Foods that breastfeeding mothers should avoid when the baby has diarrhea

Breast milk is the main source of food and fluids for babies under 6 months of age. The benefits are not only that. Breast milk contains antibodies that can boost the baby's immune system so that he is more immune and heals quickly from disease.

Breastmilk has all the power of what you eat every day. Any nutrients or substances present in the mother's food are absorbed into the breast milk and eventually enter the baby's body. So, that's why not all foods are actually good for breastfeeding mothers to eat when the baby is still having diarrhea.

It is feared that certain substances or nutrients that enter through breast milk and cannot be properly digested by the baby's stomach can worsen diarrhea experienced by babies. Especially if these foods are known to be prone to triggering symptoms of allergies or intolerance.

A food allergy indicates that the immune system overreacts to a substance from food. Meanwhile, lactose intolerance occurs when the body does not have an enzyme that is responsible for digesting a substance from food. This type of food should ideally be avoided by the mother while breastfeeding, both during the baby's diarrhea but also when he is healthy.

Generally, foods that breastfeeding mothers should avoid when the baby has diarrhea include:

1. Dairy products

Cow or goat milk can be processed into packaged milk, cheese or yogurt. This type of food is very common to trigger allergies or intolerances in babies. So when babies have diarrhea, foods made from cow or goat's milk should be avoided by breastfeeding mothers until their condition improves.

Intolerance to dairy products is caused by the lactose content in them. Lactose is a natural sugar in cow's milk. Meanwhile, milk allergy is caused by the body producing non-IgE antibodies which eventually cause digestive problems, such as vomiting or diarrhea.

2. Soybeans

Apart from dairy products, foods that breastfeeding mothers should generally avoid when the baby has diarrhea is soybeans. Not only in the form of soybeans, but also in processed forms such as soy milk, tempeh, tofu, or other processed foods. Just like a milk allergy, some babies also produce non-IgE antibodies when there is soy protein in their bodies.

3. Raw food

Study in Korean Journal of Pediatrics 2017 states that raw food is included in a list of foods that breastfeeding mothers should avoid, especially when babies have diarrhea.

Raw food may still contain a few germs which can be a source of infection and cause diarrhea. This can increase the risk of the mother experiencing food poisoning which can then affect the process of breastfeeding the baby.

In rare cases, food poisoning in infants causes septicemia (blood poisoning due to bacteria entering the bloodstream). These bacteria can reach breast milk and endanger the condition of a baby with diarrhea. Examples of raw foods that should be avoided when breastfeeding a baby who is still diarrhea are karedok, trancam, pickled vegetables, to sushi and sashimi.

4. Caffeinated and alcoholic drinks

Drinks that contain caffeine should also be avoided when breastfeeding mothers have diarrhea. In the same study as above, it is explained that caffeine in drinks such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks can flow into breast milk as much as 1% of the total caffeine.

Adverse effects on babies may occur, if coffee is drunk more than 2 to 3 cups a day and tea 3 to 4 cups a day.

The habit of drinking alcohol while breastfeeding your little one must be considered. The reason is, alcohol can also flow into breast milk and may worsen the symptoms of diarrhea. The alcohol content in breast milk can last as long

Tips for finding foods to avoid

From the list above, there may be other foods or drinks that breastfeeding mothers should also avoid when the baby has diarrhea. To find these foods, you need to observe the baby's condition at home with a few simple steps.

Recognize and observe the symptoms of diarrhea in babies

You need to observe how the baby's diarrhea symptoms after breastfeeding and what type of food you consumed before. According to Kids Health, babies respond to each food consumed by their mothers in different ways.

Some mothers find their baby's diarrhea gets worse after they eat gassy vegetables, such as cauliflower or broccoli. On the other hand, other babies might accept it.

Diarrhea can cause the baby to continue to pass stools with watery stools, accompanied by symptoms of vomiting and stomach ulcers. This condition can make babies fussy, have trouble sleeping soundly, and their stomachs often sound. This is a trait that is very easy for you to see.

Remember and record foods that are suspected of triggering diarrhea in babies

After observing the symptoms, then remember again what foods were consumed a few hours before breastfeeding.

If you suspect certain foods, make notes so you don't forget them. This note can help you find foods to avoid as well as a report if you plan to see a doctor.

Consult a doctor

Finding foods that breastfeeding mothers should avoid when the baby has diarrhea is not always easy. Moreover, there are many types of food that can make babies allergic to milk products, for example, egg allergy.

Consulting a doctor not only helps you find foods that trigger diarrhea, but helps you meet certain nutrients due to limited food choices. In particular, your calcium intake is because you haven't been drinking milk or eating soy beans for a while.