you should keep into account.

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