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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

diet and normalising bf..?

39 replies

squizita · 07/12/2014 09:06

Just from forums and talking to friends, I wonder if the nhs needs to emphasise that breastfeeding is NOT like pregnancy in that you can eat what you like and have (small) drinks.
There do seem to be still these myths about dairy, cabbage, coffee ... of course some cut them out but everyone doesn't have to.
I know friends who tried but "wanted to eat cheese and wine" again so quit early. No one told them the rules for pregnancy are different.

I often come across it in blogs (eg one today bemoaning a teetotal Xmas as her toddler still bfs once a day).

OK I sound a glutton but if it were true it would put me off! I have a small beer or glass of wine with my dinner and eat what I like. I even got someone query it once - I snapped "I'm not PREGNANT it's a baby belly" Grin

Anyway with this "tell women what to do" culture it would be nice to ensure people knew...

OP posts:
JollyCrumbs · 09/12/2014 23:18

I don't restrict my diet at all. And I do get drunk sometimes. My BFer is 15mo though. If I stopped drinking while BFing (as well as while pregnant) I wouldn't have had an alcoholic drink since July 2010.

Hazchem · 10/12/2014 05:53

squizita this meme might make your head explode. I think it's the sort of thing you are talking about.

diet and normalising bf..?
Original poster
squizita · 10/12/2014 09:04

Yep it's complete rubbish!
If anything foods like garlic and many spices have natural antibacterials! Apparently many babies like milk better from garlic eating mamas if that's what they're used to.

Now if someone would invent a type of sudafed I can take while BFIng without risking low supply I would give them my right leg!!! Grin Sniff sniff. Dan right I'm having coffee and strong flavours, with a cold it's what I need.

OP posts:
FoodieMum3 · 10/12/2014 11:04

I'm EBF my 12w old and I've never noticed anything affect him. My Heath visitor told me to avoid cabbage as it upsets their tummies but I've eaten it and again, no difference.

I didn't drink coffee until he was maybe 6 weeks. Now I drink 1 or even 2, as well as tea everyday. He has never seemed to behave any differently, he's a very chilled out baby.

I will have a glass of wine with meals over Christmas. I don't know much about it and find the advice so conflicting so wasn't happy to drink alcohol before he is 12 weeks.

I agree with the op. So many myths bout bf which could possibly discourage breastfeeding, especially after a long 9 months of abstinence!

eurochick · 10/12/2014 11:13

I think you have been unlucky, OP. No one has tried to tell me I should be avoiding any foods or drink. I've had whatever I fancied mainly cake including coffee and modest amounts of alcohol. The only thing I think twice about is alcohol. I will be glad when I can resume guilt-free drinking after months of pregnancy and bfing! At the moment, it is always in the back of my mind that I shouldn't have too much etc.

FoodieMum3 · 10/12/2014 11:16

How old is your baby euroChick? I would kill for a glass of wine but I've read that it needs to be drank after baby has fed and isn't due to feed.

The problem with my ds is that he's a grazer and feeds very often. He's never 'not due' to be fed Hmm

SuseB · 10/12/2014 11:37

squizita - Otrivine decongestant drops (over the counter). They act locally so are fine during bf Smile

Original poster
squizita · 10/12/2014 11:49

Foodie search this forum - Tiktok has wise words on wine! Basically the nhs say 2 hrs to stop mum getting blotto ... not because of damage to baby! A glass or 2 with food is perfectly ok. Youd be pissed before anything harmful happened. Definitely ok past the newborn phase (though my mw said its ok from birth).

OP posts:
Original poster
squizita · 10/12/2014 11:50

Suze THINK YOU!!!!

OP posts:
FoodieMum3 · 10/12/2014 11:57

Thank you squizita. Roll on christmas Grin Grin

Mrscog · 10/12/2014 12:06

Yeah - the alcohol thing is ridiculous. I used to sit down to breastfeed with a glass of wine! I figured it was the best time as the alcohol would go to the milk just after I'd finished feeding, and hopefully more or less dissipate within the 2-3 hours before the next one.

Maybe NHS advice should be 'you can have 1 drink or so, and it's best to drink it during a feed' :D Lol

Original poster
squizita · 10/12/2014 13:03

The trouble is with women our silly little brains can't understand "2-3 units" or 1 or 2 glasses. We're either ditty bimbos or desperate housewives craving a morning martini.
Well that's what the civil servants and politicians assume!
Xmas Wink

OP posts:
NickyEds · 10/12/2014 15:55

Noone ever really badgered me about what I was eating whilst bf-if anything people were the other way around saying "go ahead you can eat anything and not gain weight!! you're Bf!!" (not true by the waySad!). I got quite drunk a few times but when you've had a year off a couple of glasses gets you quite drunk. My sister, who bf all three of hers, said to have as much as you like but pass the baby to someone else if you think you're going to fall over or throw up!! I didn't go that far. I also pumped and dumped, probably quite unnecessarily but as ds was mix fed it wasn't as important as if he were ebf.

weebairn · 10/12/2014 19:00

Yeah, "you can eat as much as you want when bf" is definitely bollocks for most people. I ate healthily and sensibly and lost all the pregnancy weight, but it took the usual 9 months. If I'd mainlined cake I'm sure I wouldn't have lost anything!

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