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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Does chocolate really improve milk supply?

23 replies

MrsDoolittle · 23/03/2006 21:25

I know we have to look after ourselves when we are breastfeeding but as I understand it if we are breatfeeding we will produce milk according to the babies requirements no matter how we eat or drink on any given day.
So my question is this. Does chocolate really improve your milk supply?
Also I have had a headache today and I suspect I haven't been drinking enough. My 5 week old ds is very unsettled this evening, he doesn't seem to be getting enough. Is it possible this is because I haven't eaten or drunk properly today?

OP posts:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 23/03/2006 21:27

Never heard of that before. Mind you, it hasnt done my milk supply a detriment AT ALL the last 11 months Grin

singyswife · 23/03/2006 21:28

Hi, I remeber when i was BF DD1 I was told that you had to eat x amount of calories a day to help keep your strength and your milk supply up. I was told it was the equivelant of 2 bananas on top of what you were eating a day. Also drinking loads definately helps with the milk supply not to mention keeping you awake. Just drink and eat more ( I know its easier said than done cause you cant find the time).

catj · 23/03/2006 21:29

There may being something in the chocolate theory as I have heard that an old gypsy remedy to improve milk supply in mares is to feed them cocoa powder. Anyway who needs an excuse to eat chocolate Grin

NotQuiteCockney · 23/03/2006 21:30

From what I know, your milk supply is essentially unaffected by what you eat and drink. Ok, if you are starving, or seriously dehydrated, that might make a difference, but generally, your baby will always get enough, no matter what you do.

I wonder if your DS is aware of you being out of sorts, and is unsettled because of that?

MummyPig · 23/03/2006 21:40

kellymom.com has \link{http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html\loads of info about milk supply} including a list of herbs or remedies which are supposed to increase milk supply. but I've had a quick look and sorry, chocolate isn't on the list! I swear by oatmeal and fennel tea myself (not together, mind you Smile) but I know they aren't to everyone's liking.

Stuff I've read says that your milk supply isn't supposed to be affected by how much you drink but I have definitely felt it's gone down if I haven't been drinking enough - don't know if this is a psychological effect only but it feels real enough to me.

But I also remember with both ds1 and ds2 going through stages of thinking that I had problems with milk supply, because they were fussing or because they wanted to feed more frequently than before. I think we mums question our own abilities a lot of the time, but often the fussiness or whatever is due to completely different reasons - growth spurts being a common one. I'm not a bf counsellor and I'm sure there are other people on here who can give you more reassurance (and lots of good info on kellymom.com too) but I wouldn't automatically assume that his state is just down to how much milk he's getting.

hth

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 23/03/2006 21:44

That's just it. He's been fussing terribly tonight which is unusual.

OP posts:
tiktok · 24/03/2006 11:48

No, chocolate won't improve the milk supply :)

Nor will your intake of fluids. The work that exists on fluid intake shows it makes no difference \link{http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2235228&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum\for example this study}

When young babies are fussy, just feed. Maybe he wants more milk - no problem, just give it to him :)

Highlander · 24/03/2006 12:07

oh, tiktok you spoilsport Wink

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 24/03/2006 13:49

Also wondered if it could be the Balti curry I ate last night.
He's fine today and we had one of the best night so far.

OP posts:
koolkat · 24/03/2006 14:21

Chocolate increases supply ?? Sounds like a good excuse MrsD Grin

MrsD - it's not scientific I know, but in lots of countries nursing mothers avoid spicey food. I was certain that my DS didn't mind me eating anything, but I noticed after a while that he was more fussy after garlic or spicey food.

Sorry, tiktok, I know this is anecdotal, not scientific, but when I cut out the spicey food and garlic he stopped fussing Smile

poppiesinaline · 24/03/2006 14:30

Someone once told me that chocolate improves milk etc but then someone else told me that chocolate can cause colic :(.

tiktok · 24/03/2006 16:47

There's bags of anecdotal evidence that spicy foods seem to have an effect on the milk and an effect on babies as a result - I don't dismiss it, though I think it's very likely that often, babies are fussy and their mothers then look for a cause and there isn't really a dietary one, it just appears so. But in some cases, it could be true.

That's quite different from saying chocolate or anything else affects supply or overall quality.

There's a few reports of excessive caffeine causing restlessness - but the amount of caffeine in chocolate is really quite small unless you eat loads and loads and loads :)

purplemonkeydishwasher · 24/03/2006 17:06

Most BF moms that I know CRAVE chocolate and sweet things - even if they didn't have a sweet tooth before.
Makes you think that you need the sugar. Or maybe i'm just looking for an excuse to go have another biscuit...

hunkermunker · 24/03/2006 17:09

If your baby is fussy, it's natural to assume it's something you've drunk/eaten/not eaten/not drunk.

It usually isn't.

It's because...and this is the secret of all this parenting angst...wait for it...

babies are funny buggers.

Remember that and you won't go far wrong.

Oh, and it helps to know that toddlers are barking too.

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 24/03/2006 22:23

You might ne right hunker - he's fine tonight! Smile

Any ideas on how I can get him out of my bed now? He fidgets terribly

OP posts:
beartime · 24/03/2006 22:35

In America EVERYONE told me don't eat chocolate when you're bfing cos the baby gets upset - and its true - it happens every time. I always justify it to myself like yesterday - 'I'll just eat these three areo bars Grin cos I'm sure he's grown out of it by now' and today - unexplainable crying, waking up out of nap, and general irritability which is abnormal except that it happens every time I eat chocolate the day before!

DormirProfondement · 24/03/2006 22:36

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

chocolate, milk supply, hahahahaha!!!

You've been conned love!

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 24/03/2006 22:38

Damn!! And I was sooo getting into it! Grin

OP posts:
motherinferior · 24/03/2006 22:39

I imagine new mothers crave chocolate because they're absolutely exhausted, surely?

DormirProfondement · 24/03/2006 22:40

I craved doughnuts with pink icing and purple green pink and yellow sprinkles. I put that down to being exhausted too, I needed them. Perfectly understandable.

beartime · 25/03/2006 07:22

Ds is often popping on and off in the evening, and I've found if I make a real effort to relax it helps - maybe because there is less milk in the evening (though still enough) so relaxing helps the letdown work better?

koolkat · 25/03/2006 08:07

dormir - 21 months I still justify eating all kinds of junk (esp. cream cakes....yummmmm) because I am bf a toddler and I need the energy Grin

madamechocolat · 25/03/2006 08:10

My midwife eg advised lots of white nuts eg cashews/brazil nuts but no peanuts.....
I ate chocolate!

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