Foods That Make the Baby Gas Consumed by Breastfeeding Mothers

As a breastfeeding mother, it’s important to be aware of the foods that may contribute to gas in your baby. Our comprehensive guide covers the most common gas-causing foods and offers tips for identifying and avoiding them to keep your little one comfortable. Discover the foods to avoid and learn how to make informed choices for a happy, healthy nursing relationship.

Nursing mothers should eat more consciously and consume gas-producing foods in limited quantities.

Gas is formed as a natural result of eating and digestion. While adults can tolerate gas many times a day, it is not so easy for little babies. Most babies, who are just born and whose digestive systems are still developing, experience intense gas problems, especially in the first 4 months. This gas formed for a variety of reasons. 

For example; The baby, who is held in the wrong position while breastfeeding, swallows a lot of air while sucking the milk. As a natural consequence of this, intense gas problems are seen. Another reason is the diet of the breastfeeding mother. Babies can also suffer from gas pains with the milk of mothers who consume gas-producing foods in abundance. 

For this reason, breastfeeding mothers should eat more consciously and consume gas-producing foods in limited quantities. Here are the foods that cause gas to the baby in breast milk.

Foods That Make the Baby Gas Consumed by Breastfeeding Mothers

1) Beans

Beans are one of the foods that cause gas in babies, just like in adults. The sugar called raffinose, which is found in legumes such as beans and lentils, can cause problems during digestion and cause intense gas formation. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers need to be a little more careful when consuming legumes.

2) Broccoli and Cauliflower

When it comes to healthy eating, the first foods that come to mind are broccoli and cauliflower. However, when it comes to gas, these two should be approached a little more cautiously. Broccoli is not digested until the large intestine, which is the main development point of gas. At the same time, cauliflower and broccoli cause gas problems with their sulfur compounds. Therefore, it is beneficial to consume it in a balanced way.

3) Cabbage

White cabbage and brussels sprouts are also foods that stand out with their sulfur compounds. Therefore, it can cause gas problems for both mother and baby during breastfeeding. Therefore, it may be a good idea for breastfeeding mothers to put some distance between themselves and cabbage.

4) Fizzy Drinks, Chocolate, Coffee

Carbonated drinks, as the name suggests, are among the most gas-producing beverages. It can disrupt the baby’s digestive system as well as trigger gas formation. The same is true for chocolate. Coffee, on the other hand, should be consumed limitedly during breastfeeding, as it may cause sleep problems and excretion problems in the baby due to the caffeine in it.

5) Hot and Spicy Foods

Bitter and spicy foods increase the acidity in the stomach. This effect can be reflected in breast milk and cause gas and bloating problems in the baby. Therefore, as long as the baby is breastfed, it is beneficial for the mother to stay away from hot and spicy foods.

6) Cow’s Milk

Although cow’s milk has many benefits for the body, it is very difficult to digest. Cow’s milk, which can cause gas problems even in adults, is not recommended to be given to babies until at least 1 year old. For this reason, it is recommended that breastfeeding mothers consume cow’s milk in limited quantities. During this period, you can also prefer coconut, almond, or oat milk instead of cow’s milk.