Beans in breast milk???

[LaMadrilena]

Hear me out, I know it's probably a daft question, but I'm quite sleep deprived and have been up to my knees in nappies since 3am...

Yesterday I had a big bean salad for lunch, with predictable consequences for me in the afternoon (I'm on mat leave, alone in the house, so noone to annoy!). Since early this morning, DD (13w, EBF) has been whingey and gassy and had loads of pooey nappies, when she'd usually only have 2-3. I noticed it last time I had bean salad too, but assumed it was a coincidence.

Can the gas-producing components of beans really be passed through breast milk and affect a baby? Surely not...

‘Research says not’
www.babycenter.com/baby/breastfeeding/is-it-safe-for-a-breastfeeding-mom-to-eat-beans-and-other-ga_10370376

All I know is that I had curry one night & baby had explosive diarrhoea (mid change, hit the nursery wall AND ME!) the next day.

My mum swore she couldn't eat cucumber (!) when she was breastfeeding me because it affected me through the milk.

I don't have an allergy to cucumber or anything like that so who knows, she must have noticed a change in my behaviour to think it though.

I never noticed any link between nappies and what I ate when I was bf my two but I guess some children may be sensitive to some things.

I BF all 4DC and my diet definitely affected their bowel movements.

So, I would say yup!

Diet can definitely affect things - eg you shouldn't eat grapes whilst breastfeeding as gives the baby very loose explosive poohs 🤣

I should also say the grape thing I was told by a midwife in hospital - so reliable source? - when she saw me eating grapes after my c section and she warned me of the impending consequences 🤣

During my pregnancy I loved to eat spicy curries but was told if BF to eat bland food! Lasted 2 weeks well when I caved and got a curry well next time I bf my DD she was like possessed attacking my boobs like a starved animal suffice to say she preferred the spicy version 😂

Research says no, experience says yes. Buffalo sauce was particularly consequential in our house!! Effect definitely lessened as he got older but earlier days was very noticeable when I ate certain foods. I wouldn't generally suggest changing your diet though, good for babies to get lots of different experiences in my opinion.

I got told off on here over a decade ago because I suggested that someone with a non- pooing baby might want to try drinking loads of orange juice before feeding. All I know is that it worked with mine 😂

Hahaha! I thought I was going to be told I was being ridiculous! And thanks for the laughs, much needed this afternoon!

I eat a lot of spicy food, and that doesn't seem to have any effect. Just the beans!

I’m going to say like everyone else that officially no, but plenty of people will give you anecdotes that it does. Only thing to wonder for me is that most of these foods that are problematic for feeding are also high in FODMAPs which are basically indigestible sugars, so if they did make it into the bloodstream and the milk it’s plausible at least.