Will certain foods affect the milk and cause fussiness or digestive problems for the baby?

The breastfeeding mother needs to eat about 500 extra calories a day. She should eat
anything and everything that she wants in addition to continuing her prenatal vitamins. So many myths and wives' tales circulate about what a nursing mother should not eat, and she should take care to ignore all of them. The most common? "Don't eat broccoli, garlic, onions, spicy food, citrus, or chocolate." The truth is that the most common sensitivity
breastfed babies have is to the protein in cow's milk. So if a mother observes abnormal fussiness or colic, it would be wise to take cow's milk products out of her diet. It takes about 10 to 14 days for the protein to be eliminated from the mother's system, so she shouldn't expect results immediately and should wait that period of time to see what happens. That said, if there is a family history of allergy to a particular food, she should avoid eating it so that it is not introduced to the baby. Some studies have shown that maternal dietary restrictions during breastfeeding seem to provide benefit against development of eczema, but keep in mind the above recommendations as far as eating enough calories and eating well...it may be harmful to mom's health if the proper amount of nutrients are not obtained through diet.

What are your best tips for nursing a baby with Gastroesophageal Reflux?

For a baby with GERD, I always recommend:

• Nursing in as best an upright position as possible. I've had babies who have learned to nurse sitting up and straddling mom's leg!

• If mom has a forceful let-down, I would recommend hand-expressing some milk for a few minutes prior to feeding the baby. This will relieve the breast of some foremilk, which can flow too quickly and the let-down will not be as overwhelming to the baby.

• Nurse frequently and allow the baby to finish one breast entirely to ensure the balance of foremilk and hind milk.

• Watch your caffeine intake! Too much caffeine in your diet can exacerbate reflux in your baby.

• See a lactation consultant to assess the latch! If the baby isn't latched well, she may swallow too much air, which can contribute to the discomfort.

For more information contact:
Melissa Nagin
Guide to Breastfeeding
http://breastfeeding.about.com
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