To ask what I can't eat when breastfeeding?

[CustardCreamLover]

My husband has decided he has a medical degree and is now trying to dictate what I can and can't eat while breastfeeding. According to him I definitely can't eat chocolate and all vegetables have to be cooked to a mush. I think this is all crap especially reading advice from NHS and such like.
And to be honest reading the internet I shouldn't eat anything apart from air 🙄

So maybe if there are some medical professionals out there who can tell me what I can't eat I can take it to him (although multiple midwives in the hospital told us that there isn't anything off limits just in moderation and apparently he still knows better because it's what his mother and sister have done). Because otherwise I think I'm going to divorce him.

Also my baby is 5 weeks old and has started to stop drinking milk, he just sucks but doesn't swallow. Any advice for that?

I'm tired of being made to feel like my opinion means nothing.

You can eat what you like.

You can even drink alcohol though don't over do it for multiple other reasons.

You should divorce him for trying to take chocolate off a breastfeeding woman.

I EBF 2 babies and ate everything, although if I ate stuff that had a lot of onion they would get gassy. No onions in a nice bar of chocolate.

If your baby is still producing wet and dirty nappies they are probably satisfied but still having a little comfort suckle and it's nothing to worry about.

If your baby isn't feeding at all then you need to go to A&E immediately

You can eat everything. And eating lots of things like peanut butter is also good as it helps to reduce allergy risk. There's a lot on the internet about cows milk protein allergies but they're actually very very rare in fully breastfed babies - don't limit yourself unless you have to, not least because you risk osteoporosis.

Good luck and congratulations!

What do you mean he's stopped drinking milk? Is he having wet nappies? How are you feeding him if he's apparently not getting anything from the breast?

Seek help regarding failing to feed but you can eat what you like. It's pharmaceuticals you've got to be careful with.

I also just saw the thing about not swallowing, if you are sure about this you should contact your gp or HV immediately.

It's a bit controlling, isn't it?

You can eat anything you like but I'd recommend trying to eat a healthy range of foods. You certainly don't need them cooked to mush! You also need additional calories to some extent but not loads. Make sure you are well hydrated and drinking lots of water.

Not sure about your baby - can you hear him swallowing? Is he having plenty of wet nappies and gaining weight? Does he suffer from wind at all? I'd get along to a breastfeeding support group and get your latch checked.

It’s only 80% dark chocolate that should be avoided during breastfeeding.*

*based on no scientific evidence whatsoever but tell him that so he shuts up and buy yourself a massive Easter Egg to eat tonight.

You can eat anything!

Kellymom is a good source of referenced information (rather than hearsay...) kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-foods/ - lots of information here including "There are NO foods that a mother should avoid simply because she is breastfeeding."
Is your baby not drinking milk at all, or is it just that feeds are getting shorter? Many babies do suddenly get more efficient around 4-6 weeks. How has weight gain been until now?

Your DH is being weird.

Of course you can eat chocolate. Chocolate is good for you - it'll make you feel happier when you're exhausted and your husband is blending your carrots to a consistency the baby could eat himself.

Oats are good so I recommend chocolate covered flapjacks. Do not share with your DH. Science DEFINATELY proves that if you share with DH his penis will fall off.

Not sure if you're still meant to avoid things like honey and blue cheese etc.

If you boil veg to mush you loose all their goodness. Tell your DH he is stealing yours and DS's nutrients and he should repay you in chocolate.

Has he gone back to work yet? Can you send him?

He's been reading the US guide I think! The only things to avoid are things that may be affecting your baby through your milk. It's advised to limit caffeine and alcohol

Of course you can eat chocolate - that's what new mums survive on. Without chocolate we'd be extinct.

They can mess about on the nipple but if it's all your baby does I would speak to the HV today. I practically had them on speed dial for the first four months.

Do you think he's confusing you with a weaning infant? Hence the mush and no chocolate?

You can eat anything and can even drink alcohol

He eats for about five minutes and then just sucks. When I try and reattach him he shakes his head and sucks his hands instead. This is in the last 2 days. He has wet nappies but hasn't really poo'd in 36 hours some but nothing spectacular like he was before!

Thank you for the link I'll look at it. I like referenced info (science degree)

You can eat anything you want! I celebrated the end of pregnancy with blue cheese and paté!!

However, it sounds as if you need some help with latch - at that age I would expect a lot more poo and it could be a sign that he's not getting nearly enough.

You could ring the National Breastfeeding Helpline - 0300 100 0212. The supporters are excellent, have all breastfed and are well trained. Do you have a breastfeeding support group in your area?

He's 5 weeks old, it's perfectly possible that he has become more efficient at feeding and is getting a full feed in 5 minutes. I would offer the other side if he seems done after 5 minutes. Also poo patterns can change at this age to your only looking at pooing everyday in a baby under 4 weeks. After that in breastfeeding anything can go from every feed to once a week.

As long a he's having lots of wet nappies, is having some alert time. Is activity asking for milk and isn't overly sleepy then he should be fine. Only reason to be concerned would be if he didn't produce any wet nappies or they got very light in weight and he got sleepy.

Actually sounds like your doing a great job and tell you DH you need cake and chocolate to produce great milk (which you don't but just to wind him up). You can eat anything you like.

Also tell DH that baby needs crunchy veg and chocolate in his milk!!

My daughter used to nurse for just a few minutes at a time. It meant I was feeding her CONSTANTLY. Does he feed often OP? Are you stressed? When my daughter really kicked off with refusal it was because I was stressed over my father's death and funeral (and subsequent familial drama).

Eat what you want! Your husband can do one ;) Just don't get mashed on the booze and it'll all be fine. Alternatively if baby is having a hard tummy time you might want to avoid anything carbonated - took me WEEKS to figure out that was the issue with my son.

Goodness me, I can’t imagine the damage I’ve done in the last three years of breastfeeding whilst consuming my own body weight in chocolate hobnobs. I also ate nothing but Brie for a week after both births.

You’re fine op. Tell your husband to step away from the Internet. Preferably whilst eating an entire block of chocolate. If you’re worried about latch though, ask your HV about help you can get.

Babies can get really efficient when breastfeeding. My daughter used to be able to do a full feed in only a couple mins. It's also quite normal for breastfed babies to go a good few days without poos. As long as dc is putting on weight and having plenty of wet nappies and poo isn't hard and pellet like when it does come on then they are probably fine. I couldn't drink tons of caffiene when breastfeeding as it made her grouchy but could eat anything.