Learning what food to avoid while breast-feeding

Dear Dr. Donya,

I always read your column and today I am preparing to deliver my baby. My question is which foods should I avoid when I am breast-feeding?

-- Anna

Dear Anna,

Mothers and their nursing babies need a healthy, well-balanced diet with as few restrictions as possible.

In general, alcohol is the only dietary item that you should avoid during breast-feeding. You can pass alcohol to your baby through breast milk in a concentration similar to that in your own blood. Alcohol may impair your baby's development. Alcohol may also interfere with your ability to nurse by impairing milk release.

Caffeine also passes into breast milk. Excess caffeine may make an infant irritable and restless. However, one or two servings of caffeinated soda, coffee or tea each day shouldn't be a problem.

If you have a family history of food allergies, such as to cow's milk, you may want to discuss this with your doctor. He or she can determine if this may be a problem and if you should avoid certain foods while breast-feeding.

Occasionally, babies may seem sensitive to something in their mother's diet. Many foods may alter the taste and odor of breast milk. However, it's unlikely that your baby will be bothered by them or that you would need to eliminate these foods from your diet.

Babies can act cranky or fussy at times. Sometimes you may suspect a food reaction when your baby is just acting fussy that day. If you suspect a food is affecting your baby's disposition or stool patterns, discuss it with your child's doctor.

-- Dr. Donya