Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Am i somehow damaging my 9 wk old by eating crap whilst breastfeeding?

56 replies

Mandymoo · 09/07/2006 19:46

I just crave stodge atm - cakes, biscuits, bread, pasta, chocolates etc etc etc

Am i doing longterm damage to my baby by eating this crap? BTW, i also manage to fit in my 5 portions of fruit and veg a day so i'm also having the healthy stuff!

What d'ya reckon?

OP posts:
moondog · 09/07/2006 19:48

Nah.
If it keeps you b/feeding,let it be.
(Much better than eating well and feeding your kid formula like a dietician friend of mine did. Eh???????)

QueenPeaHead · 09/07/2006 19:48

nope

beansprout · 09/07/2006 19:49

I don't think it will do your baby much harm. As I understand it, your body takes what it needs for pregnancy and b/feeding and you get the rest so it will be you who feels the effects of this diet more than the baby.

NotQuiteCockney · 09/07/2006 19:50

No. I think even if you were only eating crap, your baby would be fine. But if you're eating loads of not-very-nutritious stuff and having healthy food, too, maybe your body just needs it?

misdee · 09/07/2006 19:50

it'll only possibly harm them if you drop a warm cake on their heads when breastfeeding

MrsJohnCusack · 09/07/2006 19:51

nope, not at all

I craved stodge too. But be warned, it might damage your morale as you pile on the pounds!

moondog · 09/07/2006 19:51

Mine were covered in little drops of good red wine.

Original poster
Mandymoo · 09/07/2006 19:51

Misdee - PMSL!!!!!!

Thanks guys - guilt levels are receding as we speak!

OP posts:
SSSandy · 09/07/2006 19:52

Wouldn't harm to avoid additives I suppose. Pasta is ok with a nice healthy sauce.

alex8 · 09/07/2006 19:52

I dropped curry on my 4 weeks olds sons head while bf.

I had whole days of eating crap as I seemed to be bf all day and only had time to grab a bag of crisps and chocolate. I was also compensating for being very goos whilst haveing gestational diabets in the last 2 months.

Original poster
Mandymoo · 09/07/2006 19:52

BTW - i am 2 stone overweight - baby is 9 weeks old and i am feeling extremely frumpy. Comfort eating? Me? Nah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
SlightlyFamiliarPeachyClair · 09/07/2006 19:54

(remind me never to eat one of Misdee's cakes if theya r that heavy they can damage small children )

SSSandy · 09/07/2006 19:58

Mandymoo, are you out much? I used to go for a brisk walk pushing the buggy twice a day for miles sometimes. Stops you eating at least and you do tone up quite quickly that way.

moondog · 09/07/2006 20:00

Oh Mandy,bollocks to the weight.That can be dealt with later.
Anything that keeps a breastfeeding mum happy (short of crack cocaine) is resoundingly endorsed.

Papillon · 09/07/2006 20:04

I eat a mixture of wonderful food and crap and bf. Long term it could diminish the health if not done with healthy diet, so would effect you more. A woman I know claims to have not produced after back milk so baby getting low grade milk. Not sure about this "scientifically"

there was a thread aobut milk quality the ohter day actually - you´ll have to look for it though

moondog · 09/07/2006 20:07

Tiktok I'm sure could point you in direction of links re women in the developing who are starving yet continue to produce adequate milk
(hence the foolish if well meant actions of charities bringing in formula in times of food crises)

It really is not going to be a problem in our society.

NotQuiteCockney · 09/07/2006 20:14

Sushi is the ideal food for bf, because:

  1. You've been avoiding it throughout pregnancy (well, maybe)

  2. You can eat it very easily one-handed

  3. If you drop some on the baby's head, it's not heavy or hot, so does no harm.

ginmummy · 09/07/2006 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SenoraPostrophe · 09/07/2006 20:28

blimey - I saw the title and was going to post that no, you're not damaging baby, but you might not be doing yourself any favours. But then I saw the post - no worries at all!

CorrieDale · 09/07/2006 20:34

DS was a cluster feeder so I frequently had to blow biscuit crumbs off him. Not sure what he made of it all. One minute he's in a lovely dark warm womb, the next his feeds are being interrupted by his loony mummy flicking crumbs off him, or dropping pasta sauce on his head.

DollyP · 09/07/2006 20:46

I ate chocolate hob nobs by the packet as my body craved the sweetness... When you are not sleepoing, you need to be kind to yourself with food and drink. Anything which makes you happy and keeps you feeding can only be a good thing. I would worry about the weight once DB is giving you a bit more kip

Drink plenty of water though - BF always seemed to make me very thirsty and I got even more tired unless I drank gallons of water (with the odd glass of wine thrown in !!)

emmawill · 09/07/2006 20:53

Oh I think we're made to feel guilty about everything, least you are breastfeeding that's the main thing and if your body is craving sweet things you obviously need the engery at the moment.

Your're doing well by breastfeeding give yourself a break and don't feel guilty feel proud your're giving your baby the best possible start and your eating your 5 fruit and veg a day, your're doing really well.

Mojomummy · 09/07/2006 21:10

probably a bit controversial here, but breast fed babies to starving women don't thrive...anyway, the thread was about craving stodge so......are you eating a balanced diet ? ie getting enough decent protein - not talking low carb here, but a good combination of protein/carb/fat.

Well done for getting your 5 portions of fruit & veg, but remember to make sure you get the other balance right.

Just seen you're thread about losing 2 stone - what would you say you ate on an average day ?

archiesmummy · 09/07/2006 21:26

I'd say carry on eating what you fancy mandymoo. I ate lots (and I mean like one 200gram dairymilk a day!!!) of chocolate in the first 2 months, then. Must have eaten too much, coz ds got a rash, so now I don't get to eat any.. But I'm sure you are more sensible than I am.

Elf1981 · 09/07/2006 21:27

When I was breastfeeding I craved pastas, breads, cakes, pork and stuffing cobs, chicken and mini spring rolls. I ate my 5 portions of fruit and veg on most days.
This was all contray to when I was pregnant when I'd only eat chicken, chip cobs and spring rolls. Everything else made me heave, including fruit and veg. I remember Easter Sunday having a roast dinner at my mums and throwing up and bloody chewed carrots coming down my nose.
So my breastfeeding didn't bother me as it was an improvement on what I had been eating!!
When she was seven months I returnd to work and started WW diet, which I think hand in hand affected my milk production but we seem to be back on an even keal now.
So no, I wouldn't worry, and I envy your ability to breastfeed and feed yourself - I could do on or the other, still can only do one at a time and my dd is 9 months old!