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Keep Your Newborn Healthy: What to Avoid While Breastfeeding

August 28, 2024

mom breastfeeding newborn in bed

August marks Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a time to celebrate lactation and its benefits. But even though breastfeeding is beneficial, it’s not always easy.

Memorial Family Birthplace provides the support you need wherever you are in your breastfeeding journey. We offer breastfeeding and lactation services and education so you can give your baby the best start in life.

Read more about lactation benefits and what to avoid consuming during breastfeeding to keep your newborn healthy.

Why Breastfeed?

Breastfeeding is a beautiful way to bond with your baby after birth. It also offers several benefits as you and your child enter this new phase of life.

Breastmilk’s benefits start with its ingredients. Your breastmilk changes to meet your baby’s nutritional needs as they grow. It has the ideal combination of proteins, fats, vitamins, carbohydrates and antibodies. This is how breastmilk decreases your baby’s risk of health issues, including:

  • Asthma
  • Ear infections
  • Respiratory infections
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Breastfeeding is helpful for mothers, too. While on the go, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you can breastfeed any time and anywhere. Nursing will also comfort your baby during an interrupted routine. 

Studies also show that women who breastfeed have a lower risk of several conditions and diseases, including:

  • Heart disease
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Postpartum depression
  • Pre-menopausal breast cancer
  • Type 2 diabetes

Keep Your Breastmilk Safe for Your Baby

When breastfeeding, it’s essential to fuel your body correctly. Well-rounded nutrition will enhance your health — and your baby’s growth. Your diet should include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and dairy products. As best practice, add 300–500 extra calories to your diet and continue with prenatal vitamins. Just remember that moderation is always key.

While getting your calories in is important, there are some things to avoid consuming while breastfeeding.

Cannabis

“With the legalization of marijuana for both medical and recreational use, many families assume that it is safe for pregnancy and lactation,” says Mona Tabbara, MD, a board-certified neonatologist at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. “In fact, it is not safe to use marijuana during pregnancy and lactation.”

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main part of cannabis that creates a high feeling. THC moves from a mother’s blood into her breastmilk. Your fat cells store THC, so it stays in your body longer than you’d think. A most recent study show that THC levels in breastmilk peak one hour after use and remain in your system for six days.

The exact effects of cannabis in breastmilk are still unknown. But, studies show that THC can cause several issues for your baby, including:

  • Delayed motor development
  • Long-term neurological problems
  • Poor sucking when breastfeeding
  • Slowed growth

Alcohol

When it comes to alcohol, avoiding it altogether is always the safest option. The alcohol level in your bloodstream is the same as in your breastmilk. If you do consume alcohol, limit your consumption to one standard drink. According to the CDC, you should wait at least 2–3 hours after one drink to let alcohol levels decrease before nursing.

Excessive alcohol consumption might decrease milk production during breastfeeding. It can also negatively affect your infant’s development, growth and sleep patterns.

Tobacco

When breastfeeding, it’s best to quit tobacco and electronic cigarette use completely. Tobacco products and vaping devices contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals. These chemicals pass to an infant through breastmilk. Smoking also decreases prolactin, the hormone that fuels milk production.

Beyond breastfeeding, cigarettes and vaping devices also pose secondhand smoke dangers to your infant. As a result, this increases their risk of:

  • Ear infections
  • Impaired lung function
  • Lower respiratory illnesses, like bronchitis and pneumonia
  • SIDS

Caffeine

Like alcohol and nicotine, caffeine also passes into breastmilk. It has been recommended to limit caffeinated beverages to less than 300 mg per day while breastfeeding. This includes coffee, tea, and soda. Too much caffeine can make your baby fussy and make it harder for them to sleep.

Certain Foods

Several foods can also be harmful to your newborn. Here are a few foods to stay away from during breastfeeding:

  • Fish: Fish is an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. However, some fish contain high levels of mercury, which slows the development of your baby’s nervous system. Always research to know your seafood’s mercury levels while breastfeeding.
  • Garlic: Foods with strong flavors, like garlic and onions, often impact the taste of breastmilk. The unpleasant flavor can cause your baby to refuse to nurse.
  • “Gassy” foods: Foods that give you gas, such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and broccoli, can do the same to your baby and make them uncomfortable.

Breastfeeding Classes and Support

We understand that you know your body and baby best. That’s why it’s important to have breastfeeding routines and goals that work for you. We’ll be here to provide guidance and support every step of the way.

Memorial Family Birthplace offers online lactation classes and support groups. We are here to help you learn breastfeeding basics in a safe, judgment-free space. Our lactation consultants work closely with you to support your breastfeeding goals, so you and your child get the care you deserve.

Register for any of the following lactation classes and support groups: